Koekohe Beach, Waitaki: More Than Just the Boulders Koekohe Beach sits on the Otago coast, in the Waitaki district of New Zealand’s South Island. Most visitors know it as the home of the Moeraki Boulders, the giant spherical stones scattered along its shore. For everything on the boulders themselves, our dedicated Moeraki Boulders guide has
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Aug
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Abel Tasman Beaches: A Golden Coastline Guide New Zealand’s smallest and sunniest national park packs an outsized number of standout beaches into a short stretch of coastline. Abel Tasman beaches run in a near-continuous string from Kaiteriteri to Totaranui. Each one offers golden or white sand, turquoise water, and native bush right down to the
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Aug
Aug
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
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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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Aug
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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 Beaches, New Zealand Travel Blog, Trip Ideas
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.