The 10 Best Beaches on New Zealand’s North Island

When people think about New Zealand, “amazing beaches” usually doesn’t come to mind. But the land of the Kiwis is blessed with some stunning coastline and gorgeous beaches, on top of the rugged mountains and epic fjords. Especially on the warmer North Island. Here we will go through the most beautiful and best beaches on the North Island of New Zealand. 

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Best Beaches in New Zealand – North Island

I lived in New Zealand for two years and saw every nook and cranny of this stunning country. I also spent a solid amount of time exploring its beaches. Most of these North Island beaches are relatively close to Auckland, as the climate is warmer and the beaches sandier. No summer trip to New Zealand is complete without spending at least some time at one of these amazing beaches.

Most of these beaches are pretty remote, so you’ll need to have a rental car on your trip to New Zealand to get there. You can use the search bar below to find the best rental car deals in Auckland or elsewhere in New Zealand.

So without further ado, let’s take a closer look at the best beaches, in no particular order. You can use the map above to see exactly where each beach is on Google Maps.

1. Cathedral Cove

Perhaps the most jaw-dropping beach in New Zealand is Cathedral Cove. Located on the east coast of the Coromandel Peninsula, the beach is known for the weathered rock formations and natural arches that dot its coast.

The sandy area is sufficiently wide and behind you there will be white cliffs covered in vegetation. It’s truly one of the most stunning places you’ll ever sunbathe. No New Zealand road trip itinerary is complete without a stop at Cathedral Cove! 

• Driving time from Auckland: 2.5 hours.
• Popularity: Extremely popular and crowded in summer, for good reason. 
• Parking and access: Park in the town of Hahei and take the shuttle to the start of the coastal walkway. It’s about a 45 minute walk along the cliffs to get to the beach. 
• Services: None. Bring everything you need. 
• Accommodation Option: Cathedral Cove and Sunrise holiday home has wonderful views and is the closest accommodation to the start of the walk.

2. Oke Bay

The Bay of Islands is a subtropical microclimate at the far north of New Zealand. Given that, it’s no surprise that there are some fantastic beaches up in this part of the country. Perhaps the most beautiful of them all is Oke bay.

Situated not too far from Russel (the first European settlement in New Zealand) in the province of Northland, Oke Bay is a popular place for people to anchor their boats and have a day at the beach. 

With steep rocky cliffs along the coast, it almost looks more like Thailand than New Zealand. It’s a bit far from the rest of New Zealand’s many natural wonders, so most tourists never make it to the Bay of Islands. But should you find the time you will not be disappointed in Oke Bay. 

• Driving time from Auckland: 3.5 hours.
• Popularity: Popular, and due to its small size it can get crowded, especially when the bay is full of boats. 
• Parking and access: There is no parking for the beach and nothing right by it. Use either the Rawhiti Carpark or the private lot at 253 Rawhiti Road. Both charge $10 to park. From the lots you’ll walk along the road to the Cape Brett walkway trailhead, which will take you down to the beach. 
• Services: None. Bring everything you need. 
• Accommodation option: There is a campsite that you can book online. Other than that there is one massive holiday home you can rent, the Oke Beach House.

3. Waipatiki Beach

Waipatiki Beach is a large cove nestled between steep mountains in Hawke’s Bay. There’s a winding road that leads there off of Highway 2 and that’s really the only way to get there. Before the beach there are a few holiday homes and some cabins you can rent should you wish to stay the night. Other than that it’s very secluded and isolated.

The beach itself offers some stunning views of the coastline. Just be careful about swimming in the water. There are serious riptides at Waipatiki. I learned the hard way when I was almost swept out to sea. 

• Driving time from Auckland: 5.5 hours (bit closer to Wellington).
• Popularity: Decently popular, but no risks of overcrowding. 
• Parking and access: Small but sufficient parking lot at the end of the road. Beach is right after the parking lot. 
• Services: None. The nearest mini-market is about 25 minutes away.
• Accommodation option: Check out Wilson’s Retreat for a nice view of the bay, south of Waipatiki.

4. Opito Bay

A little bit further north on the Coromandel Peninsula lies Opito Bay. A sandy cove with sprawling cliffs to the east, Opito Bay will take your breath away. And with water so shallow and blue you’d think you were in Sardinia.

The beach is vast and will give you plenty of room to spread out. Walk up the little mountain to the east for an amazing view of the entire cove. While it’s not too popular of a place, you’ll quickly realize why it’s made the top 10 beaches on the North Island of New Zealand once you visit.

• Driving time from Auckland: 3 hours.
• Popularity: On the low side, no risks of overcrowding. 
• Parking and access: No real parking lot, but plenty of street parking in the grass. Easy access to beach from anywhere along the road.
• Services: Half the beach has a road running parallel to it. The road is lined with private homes and holiday rentals. There is a public restroom at the end of the road and the other half of the beach is untouched. 
• Accommodation option: There are a few holiday homes right on the beach, like Opito Perfection. Talk about a relaxing stay!

5. Maitai Bay

Another gorgeous beach in the far north of New Zealand is Maitai Bay. Nestled away on a quiet cove on the Karikari Peninsula, Maitai Bay will provide you with splendid blue water that will make you think you’re in the Mediterranean.

There’s a large campsite right on the bay, and an equally as beautiful cove called Waikato Bay on the other side of a rocky little peninsula. Desolate and unspoiled by human activity, Maitai Bay is a peak into what New Zealand looked like before the arrival of the European settlers. 

• Driving time from Auckland: 4.5 hours.
• Popularity: Not too popular due to remote location, no real risks of overcrowding. 
• Parking and access: Small but sufficient parking lot at the end of the road by the campsite. 
• Services: Just a basic toilet at the campsite. There is a small village just 10 minutes away with a mini-market though. 
• Accommodation option: There is nothing at the bay, but the Whatuwhiwhi Top 10 Holiday Park is nearby on Tokerau Beach.

6. Tairua Beach

If we wanted to list every beach in the Northland in this list, we could. The beaches up there are amazing. But we can’t leave out some of the beaches that are far more easy to access and easier to take your children to. So let’s spread the love.

Tairua Beach is one of the easiest getaways from Auckland and has a stunning coast to match anything in Northland. Near the beginning of the Coromandel Peninsula, it’s the main beach for the small town of Tairua, which is known as a vacation destination for Aucklanders and other Kiwis alike. 

The Tairua Peninsula sticks out into the Pacific Ocean and features the summit of Mount Paku, which rises from the shores in all directions. The slopes of Mount Paku are covered in beautiful homes, many of which can be rented for cheaper than you’d think. It’s the perfect place to spend an entire weekend, and is also only a 35 minute drive to Cathedral Cove. 

• Driving time from Auckland: 2 hours.
• Popularity: The Tairua region is very popular, but the beach itself is never too crowded. 
• Parking and access: There’s one small parking lot for the beach, but it’s also an easy walk if you’re staying anywhere near Mount Paku or along the coast. 
• Services: There is a public bathroom and there is a road parallel to the beach that is lined with homes. Tairua town is only a few minutes away by car. 
• Accommodation option: Consider Fantail B&B on Mount Paki. Tairua has plenty of hotels and holiday homes to rent though.

7) Bay View

Switching it up a bit, Bay View isn’t necessarily a beautiful beach, but earns a spot on the top 10 list for its unique endless stretch of black sand.

Volcanic beaches are not as common in New Zealand as you’d think. And the most easily accessible volcanic black sand beach is this beach just north of Napier in Hawke’s Bay. The sand is actually more like tiny pebbles, but you can enjoy the calm waters from the black beach with a glass of Hawke’s Bay’s excellent wine. 

• Driving time from Auckland: 5 hours
• Popularity: Not too popular, never crowds. 
• Parking and access: There’s a road that runs parallel to the beach that is lined with houses and holiday homes. There is no official parking lot but plenty of street parking. 
• Services: There are a few cafes and B&Bs along the road, even a beautiful winery. You’re not very far from Napier either. But along the beach itself there are no services. 
• Accommodation option: Right across the street from the beach you’ll find Kingston, a beautiful, modern holiday home with a wonderful back yard.

8) Maunganui Beach 

Maunganui Beach is the main beach destination for Tauranga, New Zealand’s 5th most populated metropolitan area, as it’s just next door. The beach lies at the bottom of Mount Maunganui, a steep conical mountain that comes out of the end of a small peninsula east of Tauranga. The beach stretches south for miles, but the main strip is just at the base of the mountain. 

Maunganui Beach is also one of few beaches in New Zealand where you can see little blue penguins. The smallest species of penguin, they are pretty elusive and you’re more likely to see their nests than the birds themselves. But if you’re lucky and strolling the beach at night you just might get a glimpse of one of these little guys! 

• Driving time from Auckland: 3 hours
• Popularity: Very popular due to proximity to a decent population center, but large enough to spread out. 
• Parking and access: Street parking is at an angle so there is ample parking along the main road that runs parallel to the beach. Beach access points are continuous along the road.  
• Services: The beach is just two blocks from a busy area with plenty of restaurants and shops. But in typical New Zealand style there is nothing directly on the beach other than a public toilet. 
• Accommodation option: There are a lot of apartments for rent on the beach, but consider the Downtown Mountview holiday home rental for your stay in Mount Maunganui.

9. Piha Beach

The closest beach to Auckland on this list, Piha Beach might remind Americans of the coast of Oregon. While it doesn’t have the beautiful sand you’ll find in Northland, it more than makes up for it with stunning rock formations coming right out of the beach.

Make sure to do the short but steep hike to the top of Lion Rock, which is sort of a giant hump in the earth, seemingly coming out of nothing. While you’re hiking, make sure to head up to Tasman Lookout for a great view of the beach from above.

The sand at Piha Beach is sort of half volcanic black sand and half normal sand. But as you’ve gathered by now, Piha is more for the hiking and rocky coastal views than sunbathing. You’ll also find it more popular for surfing than swimming. Whatever you decide to do there a day at Piha Beach won’t disappoint! 

• Driving time from Auckland: Less than 1 hour.
• Popularity: Pretty popular due to proximity to Auckland, but you’re never gonna feel like you’re out of space.
• Parking and access: There is plenty of parking along the main road with numerous beach access points.
• Services: You guessed it, a public toilet and not much else other than a road lined with holiday homes. Piha village is just a half km away and easy to walk to. In the village you’ll find a cafe and a bar as well as a few shops and a lawn bowling club. 
• Accommodation option: Give Romantic Piha a shot, or if you have a lot of people you can get epic views from Sea View Sun and Surf Piha.

10. Ninety Mile Beach

Ninety Mile Beach in the very far north of New Zealand has a bit of a deceiving name. It’s actually only 55 miles long (88 km). But that’s still a pretty damn long beach, especially for a mountainous country where coves are more common.

The beach stretches from near Cape Reinga – the farthest north spot in the country – south down to Ahipara, where some small mountains make an appearance. 

Ninety Mile Beach isn’t exactly the east coast of Florida. It’s more common to drive it in a 4×4 or hike it than it is to lay out in the sun for a day on the beach. At the north end of the beach there’s also an area of giant sand dunes just off the coast, a rare sight in a country with no desert ecosystem. The sand dunes are popular for sand boarding and convincing your friends you’re in the Sahara. Stopping by the sand dunes is a must-do when visiting Ninety Mile Beach.

• Driving time from Auckland: 5.5 hours
• Popularity: The sand dunes are popular, but the beach itself is huge and you’re not going to get stuck in a traffic jam.  
• Parking and access: The sand dunes and the beach are accessible by dirt roads off of Highway 1. There’s a small parking lot at the sand dunes but no official parking for anywhere else along the beach until you get to Ahipara.
• Services: None. You’re on your own at Ninety Mile Beach if you’re outside of Ahipara. 
• Accommodation option: At the south end of Ninety Mile Beach you’ll find Gems Seaside Lodge, which looks out over the bay and has a tropical island vibe.

So there you have it. The top 10 best beaches on the North Island of New Zealand. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!

North Island Beaches – FAQs