The Whenuakite River flows from coastal hills in the east through the area to drain in the Whitianga Harbour. The Whenuakite Kiwi Recovery Area is 4,000 ha of regenerating coastal broadleaf and kauri forest lying between Tairua and Hot Water Beach. The Whenuakite Kiwi Care Group is active in the area to ensure that the wild kiwi population survives in the long term.
Whenuakite is just 10 minutes drive to Hot Water Beach (free spades for digging your own hot pool!), and is also close to the Cathedral Cove Walkway, where some scenes of The Chronicles of Narnia movie "Prince Caspian" were filmed.