South island - all beaches

Choose the best one from 146 beaches
139
Good for Relax beaches
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28
Pet friendly beaches
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About South island

Sandy beaches, clear turquoise water and mountain landscapes - all this is magnificent South island. Mountains and sea - a powerful mixture that takes the breath away from even the most sophisticated traveler! Please don't say we didn't warn you!

South island Best beaches

view the highest rated beaches in area

On map
Taylors Mistake Beach
Taylors Mistake Beach
Taylors Mistake Beach
Good for Relax

Taylors Mistake Beach

Lyttelton 5 km
Very good
8.4
Free entrance • Virgin beach • Easy access • Bright sand • Crowded in season • Large low tide
2.8 Amenities index
Brighton Beach
Brighton Beach
Brighton Beach

Brighton Beach

Brighton 0.4 km
Very good
8.4
Free entrance • Amenities beach • Easy access • Bright sand • Crowded in season • Large low tide
2.7 Amenities index
Esplanade Beach
Esplanade Beach
Esplanade Beach
Good for Relax

Esplanade Beach

Kaka Point 0.5 km
Very good
8.4
Free entrance • Amenities beach • Easy access • Crowded in season • Large low tide • Sand & Rocks bottom
4.5 Amenities index
Corsair Bay Beach
Corsair Bay Beach
Corsair Bay Beach

Corsair Bay Beach

Lyttelton 1.8 km
Very good
8.3
Free entrance • Virgin beach • Easy access • Bright sand • Turquoise pure water • Crowded in season
2.8 Amenities index
Moeraki Boulders Beach
Moeraki Boulders Beach
Moeraki Boulders Beach
Good for Relax

Moeraki Boulders Beach

Hampden 2.2 km
Very good
8.3
Free entrance • Amenities beach • Easy access • Bright sand • Crowded in season • Large low tide
2.7 Amenities index
Wharariki Beach
Wharariki Beach
Wharariki Beach
Good for Relax

Wharariki Beach

Port Puponga 5.3 km
Very good
8.3
Free entrance • Virgin beach • Picturesque • Difficult access • Large low tide • Mountain trail > 500m
0.5 Amenities index
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Popular types of South island beaches

Sand
Sand
Pebble
Pebble
Fine pebble
Fine pebble
Rocks
Rocks
Secluded relax
Secluded relax
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 147 beaches in the island.

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

Most beautiful beaches of South island

Jacks Bay

Jacks Bay
8.6
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Picturesque, Easy access, Bright sand
New Zealand, Pounawea 2.9 km
Allans Beach

Allans Beach
8.5
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Picturesque, Easy access
New Zealand, Sandymount 4.6 km
Canoe Beach

Canoe Beach
8.5
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Picturesque, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise pure water
New Zealand, Michies Crossing 2 km
Te Pukatea Beach

Te Pukatea Beach
8.5
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Picturesque, Bright fine sand
New Zealand, Torrent Bay 1.6 km
Split Apple Rock Beach

Split Apple Rock Beach
8.4
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Picturesque, Easy access
New Zealand, Marahau 1.6 km
Anapai Beach

Anapai Beach
8.3
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Picturesque
New Zealand, Totaranui 2.2 km
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Quitest and lonely beaches in South island

Curio Bay

Curio Bay
8.5
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Bright fine sand, Turquoise water
New Zealand, Curio Bay 0.4 km
Aramoana Beach

Aramoana Beach
8.5
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise water
New Zealand, Aramoana 0.3 km
Tata Beach

Tata Beach
8.5
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise pure water, Sand bottom
New Zealand, Tata Beach 0.1 km
Karitane Beach

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

Oreti Beach
8.3
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise water
New Zealand, Omaui 3.7 km
Westwood Recreation Beach

Westwood Recreation Beach
8.3
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Bright fine sand, Turquoise water
New Zealand, Ocean View 0.3 km
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Sandy beaches in South island

Watering Beach

Watering Beach
8.2
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Picturesque, Bright fine sand
New Zealand, Torrent Bay 2.1 km
Kaiteriteri Beach

Kaiteriteri Beach
8.2
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Bright fine sand, Turquoise pure water
New Zealand, Kaiteriteri 0.1 km
Medlands Beach

Medlands Beach
8.2
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Picturesque, Bright fine sand
New Zealand, Torrent Bay 2.8 km
Onetahuti Beach

Onetahuti Beach
8.2
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Picturesque, Bright fine sand
New Zealand, Awaroa 3 km
Observation Beach

Observation Beach
8.1
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Secluded relax, Bright fine sand
New Zealand, Torrent Bay 2.3 km
Totaranui Beach

Totaranui Beach
8.1
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Bright fine sand, Turquoise pure water, Fine sand bottom
New Zealand, Totaranui 0.4 km
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Remote beaches in South island

Mutton Beach

Mutton Beach
8.2
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Bright sand
New Zealand, Totaranui 3.5 km
Akersten Bay Beach

Akersten Bay Beach
7.9
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Bright fine sand
New Zealand, Torrent Bay 2.9 km
Stilwell Bay Beach

Stilwell Bay Beach
7.9
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Picturesque
New Zealand, Torrent Bay 3.2 km
Coquille Bay Beach

Coquille Bay Beach
7.7
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Bright sand
New Zealand, Marahau 2.5 km
Waiharakeke Bay Beach

Waiharakeke Bay Beach
7.6
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Bright fine sand
New Zealand, Awaroa 1.6 km
Whariwharangi Beach

Whariwharangi Beach
7.6
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Bright sand
New Zealand, Totaranui 4.7 km
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Beaches with shade in South island

Ngaio Bay Beach

Ngaio Bay Beach
8.3
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise pure water, Sand bottom
New Zealand, Kaiteriteri 1.2 km
Purakaunui Beach

Purakaunui Beach
8.2
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise water, Sand bottom
New Zealand, Michies Crossing 2.4 km
Little Kaiteriteri Beach

Little Kaiteriteri Beach
8.2
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise pure water, Sand bottom
New Zealand, Little Kaiteriteri 0.2 km
Breaker Bay Beach

Breaker Bay Beach
8.1
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise pure water, Sand bottom
New Zealand, Kaiteriteri 0.6 km
Pinnacle Beach

Pinnacle Beach
8.1
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise water
New Zealand, Purakaunui 0.6 km
Bark Bay Beach

Bark Bay Beach
8.1
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Picturesque, Bright fine sand
New Zealand, Torrent Bay 3.3 km
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Best dog friendly beaches in South island

Sumner Beach

Sumner Beach
8.8
Free entrance, Amenities beach, Easy access, Bright sand
New Zealand, Lyttelton 5.1 km
Caroline Bay Beach

Caroline Bay Beach
8
Free entrance, Amenities beach, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise water
New Zealand, Timaru 0.7 km
Tahunanui Beach

Tahunanui Beach
7.9
Free entrance, Amenities beach, Easy access, Bright fine sand
New Zealand, Nelson 3.8 km
Blackhead Surfing Beach

Blackhead Surfing Beach
7.8
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Light sand & pebble, Turquoise water
New Zealand, Westwood 4.1 km
Saint Clair Beach

Saint Clair Beach
7.8
Free entrance, Amenities beach, Easy access, Bright sand
New Zealand, Dunedin 4 km
Smaills Beach

Smaills Beach
7.8
Free entrance, Amenities beach, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise water
New Zealand, The Cove 3 km
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Attraction and Infrastructure

As for the main features of the beaches of South 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 110 such beaches.
  • An important clarification, 65 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 South island is less than 500 meters. 120 beaches are relatively easy to access, 14 beaches are difficult to access, which in most cases means that you have to walk a quite long distance, and 13 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 South 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 South island's beaches

Moeraki Boulders Beach
10 G-Man

This beach was our first stop on our journey from Dunedin to Lake Tekapo, just a short distance off Hwy 1. The sand here is home to these fascinating round boulders, formed from the calcification of dinosaur mud. Some of them are almost perfectly round, while others resemble petrified tortoise shells with hexagonal patterns of yellower rock. It's quite an interesting walk down the short beach to witness dozens of these boulders. There are a few stairs to access the beach, but they are not difficult to climb.

Gore Bay Beach
10 Maria Biddle

The little beach near Cheviot offers stunning scenery with its dramatic rock formations.

French Pass Beach
8 Elizabeth Schulze

The managers at the beach were incredibly friendly, helpful, and attentive. The lady at the dairy was also very kind and assisted us in reaching out to the manager. They made us feel very welcome and comfortable. We are extremely grateful! The view at French Pass was absolutely stunning. We witnessed a massive pink moon rising from the sea, which was a sight like no other. The restroom facilities were exceptionally clean, and the shower room was spacious with a convenient hook for hanging a solar shower bag. We will definitely be returning in the future!

Gemstone Beach
10 Elena Petrov

The beach is absolutely stunning and it brings so much joy to discover such lovely stones.

Tinline Bay Beach
8 P-Y Potts

This beach is a classic DOC campsite with plenty of room. The toilets and water require boiling, filtering, or treatment. It's conveniently located right by the track and the trees provide protection from strong winds. However, there is no rain shelter available.

Kina Beach I
8 Jordi "The Dutch Dynamo" Van Veen

This place is absolutely stunning! I highly recommend visiting during sunset, as the water shimmers like gold. Moreover, the water remains tranquil since it's not directly connected to the open sea. If you're planning to swim, I suggest going during high tide, but it's still an excellent spot for a picnic at any time.

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 23.2°C and water up to 18°C in February. The coldest month is July - air temperature drops to 11°C and water to 9.8°C.

Do you know how many beaches there are in South island? In total there are 147 beaches and the most popular is Sumner Beach.

Most viewed beaches of South island

Ruby Bay Beach II

Ruby Bay Beach II
6.7
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Gray sand & pebble, Turquoise pure water, Sand & Pebbles bottom
New Zealand, Ruby Bay 2.1 km
Torrent Bay Beach II

Torrent Bay Beach II
8
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Bright fine sand
New Zealand, Torrent Bay 0.2 km
Honeymoon Bay Beach

Honeymoon Bay Beach
7.9
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Bright fine sand, Turquoise pure water, Fine sand bottom
New Zealand, Kaiteriteri 0.7 km
Titirangi Beach

Titirangi Beach
7.8
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise pure water, Deserted
New Zealand, Punga Cove 12.2 km
Okiwi Bay Beach

Okiwi Bay Beach
7.3
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Light fine pebble, Turquoise pure water, Fine pebbles bottom
New Zealand, Okiwi Bay 0.1 km
Boundary Bay Beach

Boundary Bay Beach
7.6
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Secluded relax, Bright fine sand
New Zealand, Torrent Bay 1 km
View all 146 beaches

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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

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

There are 147 beaches in total, of which about 43 can be called high-rated.

The best beaches in the majority:

They are also usually:

The best beaches in South island:

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

How to view only nearest to me beaches in South 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 South island, you must be in that area to get the correct results.

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

How to view all beaches in South island on map?

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

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View all beaches in South island and combine selections by features

What are all easy accessible beaches in South island?

Most of the beaches located in South 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 South island by access:

See also the categories:

Top 5 popular beaches with easy access in South island:

View all beaches in South island and select by features

How to view all sandy beaches or beaches with other natural features in South 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 South island and select by features

How to find uncrowded beaches in South 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 South island by occupancy.

Popular categories:

View all beaches in South island and select by features

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

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

See also:

How to view all beaches by amenities details in South 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 South island and select by specific amenities

How to view all beaches by activity of interest in South 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 South island and select by activity