Baylys Beach
Although there are some moves afoot to change the name to just Baylys (pronounced "Baylees" by the locals) Research showed that Baylys Beach is the approved name for very
small localities on the coast, not beaches.
Ten minutes drive from Dargaville, Baylys Beach, is a small seaside community of colourful baches, seaside cottages, excellent eateries surrounded by sculpture and original artworks, fresh sea breezes – and, unexpectedly, an observatory housing the largest telescope in the North Island. This sleepy holiday haven is the perfect spot to see the starry splendour of the southern skies and the full glory of the Milky Way as the skies here are naturally dark and the air is pure with the breeze from the Tasman sea, so the stars shine like diamonds in black velvet.
Baylys Beach is the gateway to Ripiro Beach, New Zealand’s longest driveable beach. This 100km long beach is backed by high, golden sand dunes and is the site of many shipwrecks, including a three-masted, 36 gun French man o\'war. Many of the salvaged shipwreck relics are now on display in the Dargaville Museum and a commemoration plaque has been erected as a lookout on the road down to Baylys Beach.
Modern day expeditions include sand yachting, trail biking, quad biking, hang gliding, jet skis, surfing, with or without the expertise of a local guide. Encounter sea birds and the feeding holes of the endangered Toheroa shellfish, pick bi-valve Tuatua, wave at fishermen netting for mullet or flounder or long lining for kingfish, kahawai and snapper; at low tide pluck green lipped mussels from the rocks at Maunganui Bluff at the northern boundary of Ripiro Beach.
