10 most beautiful beaches in New Zealand.

 

New Zealand is a nirvana for every beach lover. And for those who have grown up or living in New Zealand, it’s a reminder of how blessed you are, when it comes to its diverse shoreline stretching from the south to the north with over 600 beaches. All the beaches are a joy to enjoy the strong sound of the waves crashing against the pristine coastline, and feel the fresh breeze hitting your lungs despite of its season.

 

So, with a world of beaches to choose from, here are ‘the 10 most beautiful beaches in New Zealand’, you may want to explore when you travel.

 

1. Piha Beach, West Auckland

Situated on the west coast of the North Island, which is only a one-hour drive from Auckland.  Piha is the home where you can find the country’s wildest surfing beach, black velvety sand and unforgettable Lion Rock. Swimming in this super popular surfing spot is greatly advised for the pro-swimmers as strong rips and currents are abound. If you are a novice swimmer or surfer, be sure to swim only in areas patrolled by lifesavers and go out to surf with an instructor. And those who want to immerse in the nature can take a stroll to the lush bush of the Waitakere Ranges that offers dramatic sceneries of the jungle and waterfalls.  Moreover, it is where the mysterious film, ‘The Piano’ was made.

 

2. Cathedral Cove, Coromandel Peninsula.

A dream destination located at Hahei, just 10 minutes’ drive away from another famously beautiful Hot Water beach. With unique rock formations, soft sand and calm surf, Cathedral is a hidden world that holds a great mystery of isolation to its visitors. What’s more, the magical environment can be found on everything you can think of to do with New Zealand landscapes such as brochures, social media feeds, as well as multiple movies and music videos.

What makes Cathedral Cove clearly the beautiful beach in New Zealand is its Thailand-like karst landscapes that gives the feeling of being around Phuket and Krabi! The idyllic secluded setting can be simply discovered by boat, kayak or walking. In addition, the naturally formed archway provides plenty of opportunity for exploring deep blue of the Pacific, taking Instagram-worthy photos, and picnicking on the golden sand.

 

 

3. Ninety Mile Beach, Cape Reinga.

While 90 mile is a misnomer, it is a well-known secret that the beach length is only 55 miles in reality, which in fact 88 in kilometers. Anyhow, there is no way for you to feel the change as it has a lot to offer regardless of its size. Since this stretch of beach is also used as an official highway, you can mostly access it through tour buses. Well, what is so beautiful about it? apart from being one of the best surf breaks in the world for swimming (on very calm conditions), surfing (at your own risk) and surfcasting in the endless ocean, there are golden sand dunes recalling of a desert landscape, where you can often fly up and down on bodyboards and blokarting. The distance between Auckland and Ninety Mile Beach is around 300 kilometers, while the waves are often storm high for various reasons. Also, don’t forget to behold the spectacular sunsets, which perhaps makes this in the most beautiful list in NZ.

 

4. Maitai Bay, Karikari Peninsula.

Maitai Bay, formerly known as “Matai Bay” is another isolated Northland beach, which is a quite long drive from Auckland. It’s the ultimate summer escape for most holidaymakers every year.  However, in here you will be spoiled for choice when it comes to activities such as swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, paddling, simply relaxing in the nearby campsite or sleeping under the starlight, despite its season.  The clean crystal-clear shallow water surrounded by the lovely pohutukawa trees (NZ Christmas trees) spread across the smooth white sand makes it much safer to swim with enough facilities while prohibiting the domestic animals on the beach. Last but important, this is one of the best-kept secrets of New Zealanders, which they will really get mad for revealing. So, spend a few days exploring this beautiful Fiji-like beach while catching a glimpse of numerous viewpoints overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

 

5. Wharariki Beach, Tasman.

Wharariki is surprisingly a breathtaking beach you can spot after a 20-minute walk from the car park goes over farmland in western golden bay. As a matter of fact, the wild west coast beach situated at the northern end of South Island near Golden Bay is well- worth the 20 minutes for its huge arch-like rock, high sand dunes, giant caves, shimmering rock pools, wonderful coastal forest and mainly for its stunning sceneries that have been attracting photographers and tourists for decades. So it’s best to bring your camera here for the scenery and a sand board for some of the best sand surfing out there rather than your beach towel, as it’s not at all recommended for swimming. This is not only one of the most popular beaches in the world but also among the most beautiful beaches. Since it’s a secluded beach, do try visiting early morning or late afternoon to enjoy the best of it.

 

6. Mount Maunganui, Bay Of Plenty.

Everyone’s favorite in the Bay of Plenty, Mount Maunganui, commonly shortened to “The Mount”, and consistently voted as “Surf City” for the reputation of being the surfing mecca in New Zealand. Located at the end of a peninsula and the town of Mount Maunganui, at the foot of the volcano and viewpoint, where you can get a spectacular view of the peninsula. One of a kind white sandy beach you can not only surf but also swim or learn to swim with the perfect waves, play, shop and dine from the nearest cafes lined up in the large stretch of sand. For good reason, the relaxed beach town is by far one of the world’s most beautiful beaches that attracts tourists and locals alike in every season and one of the New Zealand’s easy vacation spots to unwind in the sunshine or just simply soak up the atmosphere for its fine weather year-round.

 

7. Hot Water Beach, Coromandel Peninsula.

As the name itself says, this is one of the geothermal wonders on earth you can enjoy in summer, winter or any time of the year.  What makes Hot Water Beach in the Coromandel so enticing is that you can dig your own Jacuzzi! Yes! You got it right! A spade and some energy is all you need to dig your own hot water pool and relax in a personal natural spa, which is full of healthy minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, etc. But, be sure to check if the tide is low before digging up the sand. Because at low tide, a section becomes exposed where hot water spring runs under the sand. Once you spot the location, dig yourself a hole and find the hot water bubbling beneath. If you fail to locate the spot, just chill out and follow the lead! For Aucklanders, it’s a 2-hour drive from the city and the regular visitors who are in the know, usually arrive around two hours before or after the low tide to dig their very own thermal hot pool in the sand.  So, this is somewhat a uniquely beautiful beach you shouldn’t miss in NZ.

 

8. Ohope Beach, Whakatane.

A hidden gem that is very close to New Zealanders. So, no wonder, it’s often referred as “New Zealand’s Most Loved Beach”. The perfect family-friendly paradise to bask in the sun, ride on the breaking waves and swim in the warm waters. This is even worth a stroll to the nearby walkways; Tauwhare Pa and Nga Tapuwae o Toi track for awesome views of whale Island ( wildlife sanctuary) and white Island (active marine volcano), where you can get a gist of the Whakatāne District. The Ohope, nestled in the eastern Bay of Plenty region on the North Island, is a few kilometers from Whakatane.  Stretching along the Pacific Ocean with an 11km spread of sand, the beautiful beach offers plenty of opportunities to explore ancient Māori woodcarvings lying in the sand, tummy-yummy Mexican food at the beachside restaurants and amazing art galleries nearby, after a day at the beach. Now you must be realizing why this is a must visit.

 

9. Ocean beach, Hawke’s Bay.

The Ocean Beach is a popular spot for surfing and bodysurfing while Hawkes Bay is famous for its wineries, which makes them even more special as you have a better reason to lay your towel here! Every summer, the 7-km long beach is patrolled by the lifesavers to make sure it’s safe for swimmers. Though swimming here can be too riskier than most east coast beaches. The dramatic beach offers a beautiful stretch of golden sand backed by wonderful views of picturesque mountains but, if that’s not enough you can head to capture the gorgeous sun rising with soft pastel colors in the sky, which is a dream of every photographer.  By far one of the world’s most beautiful beaches, you can reach in just 20 minutes from Havelock North or less than half an hour from Hastings. While visiting this beach, make sure to drop by Mount Maunganui at its western end that has placid harbor beach for a good swim.

 

10. Koekohe Beach, Waitaki.

The pristine cool beach is worth the journey for its incredible Moeraki Boulders, which are a bizarre group of spherical stones formed over 60 million years ago from prehistoric mud. Each of the Moeraki Boulders scattered across the sand, weigh several tons and measure up to three meters high. Most rocks have cracks in their surfaces making them appear like giant dragon eggs where least of them look like cracked eggs. There is no better reason to visit Koekohe Beach than of course to jump around the 50 boulders that are close together. Since this is located between Moeraki and Hampden, it is an easy drive from south of Oamuru (30 minutes) or from north of Dunedin (1-hour drive). The unique sight of this beach makes this even more beautiful among the many in NZ. Besides dipping in the water slipping into a wetsuit, this also provides magnificent views of yellow-eyed penguins, fur seals and hector’s dolphins, where you can completely enjoy the rare wildlife while listening to the powerful sound of the waves crashing against the uncorrupted shoreline.