North island - all beaches

Choose the best one from 290 beaches
272
Good for Relax beaches
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69
Pet friendly beaches
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About North island

The gentle sea with the purest water and the magnificent sandy beaches of North island attract more and more tourists yearly. The crystal turquoise color of the seawater sets the level of your vacation somewhere between stunning and perfect. So if you are looking for the perfect sea, this is your place!

North island Best beaches

view the highest rated beaches in area

On map
Takapuna Beach
Takapuna Beach
Takapuna Beach
Good for Relax

Takapuna Beach

Auckland 7.2 km
Very good
8.7
Free entrance • Amenities beach • Easy access • Bright sand • Turquoise pure water • Crowded in season
5.1 Amenities index
Ngarunui Beach
Ngarunui Beach
Ngarunui Beach
Good for Relax

Ngarunui Beach

Rangipu 2.1 km
Very good
8.4
Free entrance • Virgin beach • Easy access • Gray sand • Crowded in season • Large low tide
3 Amenities index
Maraetai Beach
Maraetai Beach
Maraetai Beach
Good for Relax

Maraetai Beach

Maraetai 0.1 km
Very good
8.4
Free entrance • Amenities beach • Easy access • Bright shell sand • Turquoise pure water • Crowded in season
5.3 Amenities index
Whangamata Beach
Whangamata Beach
Whangamata Beach
Good for Relax

Whangamata Beach

Whangamata 0.6 km
Very good
8.4
Free entrance • Amenities beach • Easy access • Bright sand • Turquoise pure water • Crowded in season
3.8 Amenities index
Opito Bay
Opito Bay
Opito Bay
Good for Relax

Opito Bay

Opito 0.9 km
Very good
8.4
Free entrance • Virgin beach • Easy access • Bright sand • Turquoise pure water • Sand bottom
2.8 Amenities index
Hot Water Beach
Hot Water Beach
Hot Water Beach
Good for Relax

Hot Water Beach

Hot Water Beach 0.4 km
Very good
8.3
Free entrance • Virgin beach • Easy access • Bright sand • Crowded in season • Strong current
2.3 Amenities index
View all 290 beaches

Popular types of North island beaches

Sand
Sand
Fine pebble
Fine pebble
Pebble
Pebble
Rocks
Rocks
Remote
Remote
Beaches in small bays
Beaches in small bays
Long beaches
Long beaches
Wild
Wild
Good for Relax
Good for Relax
Kite or windsurfing
Kite or windsurfing
Sup-surfing
Sup-surfing
Surfing
Surfing
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Calm, measured rest and the sound of waves are perhaps the most common associations that arise with the word "beach". This is not surprising, as relaxation is exactly what many beach travelers are looking for. If you associate your vacation primarily with such activity, choose one of the 291 beaches in the island.

To make your choice easier, we have prepared a list of the best beaches for relaxation in North island.

Most beautiful beaches of North island

Cathedral Cove Beach

Cathedral Cove Beach
8.7
Free entrance, Amenities beach, Picturesque
New Zealand, Hahei 1.8 km
Fletcher Beach

Fletcher Beach
8.5
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Picturesque, Easy access, Gray sand & pebble
New Zealand, Fletcher Bay 0.2 km
Lonely Bay

Lonely Bay
8.5
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Picturesque, Easy access, Bright shell sand
New Zealand, Cooks Beach 1.4 km
Maunganui Beach

Maunganui Beach
8.4
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Picturesque, Easy access, Bright sand
New Zealand, Tauranga 6.2 km
Whiritoa Beach

Whiritoa Beach
8.4
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Picturesque, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise pure water
New Zealand, Whiritoa 0.3 km
Cooks Beach

Cooks Beach
8.4
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Picturesque, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise pure water
New Zealand, Ferry Landing 1.7 km
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Quitest and lonely beaches in North island

Te Henga Beach

Te Henga Beach
8.6
Free entrance, Amenities beach, Easy access
New Zealand, Te Henga Bethells Beach 0.7 km
Cheltenham Beach

Cheltenham Beach
8.5
Free entrance, Amenities beach, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise pure water
New Zealand, Auckland 5.2 km
Muriwai Beach

Muriwai Beach
8.4
Free entrance, Amenities beach, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise pure water
New Zealand, Muriwai 1.2 km
Matarangi Beach

Matarangi Beach
8.4
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise pure water, Sand bottom
New Zealand, Matarangi 1.4 km
Whangapoua Beach

Whangapoua Beach
8.4
Free entrance, Amenities beach, Easy access, Bright fine sand, Turquoise pure water, Fine sand bottom
New Zealand, Whangapoua 0.4 km
New Chums Beach

New Chums Beach
8.4
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Picturesque, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise pure water
New Zealand, Whangapoua 1.9 km
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Sandy beaches in North island

Tapotupotu Beach

Tapotupotu Beach
8.3
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Bright fine sand
New Zealand, Karatia (Thoms Landing) 17.2 km
Ahipara Beach

Ahipara Beach
8.3
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Bright fine sand
New Zealand, Karirikura 0.8 km
Baylys Beach

Baylys Beach
8.2
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Bright fine sand, Turquoise water
New Zealand, Baylys Beach 0.8 km
Whites Beach

Whites Beach
8.2
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Picturesque
New Zealand, Piha 3 km
Anawhata Beach

Anawhata Beach
8.1
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Picturesque
New Zealand, Te Henga Bethells Beach 3.5 km
Ninety Mile Beach

Ninety Mile Beach
8
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Bright fine sand
New Zealand, Ahipara 0.8 km
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Best beaches for snorkelling in North island

Hahei Beach

Hahei Beach
8.8
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise pure water
New Zealand, Hahei 0.2 km
Little Bay Beach

Little Bay Beach
8.3
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise pure water, Sand bottom
New Zealand, Waikawau 0.4 km
Anaura Beach

Anaura Beach
8.2
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise pure water, Sand bottom
New Zealand, Hinemaurea Marae 1.9 km
Kairakau Beach

Kairakau Beach
7.9
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise pure water, Sand bottom
New Zealand, Kairakau Beach 0.5 km
Waiwera Beach

Waiwera Beach
7.9
Free entrance, Amenities beach, Picturesque, Easy access, Bright sand
New Zealand, Waiwera 0.4 km
Arkles Bay Beach

Arkles Bay Beach
7.4
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise pure water, Sand bottom
New Zealand, Wade Heads 1.1 km
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Beaches with shade in North island

Piha Beach

Piha Beach
8.5
Free entrance, Amenities beach, Easy access
New Zealand, Piha 0.2 km
St Heliers Beach

St Heliers Beach
8.4
Free entrance, Amenities beach, Easy access, Bright sand
New Zealand, Auckland 8.3 km
Kuaotunu Beach

Kuaotunu Beach
8.2
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise pure water, Sand bottom
New Zealand, Kuaotunu 0.3 km
Tapu Beach

Tapu Beach
8.2
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Picturesque, Easy access, Black sand & pebble
New Zealand, Tapu 0.4 km
Otama Beach

Otama Beach
8.2
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise pure water, Deserted
New Zealand, Otama 1.7 km
Kohimarama Beach

Kohimarama Beach
8.2
Free entrance, Amenities beach, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise water
New Zealand, Auckland 7.2 km
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Best dog friendly beaches in North island

Oakura Beach

Oakura Beach
8.3
Free entrance, Amenities beach, Easy access, Gray sand
New Zealand, Oakura 1 km
St Leonards Bay Beach

St Leonards Bay Beach
8.3
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise pure water
New Zealand, Auckland 6.3 km
Tairua Beach

Tairua Beach
8.2
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise pure water, Sand bottom
New Zealand, Tairua 1.2 km
Papamoa Beach

Papamoa Beach
8.2
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise pure water, Sand bottom
New Zealand, Rangiuru 8.2 km
Simpsons Beach

Simpsons Beach
8.2
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise pure water, Sand bottom
New Zealand, Wharekaho 0.7 km
Fitzroy Beach

Fitzroy Beach
8.2
Free entrance, Amenities beach, Easy access, Gray sand
New Zealand, New Plymouth 2.4 km
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Attraction and Infrastructure

As for the main features of the beaches of North island, they are as follows:

  • The island's beaches are mainly wide, long and have a high level of cleanliness. The most common surface is sand of bright color.
  • Usually, entry into the water is gentle, which is very good for kids. There are 233 such beaches.
  • An important clarification, 133 beaches in the island have a long intertidal zone, which means that during low tide hours you may have to travel a considerable distance. This is also something to consider if you don't want to suddenly be in the water at high tide.
  • The average distance from the road to beach in North island is less than 500 meters. 275 beaches are relatively easy to access, 12 beaches are difficult to access, which in most cases means that you have to walk a quite long distance, and 4 beaches are only accessible from the water. The latter include both island beaches and beaches with no land routes due to the natural borders.

Wild beaches with no infrastructure dominate the coastline of North island however, even here you can find a beach with a standard set of accessories: sun beds, umbrellas, restaurants, showers and toilets.

Latest reviews on North island's beaches

Opunake Beach
10 Julia Wrolstad

We love coming to this beach every time. When the tide is low, there are fantastic rock pools that the kids can explore. The playground is always a favorite among the children, and we adore the picnic spots along the sandy shore. The public facilities are also good. The walkways are pleasant, and the views are stunning.

Umupuia Beach
8 Landon Frost

This beach is a fantastic place for a picnic since it's not very crowded, but it's not ideal for swimming due to the muddy and shell-filled water.

Foxton Beach
8 K.O.

The beach was stunning and peaceful when I visited in November 2019.

Sunset Beach
10 Sarina H

The tide is quite strong, so it's important to swim with caution. The beach offers a stunning viewpoint, and I could have easily spent the entire day simply admiring the ocean.

Taupo Bay Beach
10 EmBo

This beach is perfect for everyone who enjoys surfing, whether it's boogie boarding, SUP surfing, or using short or long boards. Additionally, there are convenient amenities such as a freshwater shower, toilet block, and picnic tables, allowing visitors to spend the entire day here.

Oneroa Bay Beach
10 Iris McDowell

This beach is absolutely stunning! It's perfect for taking a leisurely stroll, enjoying some amazing coffee, and capturing beautiful photos. Plus, it's just a short drive from the main street in Russell. You'll also find a fantastic coffee cart right on the beach and clean restroom facilities. It's definitely worth visiting this place every morning if you're in the area!

Please note that lifeguards supervise 32 beaches in the island, but you should rely on more than just them, remember the elementary rules, as lifeguards are not on duty around the clock, even on equipped beaches!

Finding hotels in relative proximity to the beaches is usually fine. Many beaches have enough nearby accommodation, which gives good opportunities to choose the right place to stay.

The hottest month of the island is January - air temperature during this time warms up to 21.9°C and water up to 21.6°C in February. The coldest month is July - air temperature drops to 14°C and water to 15.4°C.

Do you know how many beaches there are in North island? In total there are 291 beaches and the most popular is Hahei Beach.

Most viewed beaches of North island

Tokerau beach

Tokerau beach
7.5
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise pure water
New Zealand, Lake Ohia 5.1 km
Hihi Beach

Hihi Beach
7
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise water
New Zealand, Hihi 0.3 km
Coopers Beach

Coopers Beach
7.4
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Brown sand
New Zealand, Coopers Beach 0.7 km
Cable Bay Beach

Cable Bay Beach
7.6
Free entrance, Amenities beach, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise pure water, Sand bottom
New Zealand, Cable Bay 0.7 km
Taipa Beach

Taipa Beach
7.7
Free entrance, Amenities beach, Easy access, Bright shell sand, Turquoise pure water
New Zealand, Taipa 0.9 km
Pokohino Beach

Pokohino Beach
8.2
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Picturesque, Easy access, Bright sand
New Zealand, Onemana 2.3 km
View all 290 beaches

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are the main features of best beaches in North island?

When it comes to finding the best beaches in North island, the following aspects should be taken into account.

There are 291 beaches in total, of which about 76 can be called high-rated.

The best beaches in the majority:

They are also usually:

The best beaches in North island:

View all beaches in North island and create your selection by features

How to view only nearest to me beaches in North island?

To find the beaches closest to your current geolocation, click the Nearby Beaches icon in the search box. You will see the nearest beaches sorted by distance from you.

Note, that if you only want to see the beaches closest to you in North island, you must be in that area to get the correct results.

See also: View all beaches in North island and create your selection by features.

How to view all beaches in North island on map?

To view and filter by characteristics all beaches of North island, use the link below:

See also:

View all beaches in North island and combine selections by features

What are all easy accessible beaches in North island?

Most of the beaches located in North island are easily accessible, but there are also hard to reach beaches among them. Use the filter to sort the beaches by access details (parking, distance etc.).

Popular categories of beaches in North island by access:

See also the categories:

Top 5 popular beaches with easy access in North island:

View all beaches in North island and select by features

How to view all sandy beaches or beaches with other natural features in North island?

Use the "Main features" section of the filter in search results to see all the beaches with the feature you're interested in.

The most popular selections of beaches with natural features are listed below. Don't forget that you can create your own selection with any combination of features

Beach coverage and water

Natural scenery

Other popular categories

View all beaches in North island and select by features

How to find uncrowded beaches in North island?

The presence of crowds of tourists on the beach these days is becoming a mass character, and sometimes you want silence and solitude. Use the filter in search results to view the beaches in North island by occupancy.

Popular categories:

If the presence of a crowd on the beach is critical for you, pay attention to where you should not go in the season.

View all beaches in North island and select by features

Which beaches in North island are kid-friendly, good for relax, pet-friendly, naturist-friendly, camping-friendly?

The selections of the beaches in North island according to the recommended audience:

See also:

How to view all beaches by amenities details in North island?

Use filter in search results to select a beach according to your preference for amenities.

Popular beach infrastructure categories:

See also:

View all beaches in North island and select by specific amenities

How to view all beaches by activity of interest in North island?

Use the "Activity" section of the filter in search results to view the selections of beaches by one or multiple activities. Below are a few popular selections that you can change as you like using our filter.

View all beaches in North island and select by activity