Tuatua Gathering in the Karikari Peninsula: A Little Adventure in the Far North

On a beautiful, sunny afternoon in New Zealand’s Far North, we drove 40 minutes north from Totara North to the Karikari Peninsula an area on the east coast of the far north of New Zealand.

And what a little slice of paradise it is!

Imagine beaches of wide stretches of untouched white sand meeting the vibrant turquoise waters of the Pacific Ocean. Dramatic sand dunes, lush green rolling hills, and a wild, untamed coastline with glorious surf. It’s the sort of place that makes you stop, take a deep breath, and just appreciate how special it is.

But we hadn’t come simply to admire the view, we had a mission.

We were here to gather tuatuas.

What Exactly Are Tuatuas?

If you haven't come across tuatuas before, they're edible, wedge-shaped surf clams native to New Zealand and close relatives of the familiar pipi.

These little treasures thrive on exposed ocean beaches, where the surf can be pretty lively. They bury themselves just beneath the surface of the clean, fine sand in the intertidal zone — the area between the high and low tide marks.

And that's where the fun begins!

Of course, timing is everything. We checked the tide times before setting off, and 4 pm was the perfect time to arrive on this particular day. When it comes to gathering tuatuas, you don't want to turn up at the wrong stage of the tide and miss all the action!

The Art of the Tuatua Shuffle

Gathering tuatuas on a surf beach has to be one of the most entertaining ways to spend an afternoon.

The technique? It's all about the tuatua shuffle.

You wander across the wet sand at low tide, twisting your bare feet into the soft sand until you feel those unmistakable hard edges beneath your toes. There's something very satisfying about finding them this way. No fancy equipment required — just your feet, a little patience, and a willingness to get stuck in!

Once you've located a tuatua, though, the real excitement begins.

As the waves roll up the beach and then retreat, there's a race against time to get down onto the sand and dig out your prize before the next wave comes charging back in.

Sometimes you'll uncover a single clam. Other times, you might strike lucky and find a handful nestled together beneath the damp sand. Little hidden treasures just waiting to be discovered!

Then comes the challenge: can you get back to your feet with your tuatuas before the next wave catches you?

Sometimes you make it. Sometimes a cheeky wave has other ideas!

There's plenty of splashing, scrambling, and laughing along the way. It's fun, exhilarating, and surprisingly rewarding — all set against one of the most breathtaking coastal backdrops you could wish for.

Honestly, who needs a gym when you've got a surf beach, a bucket, and a mission? 

A Few Hours of Beachside Fun

There are daily catch limits for tuatuas, so it's important to check the current rules before heading out. The allowance can be generous enough to make for a lovely afternoon's gathering, provided you stick to the limit and take only what you need.

Once we've collected enough for our needs, we keep our tuatuas in seawater while we finish up at the beach, ready to take them home for preparation.

And that's when we get to enjoy another little bonus of the experience.

With our tuatuas safely packed away, we can finally slow down, sit back, and soak up our surroundings.

We settle onto the beach with hot coffee and snacks, watching the waves roll onto the shore and the afternoon sun sparkle across the water. The hard work is done, the fresh air has worked its magic, and there's that lovely feeling of having spent an afternoon doing something simple, satisfying, and wonderfully connected to nature.

It's a pretty fabulous way to spend a day in New Zealand's Far North.

For us, gathering tuatuas is one of the real highlights of the New Zealand hunter-gatherer lifestyle. It's not just about bringing home something delicious for dinner. It's about getting outdoors, enjoying the environment, and having a bit of an adventure along the way.

But the adventure does comes with a delicious reward.

Tuatuas have a wonderfully sweet, clean flavour and a creamy texture that makes them a real treat when prepared well. After an afternoon of sunshine, surf, and sandy toes, there's something extra special about knowing you've gathered your own fresh seafood.

What did we do with our haul once we got home?

Well, that's where the next part of the story begins!

From Beach to Table: Two Delicious Ways to Enjoy Tuatuas

There are two things we love making with our freshly gathered tuatuas: wonderfully sweet and tangy pickled tuatuas and golden, crispy tuatua fritters.

One is perfect for sharing over pre-dinner drinks, while the other makes a fabulous lunch or light meal. And both are a delicious reward for a few hours spent fossicking along one of New Zealand's beautiful surf beaches.

But before we get cooking, there's a little preparation to do.

First Things First: Purging Your Tuatuas

Tuatua live in active surf zones, where they naturally take in sand and can accumulate grit.

We purge the tuatuas in clean seawater to encourage them to expel some of the sand. If you're doing this at home, use a clean container and properly sourced seawater, keep the shellfish chilled, and follow current food-safety guidance. Don't leave them sitting at room temperature overnight.

It's worth checking each shellfish, too, and discarding any that are dead or have damaged shells.

Once they're ready, it's time to get steaming!

Steam Your Tuatuas 

Steaming is a simple way to open your tuatuas and prepare them for cooking. 

Place them in a steamer over boiling water and cook until the shells open and the flesh is cooked through. They cook quickly, so keep a close eye on them rather than relying on the clock alone. Around 12 minutes may be sufficient, depending on the quantity and your steaming setup.

Discard any that don't open during cooking.

Once they're cooked, allow them to cool enough to handle, then remove the flesh from the shells.

We like to keep some of our freshly steamed tuatuas whole for pickling, then our friends use the rest to make a batch of delicious fritters.

Pickled Tuatuas: A Little Jar of Deliciousness

Sweet, tangy, and full of flavour, pickled tuatuas are lovely served alongside pre-dinner drinks and nibbles.

What You'll Need

• Cooked tuatuas, removed from their shells

• 1 cup white vinegar

• 1 heaped tablespoon brown sugar

• Salt and black pepper, to taste

• White pepper, to taste

• Sliced garlic, to taste

• Sliced chillies, to taste

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How to Make Them

1. Make the pickle.

Combine the white vinegar and brown sugar, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Add salt, black pepper, white pepper, sliced garlic, and chilli to suit your taste.

Prefer a little more heat? Add extra chilli. Like things on the sweeter side? You can adjust the seasoning to your preference.

2. Fill your jar.

Place the cooked tuatuas in a clean jar and pour over the pickle mixture.

3. Let the flavours mingle.

Refrigerate the jar so the flavours have time to develop, we turn the jar upside down after a couple of days just to help the flavours mix.  During this time, taste and adjust if needed, the tuatuas should be slightly sweet.  Once ready keep the tuatuas stored in the fridge.

4. Serve and enjoy!

When you're ready to serve, transfer a few tuatuas to a little dish and enjoy them alongside your favourite pre-dinner nibbles.They're a lovely way to showcase the naturally sweet flavour of freshly gathered tuatuas, with the vinegar, garlic, and chilli adding a delicious little kick.

Food-safety note: This is a refrigerator pickle, not a shelf-stable preserve. Use a validated seafood-pickling recipe for specific storage times, acidity, and preservation instructions.

Tuatua Fritters

Tuatua fritters are a real treat.  Tender little morsels of seafood wrapped in a golden, savoury batter, with crispy edges and plenty of flavour.

Serve them hot, piled high on a plate, with tartare sauce and a stack of freshly buttered white bread.

What You'll Need

For the fritters:

• 2 to 3 cups  roughly minced, cooked tuatuas

• 1 onion, thinly sliced

• Salt and pepper, to taste

• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley (or your favourite fresh herbs)

• Extra herbs or spices, if desired

  
  

For the batter:

• 1 cup plain flour

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 2 eggs

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To cook and serve:

• Oil for frying

• Tartare sauce

• Fresh white bread and butter

  
  

How to Make Them

1. Prepare the tuatua mixture.

Place the roughly minced, cooked tuatuas in a bowl with the thinly sliced onion, parsley, salt, and pepper.

Give everything a good mix. If you fancy experimenting, this is a great place to add your favourite herbs or a pinch of spice.

2. Make the batter.

In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and eggs. Whisk until you have a smooth batter.

3. Bring it all together.

Add the batter to the tuatua mixture and stir until everything is combined.

You're looking for a mixture thick enough to hold its shape on a spoon. If it seems too runny, the fritters may spread too much in the pan.

4. Get frying!

Heat a heavy-based frying pan over medium heat with enough oil to fry the fritters.

Once the oil is hot, drop generous spoonfuls of the mixture into the pan, leaving a little space between each fritter.

Fry for approximately 2–3 minutes on each side, until they're deep golden brown and cooked through. The exact cooking time will depend on the size and thickness of your fritters, so check that the centres are fully cooked before serving.

5. Serve them up.

Transfer the fritters to a plate and serve while they're hot, with tartare sauce and plenty of fresh white bread slathered in butter.

They're delicious as a light lunch or a casual dinner and we love to join our friends and help them eat what our catch has produced.

From Beach to the Dinner Table

There's something special about gathering your own food and turning it into a meal to share.

Our afternoon at the beach wasn't just about collecting tuatuas. It was about getting outdoors, spending time with friends, enjoying the beautiful Far North coastline, and making the most of what New Zealand's natural environment has to offer.

And when you sit down to enjoy a plate of golden tuatua fritters or open a jar of tangy pickled tuatuas you've prepared yourself, the whole experience feels that little bit more rewarding.

A beautiful beach, a bucket of tuatuas, and friends to share it with – perfect!