Best Beach (North or South Island)
 

We (my wife and 2 year old boy) are comtemplating going on 3 month holiday to New Zealand and wanted to rent a house somewhere near (or even on) an amazing beach that isn't too far from civilisation. We are obviously not restricted by location and wondered where you guys thought the best beaches in NZ are....

Re: Best Beach (North or South Island)
 

It depends on what u want if its surfing then Piha north west of auckland is great we live in Papamoa near Tauranga here there is a very long beach all the way from mt maunganui for about 23 ks, this is a top surfing beach, also down at mount maunganui there is Pilot bay which faces Tauranga and is very sheltered for the kids. there are many more Like wahi then up the coromandle at whitianga and hot water beach. Don't forget the lakes as well where kids can play, Rotorua, very smelly(volcanic sulphur) and Taupo ehich is beautiful. there are many others
good luck Tony

Re: Best Beach (North or South Island)
 

Easy,


Mount Maunganui.
Has the benefit of surf beach one side and a sheltered on the other. The Mount is full of great bars / cafe`s and shops but not too big. Its a 10 min drive into the main city of Tauranga. Only an hours drive to Rotorua, a must visit location. A good starting point to travel up the Corramandel Peninsula which is simply stunning. Plus because of the Kaimai mountain range , we are protected from some weather fronts and have some of the best weather in NZ. If you get bored there are a million and one things to do including climbing the fantastic back drop and iconic Mauao (probably spelt wrong)
Other than that, New Zealand is covered in fantastic and mostly empty beaches. Some are isolated, some have great camp sites, some have small towns, depends really on what you want.
Northland and Paihia and Russell are also stunning with some great boat trips with 90 mile beach (isolated, other than the buses!!) on your doorstep.
I`m sure that you will get many many different opinions so good luck.
Ash

Re: Best Beach (North or South Island)
 

Have to agree!!

The Mount stretching down to Papamoa.

You can find somewhere with no-one else about, or you can head towards the busier parts.

And close to hot pools as well!!

Re: Best Beach (North or South Island)
 

All the best ones are a secret!

Northland is full of the most spectacular beaches I've ever seen.
:D

Re: Best Beach (North or South Island)
 

My top 5 beaches which you can stay at would be:

(in no particular order)

Tata Beach - Golden Bay/Abel Tasman
Stewart Island
Riverton or Colac Bay - near Invercargill
Kaiteriteri - Nelson/Abel Tasman
Coopers Beach and environs - Doubtless Bay(Northland)

None of them probably meet most European's views on what being close to civilisation means - therein lies the difference between what is a great NZ beach and a normal beach (IMO).

Re: Best Beach (North or South Island)
 

Thanks guys, that's really useful. I can now start researching.

Re: Best Beach (North or South Island)
 

Abel Tasman Ntl Park has some spectacular beaches but not accessible by road (only 2 day hike or canoe). Well worth it though if it's beaches that you're after.

Re: Best Beach (North or South Island)
 

Have to agree with you on Kaiteriteri :wub:

Re: Best Beach (North or South Island)
 

Ohope beach is pretty good.

Re: Best Beach (North or South Island)
 

Waimarama in Hawkes Bay in my opinion

Re: Best Beach (North or South Island)
 

Others have said the best beaches in the NI. In the South the problem is temperature. There are lovely beaches at Kaikoura, and Akaroa. Further south there is a small beach at Timaru and surf beaches at Oamaru and Dunedin. The most gorgeous SI beaches are further south, but they are so cold that the sea lions and seals have them to themselves mostly. :o

Re: Best Beach (North or South Island)
 

The far north beaches are lovely. One of my favourites as a child was Whatuwhiwhi
http://www.whatuwhiwhi.co.nz/photoalbum.html

Possibly wouldn't meet your criteria about not being too far from civilisation though.

Another one i liked was Waipu Cove - about 20 minutes south of Whangarei
http://www.campwaipucove.com/Camp_Wa..._ID=3918_.html

But, the only beach i have been to recently is Worser Bay (Wellington). So maybe i am just missing white sand!!!

Re: Best Beach (North or South Island)
 

Although Coopers Beach is nice it's a pity its rather spoilt by the dreadful housing stock on the other side of the road. It's the same further up the coast where the beaches have been spoilt by the environment.

Re: Best Beach (North or South Island)
 

I think Pakiri is stunning, something about the whole setting including the islands out to sea.
Bethells Beach west of Auckland seems a bit less wild than Piha etc and has a nice safe stream for the kids to splash about in.
I'm obviously biased, but I also really like my home beach at Orewa - not as "picture-postcard" as the others, but great for windsurfing, kitesurfing etc and a really safe beach for kids to swim off and have fun on. And, it's only 2 min drive from my house:)