The 12 best beaches in New Zealand

With 15,000km of coastline, New Zealand is a haven for beach lovers. From the tip of the North Island to the deepest reaches of the South Island, New Zealand's diverse shoreline dishes up everything from beaches for a lazy day to active adventures such as swimming, walking, kayaking and surfing.

Finding a great strip of sand in New Zealand is easy, but if you want to narrow down your coastal hit list, here are our picks of the country's very best beaches you don't want to miss.

North Island

1. Piha, near Auckland

Best for black sand and dramatic surf 

Piha deserves its mantle as Auckland’s most popular day trip beach. Sizzle yourself on its hot black sand, frolic amid foamy white rollers and then wander the beach and surrounding walking tracks to better admire the shapely headlands of Lion Rock and Taitomo Island. At low tide, it’s possible to walk south along the beach and watch the surf shooting through a ravine – dubbed the Keyhole – in another large formation known as Camel Rock (Taitomo to Māori).

Although Piha is popular, it’s also incredibly dangerous, with wild surf and strong undercurrents. It even spawned its own popular reality-TV show, Piha Rescue. The show is no longer in production, so you won't be starring on TV if you take silly risks. Maybe just play it safe and always swim between the volunteer surf lifesaver's flags.

• Location: Piha is 38km from central Auckland on the North Island's west coast.

• Parking: There’s a car park a short walk from the sand, or try on Marine Parade if it is full. 

• Amenities: Enjoy lunch with a view at the iconic Piha Surf Life Saving Club. There’s also a Returned Services’ Association, a campground, general store (which sells hot food), an occasional coffee stall, and an art gallery here.

• Hours: Open 24 hours.

• Dog-friendly: Dogs are not allowed.

2. Ninety Mile Beach, Northland 

Best for a unique beach experience

It’s a poorly kept secret, but the North Island's famous Ninety Mile Beach is in fact only 88km long, but you won't feel short-changed here.

Starting near Kaitaia and ending close to Cape Reinga (Te Rerenga Wairua) – New Zealand’s spiritual northern point – is an epic expanse of sand and endless ocean backed by massive dunes that you can board down. This vast beach disappearing into the misty distance is an incredible sight. Surfers may be keen to try its left-hand surf break. Others are delighted to find you can drive on the beach (ideally in a 4WD) when the tide is out. However, be warned: rental companies won’t let you take their vehicles here. Instead book a tour on the beach with local outfits in Kaitaia.

A great spot to visit the beach by foot is from the Cape Te Paki Stream car park. The walkway from here leads to the beach and northwards to Scott Point.

• Location: North of Kaitaia at the northern tip of the North Island.

• Parking: Car parking is available in designated areas along the route.

• Amenities: Kaitaia is the last large town for supplies and fuel. There are toilet stops along the way and at Cape Reinga lookout.

• Hours: Open 24 hours.

• Dog-friendly: Dogs are allowed but be aware there may be cars driving on the sand.

3. New Chums Beach, Coromandel Peninsula

Best for a sense of adventure 

Beautiful beaches are everywhere on the Coromandel Peninsula, but New Chums is our pick for its isolation. It’s actually only half an hour’s walk from Whangapoua car park, but such is the rock-hopping and scampering required that many don’t even attempt it. Wear comfortable, non-slip shoes, and it's best to avoid high tide.

The reward for those who do make the hike is a beach so golden, a sea so glittering, pōhutukawa trees so gnarled (and resplendent in red blooms around Christmas), that this New Zealand beach may bring a tear to your eye. What’s more, you might have it all to yourself.

• Location: Coromandel Peninsula, North Island.

• Parking: Leave your car at the carpark at the north end of Wangapoua beach. 

• Amenities: There are no amenities at this beach, take everything you need with you and, of course, leave no trace of your visit. 

• Hours: Open 24 hours.

• Dog-friendly: Dogs are not allowed.

4. Ngarunui, Raglan

Best for friendly surf

Raglan is waxhead central, with serious surfers heading to Manu Bay, rumoured to have the world’s longest left-hand break. Mere mortals are better off at nearby Ngarunui, where friendlier surf allows for safer swimming, even more so from October to April when the beach is patrolled by lifeguards. 

It’s a busy and entertaining place on fine, summer days, especially when visitors to Raglan Surf School are giving this surfing lark a go. It’s also great for body surfing and boogie boarding. Pack your things and join the fun. 

• Location: 5km (10-minute drive) west of Raglan in the Waikato of the North Island.

• Parking: Car parking is available.

• Amenities: There are public toilets, change rooms and showers, plus the Raglan Surf Life Saving Club. 

• Hours: Open 24 hours.

• Dog-friendly: Dogs are not allowed.

5. Wainui, Tairāwhiti

Best for watching the sunrise

Meaning “big water” in Māori, it’s no surprise that New Zealand has more places named Wainui than you can poke an oar at. Just up the coast of Tairāwhiti Gisborne, this Wainui is a cracker: it offers great swimming and a quality surf break, backed by a series of dune and bush reserves. 

Wainui sustains a close-knit community of ocean-lovers, including stalwarts of the surf-lifesaving club.

• Location: 6km (10-minute drive) from Gisborne on the east coast of the North Island.

• Parking: Car parking available just north of the Surf Lifesaving Club. 

• Amenities: There’s a small town, public toilets and an excellent cafe: Zephyr Wainui, which serves up plant-based smoothies and bowls.

• Hours: Open 24 hours.

• Dog-friendly: Dogs are allowed but must be kept under control.

6. Cathedral Cove, Coromandel Peninsula

Best for an iconic photo opportunity

Beautiful Cathedral Cove, with its famous gigantic stone arch and natural waterfall shower, is an iconic New Zealand beach that has been known to draw massive crowds. To walk here, start from nearby Hahei. The 2.5km walk takes 45 minutes with some stairs involved and has jaw-dropping views out to the ocean. It's also possible to reach the cove by water taxi, boat or kayak from Hahei. 

Check for updates on the status of the side tracks to Gemstone and Stingray Bays. When they’re open, you should pack your swimsuit, snorkel and flippers and head to the snorkelling trails to spot crayfish, stingrays and large friendly snapper. This is part of Te Whanganui-a-Hei Marine Reserve, so the underwater life is abundant. 

• Location: 180km from Auckland on the Coromandel Peninsula, North Island 

• Parking: Free parking is available at Hahei Visitors Car Park, which is on the other side of town. There’s very limited parking at the start of the track. 

• Amenities: You can catch a shuttle to the start of the track with Cathedral Cove Park and Ride from 9am-6pm from December to April). There’s also a public toilet at the start of the track. An ice cream van is sometimes open about half way along the walking track.

• Hours: Open 24 hours.

• Dog-friendly: Dogs are not allowed.

South Island

7. Anchorage, Abel Tasman National Park

Best for arrival by foot or water taxi

Picking the best beach in Abel Tasman National Park isn’t easy, for its coastline boasts one stunner after another. Anchorage stakes a strong claim not only for its sheer natural beauty – a gently sloping arc of golden sand, fringed with lush forest – but also for its access to a beautiful stretch of the coastal Great Walk. It’s possible to overnight in the conservation campsite or hut here, which should allow time to take the short side-trip to magical Cleopatra’s Pool waterfalls.

• Location: 10km walk from Mārahau at Abel Tasman National Park, South Island

• Parking: There’s no carparking. You can either walk in and out, or take a water taxi to visit.

• Amenities: There’s a Department of Conservation (DOC) campsite with flushing toilets and a sheltered camp kitchen plus picnic tables.

• Hours: Open 24 hours.

• Dog-friendly: Dogs are not allowed.

8. Pūrākaunui Bay, The Catlins

Best for getting away from it all

The nearest town (Owaka, population 300) is 16km away from what can be described as a genuine “hidden gem." This super-sleepy corner of The Catlins has few claims to fame, save a small role in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005). And hooray for that, because Pūrākaunui Bay is all about peace and quiet. This is a picturesque beach, framed by high cliffs, with pockets of native bush and a large grassy reserve.

There’s blissfully little to do here, except swimming when the surf’s off, and surfing when it’s on. It's the perfect beach if you want to truly unwind and feel like you’re on a 1970s family holiday. Bring your own book and board games. 

• Location: 130km south from Dunedin in the Catlin’s region of the South Island

• Parking: Plenty of car parking is available. 

• Amenities: There’s a campsite with toilets, untreated water, and firepits.

• Hours: Open 24 hours.

• Dog-friendly: Dogs allowed but must be kept on a leash.

9. Wharariki Beach, Golden Bay

Best for photography

Brace yourself for an eye-popping surprise after a 20-minute walk in western Golden Bay. Suddenly, mighty dunes lead down to a wild, West Coast sea. Jagged rock islands stand firm in the shallows, smashed by the waves. At low tide, they're transformed into sea caverns that you can explore. Seals may be seen scampering. Light shimmers across wet, rippled sands. And there’s a windy walk to Cape Farewell for more photographic views and Farewell Spit.

Unfortunately Wharariki Beach is too dangerous for swimming, so don’t bother with the beach towel. Instead, time your visit for early morning or late afternoon – and definitely bring your camera. If the view looks familiar, you're right: this beach featured on Windows 10!

• Location: It’s 150km from Nelson. This is the northernmost tip of the South Island.

• Parking: It’s a 1km walk to the beach through farmland from the carpark. 

• Amenities: There’s a public toilet at the carpark. You may also find the tiny Archway Cafe as well as Wharariki Holiday Park here. The nearest town is Collingwood (30km).

• Hours: Open 24 hours.

• Dog-friendly: Dogs are not allowed.

10. St Clair, Dunedin

Best city center beach

St Clair is a popular city beach for swimming (watch for rips), surfing (it boasts a consistently good left-hand break) and strolling. This gorgeous golden-sand beach is a mere 5km from the center of the city and can be reached via bus, car or foot (the walk back up the hill after a long day in the sun can be a challenge). Plan your visit to St Clair for low tide to get the most beach time.

For the less confident swimmer, there is also an outdoor heated salt-water pool at the southern end of the beach, built in the late 1800s but modernized since. 

Round your day out with a bite to each overlooking the ocean at one of the restaurants here, like the ever-popular Esplanade which serves up pizza and pasta, or Spirit House with its excellent Asian menu including Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese dishes.  

• Location: 5km from Dunedin city center, South Island.

• Parking: Parking is available on the beach front and neighboring streets.

• Amenities: As well as public toilets, there are local shops and eateries, and an ocean pool.

• Hours: Open 24 hours.

• Dog-friendly: Dogs are allowed on the beach before 8am and after 8pm. 

11. Waikuku Beach, near Christchurch

Best for driftwood and birdwatching

Christchurch’s city beaches – including Sumner and New Brighton – typically get all the glory. But you only have to head 30 minutes north of the city to get miles of pristine, wide beach nearly all to yourself.

Stretching from the Pines Beach in the south to Waikuku Beach in the north, this 13km curve of beach is favored by surfers, dog walkers and thoroughbred harness racers. (Visit at low tide to watch the horses in action near Woodend Beach, where they pull carts and riders at full click beside crashing waves.) But with so much space, there’s plenty of room to spread out. The water – like much of the South Island – isn’t exactly balmy, but kids will love exploring the driftwood sculptures that regular beachgoers have created near the dunes and watching oystercatchers digging in the sand for shellfish.

For a half-day excursion, start your walk at Waikuku Beach, stop into the town of Pegasus for lunch. Then for a change of scenery, return via the Tūtaepatu Trail through pine forests. 

• Location: 30km north of Christchurch, South Island

• Parking: Free car parking available, then it’s a short walk from there through trees to the beach. 

• Amenities: Public toilets, a small general store in town, plus a surf life saving club, and a small holiday park by the beach.

• Hours: Open 24 hours

• Dog-friendly: Dogs are allowed on the beach but not near the Ashley-Rakahuri estuary.

12. Scott’s Beach, Kahurangi National Park

Best for remote, yet accessible

The coastal crescendo of Kahurangi National Park’s multiday Heaphy Track, this remote beach can also be reached from the northern extremity of the West Coast Road. And what a journey it is: after the intensely scenic drive through Karamea to Kōhaihai is this end-of-the-line camping reserve in a magnificent estuary setting.

From here you venture by foot into the national park, over a low hill for 3km to Scott’s Beach. Although it may be shrouded in a salt mist, this beguiling scene features jagged rocks, nikau palm forest and powerful waves clawing at the driftwood-strewn beach.

• Location: In Kahurangi National Park, it is accessible by foot from Kōhaihai Campsite on the West Coast Region of the South Island.

• Parking: No parking at the beach this is a journey by foot.

• Amenities: There are no amenities except for a long-drop toilet and fireplace.

• Hours: Open 24 hours.

• Dog-friendly: Dogs are not allowed.