Glittering sandy shores, enticing turquoise waters and elaborate crystal skies — the best beaches in New Zealand conspire to entangle one in their web of charm. Adorned with breathtakingly beautiful beaches, the country offers perfect opportunities to experience that paradisiacal dream.
To help you plan a beach holiday in the land of Kiwis, we bring to you the top 20 beaches in the island nation. Don’t forget to include put include them in your bucket list while a trip to New Zealand.
20 Best Beaches In New Zealand
- Bioluminescent Mosquito Bay – South Island
- Wharariki Beach – Cape Farewell, South Island
- Koekohe Beach – North Otago, South Island
- Awaroa Beach – Abel Tasman, South Island
- Kaiteriteri Beach – Nelson, South Island
- Sandfly Bay – Abel Tasman, South Island
- Tunnel Beach – Dunedin, South Island
- Piha Beach – Auckland
- Karekare – West Auckland
- Mission Bay – Auckland
- Onetangi Beach – Waiheke Island, Auckland
- Ninety Mile Beach – Northland
- Ngarunui Beach – North Island
- Hot Water Beach – Coromandel Peninsula, North Island
- New Chums Beach – Coromandel Peninsula, North Island
- Takou Bay – North Island
- Waimarama Beach – Hawke’s Bay, North Island
- Whale Bay – Raglan
- Mount Maunganui Beach – Tauranga, North Island
- Ocean Beach – Mount Maunganui
1. Bioluminescent Mosquito Bay – South Island
This unconventional yet exceptionally beautiful beach in South Island offers experiences to be cherished for a lifetime. A visit to the Mosquito bay at night offers a dreamlike view of the glowing waters off the Kaipara Harbour. Claiming top spot among best beaches in New Zealand, Mosquito bay makes a certain entry to your itinerary.
Famous for: Night time activities, taking a walk alongside the beach, and kayaking in the fluorescent waters
Best time to visit: Throughout the year
Must Read: 11 Sparkling Places That Appear To Be From Another World But Are Actually On Earth
2. Wharariki Beach – Cape Farewell, South Island
Famous for: Eco tours, surfing, and fishing
3. Koekohe Beach – North Otago, South Island
Touted as the second best beach in New Zealand, Koekohe Beach on the Otago coast is lined with huge, round moeraki boulders. With the melting sun at the horizon and naughty water under the feet, an evening spent at this beach gets embedded in memories for life.
Famous for: Unique rock like structures, stunning oceanic views, and sunset photography
Best time to visit: Throughout the year
4. Awaroa Beach – Abel Tasman, South Island
Famous for: Kayaking, fishing, and sailing
5. Kaiteriteri Beach – Nelson, South Island
Located on South Island and adjacent to Abel Tasman National Park, Kaiteriteri Beach has the longest hours of the sunshine in New Zealand. With its quartz-rich golden colored sand, this one among the most beautiful beaches in New Zealand is a perfect chance to rejoice the warmth of the day. Sunbathing on mind, anyone?
Best time to visit: Throughout the year
Famous for: Sunbathing, kayaking, swimming, local seafood, and sighting dolphins, seals and penguins
Suggested Read: 15 Fun Things To Do In New Zealand
6. Sandfly Bay – Abel Tasman, South Island
7. Tunnel Beach – Dunedin, South Island
An outcome of coastal erosion over the ages, Tunnel Beach Walkway is an amazing marvel of nature. An easy, little undulating and enjoyable walk to the tunnel offers spectacular views of the ocean weaving magic along its waves.
Famous for: The scenic views from the vantage point, and romantic walk by the beach
Best time to visit: November to May. The walkway is closed from August 1st to October 31st
8. Piha Beach – Auckland
One of the most popular black sand beaches in New Zealand, Piha has made a mark as a much sought after wild surfing and swimming destination in New Zealand. Since it has a rocky shore, it is advised to swim only in designated areas guarded by lifesavers.
Famous for: Surfing, lion rock climbing, and trekking up to Kitekite Falls
Best time to visit: Summer season (December – March)
Suggested Read: 10 Best Places To Visit In Auckland For An Unforgettable NZ Vacay
9. Karekare – West Auckland
Famous for: Surfing, and black sand beach
10. Mission Bay – Auckland
The coastal strip of Mission Bay is lined with plenty of Pohutukawa (read as native Christmas tree) on golden sand, along with numerous local eateries, shacks, ice cream parlors, cafes, and pubs. The beach has secured its place among the best beaches in Auckland, for the blend of relaxing, idyllic and fun experience it provides.
Famous for: Sunbathing, and relaxing
Best time to visit: Throughout the year
11. Onetangi Beach – Waiheke Island, Auckland
Famous for: Beach racing which comprises of tractor racing, horse racing, and segway racing
12. Ninety Mile Beach – Northland
Located at the northernmost tip of New Zealand, this golden sandy beach is just beside Aupouri Forest. The shore area is dotted with sand dunes resembling a desert landscape. The name is a misnomer as the beach stretch is actually 55 miles long. Perfect for a day out on a summer noon, Ninety Mile is among the best beaches in New Zealand.
Famous for: Sunbathing, and driving along the shore
Best time to visit: Round the year
13. Ngarunui Beach – North Island
Famous for: Being called as surf capital of New Zealand, and sunbathing
14. Hot Water Beach – Coromandel Peninsula, North Island
Coromandel Peninsula’s Hot Water beach offers the best subsurface hot water springs that gush out between tides. The geothermal mineral spa with hot water on the beach allows people to dig their own pools in the sand.
Famous for: Relaxing, and soaking in the thermal water on the beach
Best time to visit: Winter season (June – August)
Must Read: Walk Into The Dreamy World Of Waitomo Glowworm Caves, It’s Magical!
15. New Chums Beach – Coromandel Peninsula, North Island
Located in Wainuiototo Bay on the north-eastern coast of Coromandel Peninsula, the New Chums beach is accessible either by boat/kayak or by trekking for some 30-40 minutes through shrubs and bushes. It is one of the still-virgin beaches of New Zealand that offers enthralling landscape beauty.
Famous for: Trekking, swimming, kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing, and surfing
Best time to visit: Throughout the year
16. Takou Bay – North Island
Famous for: Surfing, and swimming
Suggested Read: 20 Fictional Places That You Can Visit In Real Life
17. Waimarama Beach – Hawke’s Bay, North Island
Famous for: Fishing, and family picnic
18. Whale Bay – Raglan
Whale bay, hailed among the best beaches in New Zealand, is a coastal strip with an unconventional beach in Raglan. The popular and graveled Whaanga Coast Road starts from here and stretches southward to Ruapuke between Mount Karioi and the Tasman Sea.
Famous for: Surfing, and relaxing at the beach shacks
Best time to visit: All year round
Suggested Read: 24 Famous New Zealand Tourist Attractions That One Should Visit
19. Mount Maunganui Beach – Tauranga, North Island
Famous for: Swimming, surfing, shopping, and golf play
20. Ocean Beach – Mount Maunganui
Famous for: Surfing, plenty of dining, and shopping options
Further Read: Honeymoon In New Zealand: 12 Exotic Destinations For A Fairy-Tale Honeymoon
If your traveler instinct is tickling, this time it has to be one of the stunning beaches in New Zealand. Make sure, your cameras are ever-ready!
A book lover and fun-loving, overtly emotional mom with a wanderlust soul, Sukanya has completed her Master Degree in Geography and currently perusing her passion for writing as a profession. Nothing detoxes her more than trying new recipes and travelling to offbeat places is ultimate Therapy for her.
