The Marine Gardens is a small public park that sits at the northern end of the beach, at the mouth of the Wharemauku Stream. It is a modest space — lawn, paths, a few mature trees — but it functions as the social centre of the village and the easiest way to access the sand.
The gardens are a pleasant spot for a morning coffee from one of the nearby cafes. Children paddle in the stream where it broadens out before the sea, and there is a good view north along the beach. Nothing grand, but agreeable.