Locals enjoy coming to Whakamahia to go fishing, particularly for kahawai and snapper. You can also light a bonfire here - but only outside of the prohibited fire season.
The lagoon behind the beach is a nature reserve and is a good spot for bird watching. Among the birds to be spotted are Gulls, Mallards, Canadian Geese, Pied Stilts, Oyster Catchers, Banded Dotterels and sometimes Royal Spoonbills and White Heron.
The view from Pilot Hill, which is just before Whakamahia Beach, is impressive. You can see up the coast towards Māhia and down to Cape Kidnappers. In earlier days, pilots used a series of balls to indicate to ships offshore as to the conditions at the bar of the river before they entered the river to come up to the wharf.
Also along this road are visible gun emplacements where the were guns were placed as a line of defence against a possible Japanese invasion in World War II.
Whakamahia Beach can be accessed via the Wairoa Riverside Walk & Cycleway which runs all the way from Wairoa township, past Pilot Hill and right to the beach. There are picnic and toilet facilities at the beach.
This beach is NOT SAFE for swimming.