Ngunguru Bay is a broad coastal bay on the Tutukaka Coast, stretching southwards from the settlement of Ngunguru. The bay is defined by the long, low Ngunguru Sandspit, a Department of Conservation reserve, and receives the tidal flow from the Ngunguru River estuary. The estuary itself is a calm, mangrove-lined system where the river meets the sea, with water levels rising to a retaining wall at high tide and exposing wide sandflats at low tide. The name Ngunguru translates to "rumbling tides." Paddling access is primarily from the township waterfront, where a grass reserve provides a launch area, or from a nearby boat ramp. For exploring the Ngunguru Sandspit, a kayak or paddleboard is the easiest way to cross the river channel, especially at low tide when wading is not possible. The bay is also a launch point for journeys to nearby features like Goat Island. A notable alternative launch site is at Pataua, further south within the bay, where a campground offers sheltered, shallow water near a scatter of small islands stretching towards Taiharuru Head.

The paddling character varies significantly between the protected estuary and the open bay. The estuary offers very calm conditions ideal for kayaking and paddleboarding, with a focus on birdwatching among mangroves and mudflats. Venturing into Ngunguru Bay itself exposes paddlers to more open coastal conditions. The harbour entrance to the adjacent Tutukaka Harbour, near the bay, is a tricky passage that can become hazardous with a south-easterly swell or wind against tide, a consideration for those transitioning from the bay. Boat traffic from Tutukaka harbour, including "flash boats," can be expected. The bay provides expansive views of the Poor Knights Islands marine reserve to the northeast and the Hen and Chickens Islands to the south. Wildlife sightings can include dolphins, which are significant enough locally that the school bell rings when they enter the harbour, as well as royal spoonbills and oystercatchers on the sandflats. Paddlers should plan trips around the tide, as the extensive sandflats are exposed at low tide, and a rising tide is advantageous for exploring the upper reaches of the estuary and connecting rivers like the Taiharuru.