The Best Beaches in New Zealand
David Kleyn / Alamy Stock PhotoNew Chums Beach, Coromandel Peninsula
Nestled in the scenic Coromandel Peninsula on New Zealand’s North Island, New Chums Beach is tranquil, remote, and totally undeveloped—you’ll find nothing here but powder-white sand and blindingly blue water. Getting there is a challenge: You have to hike for almost an hour through a nikau palm forest, then wade through a shallow lagoon to a set of craggy boulders that finally lead you down onto the beach. But for your own deserted stretch of paradise, we'd say it's well worth the trek.
AlamyHot Water Beach, Coromandel Peninsula
Hot Water Beach isn’t just easy on the eyes—it’s good for your health, too. At the southern end of the beach, naturally heated, mineral-rich waters bubble up from the deep, emerging through silky golden sands to create natural spa pools where you can soak in the summer and winter. (Just make sure you visit during low tide, lest the pools disappear; you can check tide times at thecoromandel.com). Soaking not high-impact enough for you? Fear not: Come high tide, the beach is excellent for surfing and swimming.
David Wall / Alamy Stock PhotoAwaroa Beach, Abel Tasman National Park, Nelson
Though nearby Kaiteriteri Beach is more accessible and arguably just as beautiful, we love Awaroa for its seclusion: all the way inside Abel Tasman National Park, where it can only be reached by walking across the beautiful Awaroa inlet during low tide, or by water taxi or seaplane. Like all the beaches in Abel Tasman, Awaroa is a photographer’s dream, with its turquoise water and impossibly bright sand (thanks to its unusually high level of quartz) backed by a thick wall of forest. Added bonus: With more than 2,500 hours of sunshine a year, Nelson is the sunniest place in New Zealand, meaning you can enjoy Awaroa’s warm waters all year round.
Robert Harding / Alamy Stock PhotoKoekohe Beach, Otago Coast
Thanks to the presence of the strikingly large, spherical Moeraki Boulders—the ancient remains of the sunken Araiteuru voyaging canoe, according to Maori legend—Koekohe Beach is one of New Zealand’s most photogenic beaches. The 40 or so boulders, which spill across the beach like enormous marbles, are the Otago coast’s biggest tourist attraction, although Koekohe has many charms besides them. Take dip in its cool, crystalline waters; sunbathe on its ever-so-soft sand; or hike up to the viewing platform to enjoy panoramic views of the entire length of beach.
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Simon Browitt / Alamy Stock PhotoOnetangi Beach, Waiheke Island
As if Waiheke Island didn’t already have enough to offer with its wineries, craft breweries, cafes, and restaurants, it’s also home to some of the finest beaches in New Zealand. Waiheke’s jewel is Onetangi, a three-mile-long, north-facing beach that boasts shallow aquamarine waters and pristine golden sand, sheltered by kauri-cloaked cliffs. Thanks to its remote location in Northern Waiheke, it’s also perpetually deserted. A heads up: The beach's western end, which is often inaccessible at high tide, is clothing-optional.
Adam van Bunnens / Alamy Stock PhotoBream Bay, Whangarei
An idyllic, five-mile curve of white sand on the North Island’s northwest coast, Bream Bay offers something for every kind of beach-goer. You’ll find excellent surf breaks at Ruakaka; milder swells and perfect picnic spots at One Tree Point; and a clothing-optional, anything-goes vibe at Uretiti. There’s even a campsite tucked behind the sand dunes toward the northern end of the bay, and plenty of beachfront accommodations should you be tempted to stay the night—which, of course, you will be.