Last updated October 2026
Stephens Bay is a small bay on the Kaiteriteri coast of Tasman Bay, just south of Kaiteriteri and about 50 minutes’ drive from Nelson. Tasman District Council lists Stephens Bay Reserve, on Anawera Crescent, among the district’s swimming beaches, and behind the beach is a shallow tidal lagoon that fills with sea water around high tide.
The council tests both the beach and the lagoon every week over summer, and the two have very different records on LAWA. The sea at Stephens Bay Beach has a Good long-term grade, while Stephens Bay Lagoon has a Poor grade and carries council signs warning of occasional poor water quality.
Practical Information
- Location
- Stephens Bay Reserve, Anawera Crescent, Stephens Bay, near Kaiteriteri
- Distance from Nelson
- About 50 minutes by road, via Motueka and Riwaka
- Water
- Sheltered sea beach on Tasman Bay, with a small tidal lagoon behind it
- Water quality
- Beach: Good. Lagoon: Poor (LAWA long-term grades, summers 2020/21 to 2024/25)
- Testing
- Weekly from October to March by Tasman District Council, at the beach and the lagoon
- Patrols
- None: Tasman District Council says there are no patrolled beaches in the district
- Tide station
- Kaiteriteri (LINZ)
- Facilities nearby
- Toilets, barbecue and parking by the reserve
About Stephens Bay
Stephens Bay is a small bay on the Tasman Bay coast just south of Kaiteriteri Beach and Little Kaiteriteri. Stephens Bay Reserve fronts the beach on Anawera Crescent, and Tapu Bay Reserve, on Tapu Place, is also listed by Tasman District Council as a swimming beach in the Stephens Bay area.
Behind the beach is Stephens Bay Lagoon, fed by a small creek. Tasman District Council explains that, depending on the moon cycle, the lagoon only fills with sea water around half the time, to an average depth of about 400 to 500 millimetres, and mostly empties again within a few hours of high tide.
When it is empty, only a shallow thread of creek water is left. The council notes that this makes the lagoon ideal for families with young children when it is full.
Kaiteriteri, a short drive north, is one of the region’s best-known holiday beaches and a starting point for trips into Abel Tasman National Park. The mana whenua iwi of the Kaiteriteri area are Ngāti Rārua and Te Ātiawa, according to the Kaiteriteri Recreation Reserve management plan.
Stephens Bay Beach and the lagoon were added to the council’s full summer sampling programme in 2022, after several sewage overflows in the catchment upstream the previous year.
The council reported that no overflows had been recorded in the two years to the 2024/25 summer, and that lagoon results in 2024/25 were better than the season before, although it was too soon to say with confidence that the lagoon was improving.
Swimming and Water Quality at Stephens Bay
Tasman District Council samples two points at Stephens Bay every week from October to March, and the results appear on LAWA’s “Can I Swim Here?” pages. Both have LAWA long-term grades covering the summers of 2020/21 to 2024/25, although testing only began in late 2022.
Stephens Bay Beach, in the sea, has a Good grade. The large majority of samples have met the guideline for swimming, and the council’s 2024/25 report found the beach fully compliant that summer, even in wet weather.
A Good grade means the water has rarely been found unsuitable for swimming, but it is a long-term record, not a guarantee for any given day.
Stephens Bay Lagoon has a Poor grade, which means the water is often unsuitable for swimming. Fewer than half of the lagoon samples have met the swimming guideline, and the council found that most of the lagoon’s failures came in fine weather rather than after rain.
The council has put up signs at the lagoon warning of occasional poor water quality, and it advises anyone using the lagoon to do so on the incoming tide rather than the outgoing tide. If you are swimming with young children, the sea beach has the much better record.
Check the latest results on LAWA before you swim, and stay out of the water for at least 48 hours after heavy rain or if the water looks discoloured, as Tasman District Council advises. There are no lifeguard patrols, so supervise children closely, and make yourself easy for boats to see, as the council recommends.
Where to Learn More
LAWA and Tasman District Council: the latest “Can I Swim Here?” result and long-term grade for Stephens Bay Beach. The lagoon has its own LAWA page.
Tasman District Council: swimming water quality results and the annual summer bathing reports, including the work on Stephens Bay Lagoon.
Tasman District Council: the district’s swimming beaches, including Stephens Bay Reserve, with water safety tips.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you swim at Stephens Bay?
Yes. Tasman District Council lists Stephens Bay Reserve as a swimming beach, and the sea there has a Good water quality record. Check the latest result on LAWA first, and stay out for at least 48 hours after heavy rain.
What is the water quality like at Stephens Bay?
The sea at Stephens Bay Beach has a Good LAWA long-term grade, while Stephens Bay Lagoon has a Poor grade. Both cover summers 2020/21 to 2024/25, with testing from late 2022.
Is it OK to swim in Stephens Bay Lagoon?
The lagoon is often unsuitable for swimming and has council signs warning of occasional poor water quality. If you do go in, check LAWA first and use it on the incoming tide, as the council advises.
When is the water at Stephens Bay tested?
Tasman District Council samples the beach and the lagoon every week from October to March, and the results are published on LAWA.
Why is the lagoon tested?
The beach and lagoon were added to the council’s programme in 2022 after several sewage overflows in the catchment upstream the previous year.
Is Stephens Bay patrolled by lifeguards?
No. Tasman District Council says there are no patrolled beaches in the district, so swimmers need to take extra care.
How far is Stephens Bay from Nelson?
About 50 minutes by road, through Motueka and Riwaka, just before you reach Kaiteriteri.
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