Wharariki Beach: New Zealand’s Wildest Corner At the very top of the South Island, past the last sealed road and across a stretch of farmland, sits one of New Zealand’s most photographed and least visited beaches. Wharariki Beach has no café, no lifeguard, and no car park within sight of the sand. What it does
Category Archives: New Zealand Beaches
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Aug
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Waipu Cove & Beach, Northland: New Zealand’s Best Beach Waipu Cove has quietly become one of New Zealand’s most loved beaches. NZ Herald readers voted it the country’s overall Best Beach for both 2025 and 2026. It also won Best Camping Beach both years running. It’s easy to see why once you’re standing on the
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Aug
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Takapuna Beach: Auckland’s Favourite Family Beach Takapuna Beach curves for 1.5 kilometres along Auckland’s North Shore. Its golden shell sand faces directly toward Rangitoto Island across the Hauraki Gulf. Calm, tidal water with no rip currents makes it one of the city’s most reliable swimming spots. A busy café strip sits just steps from the
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Aug
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Karekare Beach, Auckland: Falls, Film History & Safety Tips Karekare Beach is one of the most striking stretches of coastline on Auckland’s west coast. Black sand, towering cliffs, and a genuine sense of isolation set it apart from busier beaches closer to the city. Karekare Beach NZ gained international attention as a filming location for
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Onetangi Beach, Waiheke Island: Sun, Sand and a Glass of Wine Onetangi Beach is the longest stretch of golden sand on Waiheke Island. It offers 1.5 kilometres of open coastline, framed by rolling hills and vineyards. Its name means “weeping sands” in Māori. That’s a reference to a significant battle here during the Musket Wars
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Aug
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Piha Beach Auckland: The West Coast’s Black Sand Icon Forty-five minutes west of downtown Auckland, the city skyline gives way to native bush and a coastline unlike anything closer to home. Piha Beach Auckland is the region’s most famous stretch of coast. It’s known for its black ironsand, the landmark of Lion Rock splitting the
New Zealand Travel Blog, Trip Ideas, New Zealand Beaches
Mount Maunganui Beach: Bay of Plenty Travel Guide
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Mount Maunganui Beach: The Bay of Plenty’s Coastal Favourite Mount Maunganui Beach sits on a narrow peninsula at the edge of Tauranga Harbour. An extinct volcanic cone, which locals simply call “the Mount,” backs the whole stretch. TripAdvisor has named it New Zealand’s number-one beach. It regularly ranks among the top 25 beaches in the
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Great Barrier Island New Zealand: Medlands Beach and Beyond Ninety kilometres off the coast of Auckland sits one of the country’s most overlooked escapes. Great Barrier Island New Zealand, known to Māori as Aotea, is the largest island in the Hauraki Gulf. It has no mains power, no traffic lights, and around 1,100 permanent residents.
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Kāpiti Coast Beaches: A Complete Guide Just north of Wellington sits one of the North Island’s most underrated stretches of coastline. The Kāpiti Coast runs for roughly 40 kilometres. The Tararua Ranges back it on one side, while Kāpiti Island sits offshore on the other. It’s easy to confuse the two names. Most of the
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Mission Bay Beach, Auckland: Fountain, Cafes & Rangitoto Views Mission Bay Beach is one of the most popular of all the Auckland beaches. Golden sand, calm swimming water, and postcard views of Rangitoto Island sit just fifteen minutes from the city centre. Unlike some of Auckland’s wilder west coast beaches, Mission Bay Beach is relaxed