New Zealand travel tips from a Kiwi
Ten of New Zealand's Best Beaches
We're famous for our beautiful landscapes. Here are some of the beaches that you should visit when you come down under!
New Zealand is known for its natural beauty. Case in point: the filming of the Lord of the Rings movie franchise was here.
That movie was primarily about mountains and stuff… But, our beautiful landscapes extend to the beaches.
What are New Zealand's best beaches?
Here are some summer spots you should check out if you are ever on the North Island of New Zealand.
In my opinion, of course. Unless someone invents some beach-rating algorithm, it can never be an objective list!
These are a selection of photos taken from my favourite New Zealand beaches.
Matatā Beach
Bay of Plenty
With a long and a golden stretch of sand, you can take your pick of beaches in the area. Matatā is a tiny township 24 kilometres northwest of Whakatāne.
White Island, or Whakaari in the native Māori language, can be seen in the background.
It erupted and killed 22 people in 2019—a popular tourist destination and also an active volcano.
But Matatā is a pretty "sweet" spot (we say sweet a lot). There is no volcano there, but it has about five shops and is a lonely stretch of beautiful coastline where you can pick a place to enjoy without the volume of people ofromother spots.
Hakuna Matata. ‘Ain’t no passing craze’.
This tiny town became infamous when someone vandalised the sign and became a meme.
So good.
There's a huge long stretch of golden sand beaches about 60 km east of Mount Maunganui. There are numerous beautiful spots, but I went with Matatā to reference the Lion King.
Waihi Beach
Bay of Plenty
I love a good body surf, and Waihi delivers for a surf.
Many of our Beaches can be very calm, with little waves around knee height. Great for families and a leisurely swim, but I love the waves.
At nearby Waihi, you can learn about mining. The town literally has a giant hole 50 metres from the main street.
Waihi Beach is one of the larger seaside towns in the area, with around 3000 people. It is not yet too over-developed but is changing from a village of baches (holiday homes) to a town of mansions and trendy cafes.
There is a long stretch of sand, and Bowentown is just as lovely at the other end.
Hahei Beach
Coromandel
A gorgeous spot.
Golden white sand and some of the most crystal clear water you will see in New Zealand.
Hahei is a small beachside township with about a dozen shops.
You can walk to Cathedral Cove, which also gets a mention on this list and 10 minutes from the famous Cooks Beach.
Whitianga is a minute's drive, the second largest township in the Coromandel. Being New Zealand, the second biggest still relatively small — its 6000 residents swell to around 20,000 over summer.
Home to marinas and trendy wharf-side cafes and restaurants, Whitianga is a popular spot for big-city types to have a holiday home.
90 Mile Beach
Northland
90-Mile Beach is a famous single stretch of sand. Starting at Shipwreck Bay, which has a fantastic surf break that goes on and on, and giant dunes. 90-Mile Beach ends just below the country's northern point.
Ahipara is a small beachside settlement; the nearest township is Kaitaia, 14 kilometres away and with a population of 6000.
It is actually only 88 kilometres (54 miles), which is still pretty long!
It is also a highway!
Although, rental companies won't allow their cars on the sand, mainly for safety reasons. However, tour buses will take you up the famous stretch of sand.
I have to admit, this photo isn't actually at a 90-mile beach. It is taken from Cape Reinga, looking over at Cape Maria Van Diemen, 5 km north of the beach's northern end.
I don't personally have a photo I have taken at 90-mile beach, and I like this shot.
Raglan
Waikato
Raglan is one of only two West Coast beaches on my list. 90-Mile Beach is the other.
A cute little coastal town, world-famous for the left-hand surf break at Manu Bay. Population just over 3000. Forty-five kilometres from Hamilton, my hometown.
Raglan has around three thousand and is home to a few surf shops and excellent cafes and restaurants.
My partner and I were sitting in a place called Orca Eatery and Bar a week just after we came out of lockdown in May 2020. It is on the edge of the harbour, and as we pulled up, we could not figure out why there were so many people looking out into it.
There were kayaks out there, and we assumed it was some race.
We went inside and sat down. The girl serving us asks if we saw the Orca out in the harbour.
What?!
We look outside into the harbour, and sure enough, spot the two Orca.
Hence the place's name, I guess!
Ōhope Beach
Bay of Plenty
About ten minutes east of Whakatāne, the perfect spot for a family escape.
I spent time at the holiday park next to the beach with my ex-partner, her kids and my son for three summers.
It can get wildly windy at night, but a fantastic spot.
The holiday park offers a water slide & pool, a basketball court, pretty decent kitchens and bathroom facilities, and a little cafe and shop.
The kids love 'bombs' off the nearby pier, just a couple of minutes' walk from the campsite. Ōhope is on a thin peninsula; the bay offers excellent fishing, calm waters and plenty of fun to anyone with a boat or kayak.
You can stay in a cabin if you don't want to stay in a tent.
Glamping, kiwi-style.
Whakatāne has a population of around 40,000 — so there are plenty of food options if you're sick of having BBQ food every night at the campsite.
Taipa Beach
Northland
Situated in Doubtless Bay, Taipa is about four hours drive north of New Zealand's largest city, Auckland.
Taipa is also about 20 minutes drive from the 90-mile beach, which is on the East Coast. Kaitaia is the closest township, about 15–20 minutes away. There are many great spots and little beach villages dotted along the coast, with accommodations right on the beach in the area.
There is outstanding fishing anywhere you go with clear blue water and a calm beach.
I spent about three years growing up in Kaitaia. The best thing was both coasts were within 20 minutes.
I remember going fishing with a family friend and being a little scared going out around the rocks, waves crashing against my feet on the rockface. But we didn't die, and when we got to the spot, (he) was pulling in five-pound Snapper every few minutes, which was pretty exciting.
The famous Mangonui Fish and Chip shop located on Monganui Harbour's wharf is worth checking out.
You might have to wait 30 minutes to an hour for your food in summer — they're pretty popular.
Make sure you try some Snapper.
Hot Water Beach
Coromandel
Hater Water Beach is a World-famous beach located in the Coromandel, 30 minutes from Whitianga.
Families, kids and couples can be seen digging their spa pool in the sand and relaxing in the natural springs.
Bring shovels. Within two hours on either side of low tide, dig a hole in the sand to enjoy a bath, as hot water bubbles through heated by thermal activity below.
It's a perfect day out for anyone who loves beaches, just a five to ten-minute drive from Hahei and the Cathedral Cove walk.
Mt Maunganui
Bay of Plenty
The 'Mount" is maybe New Zealand's favourite beach, located less than 1.5 hours drive from two major cities — Auckland and Hamilton. Mt Maunganui is New Zealand's version of the Gold Coast with its beautiful golden sand and beachside high rises.
It is part of the greater Tauranga around, which has a population of 150,000.
The beach stretches for a considerable number of kilometres past Papamoa Beach, which is just as lovely. I spent many of my summers growing up.
A highlight is climbing up Mt Maunganui for a fantastic view. It is a comfortable hour-and-a-half trek up and down without much difficulty.
I took this shot about two weeks ago.
Some people probably get up and down in half an hour!
There are plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants. Mt Maunganui has been an infamous New Year's Eve party hotspot over the past couple of decades.
Cathedral Cove
Coromandel
Paradise.
Just ridiculously beautiful — Cathedral Cove reminds me of the movie The Beach.
A 30-minute drive from Whitianga, access to Cathedral Cove is a 30-minute walk from a random gravel car park on a random farm or 40 minutes from Hahei Beach.
A popular option is to take a kayak from Hahei Beach or one of the many charter boats in the area.
Cathedral Cove is separated by a giant rock with an arch-shaped hole, joining the two beaches together at low tide.
It is usually much more crowded than the photo below suggests.
Part of the Te Whanganui-A-Hei Marine Reserve, Cathedral Cove is the jewel in the Coromandel crown.
If you have explored New Zealand, let me know if I've missed some of your favourites!
These beaches are in the upper half of the North Island.
Great beaches are scattered around the country, but my location obviously biases where my favourite beaches are.
Hopefully, after COVID, we can host some more of you in our beautiful country.
Thanks for reading.
If you enjoyed the content about New Zealand, you might be interested in this article about The All Blacks.
