Aotearoa’s Dreamiest Beaches- Part 1. North Island
What is a New Zealand summer without a visit to one of our countries beautiful beaches? One of the great things about living in this small country is that we are never far from the ocean.
There is something so refreshing and wonderful about breathing in the fresh ocean air and feeling your toes sliding through the golden sand.
If you’re looking to head away on a little getaway, get in touch with Rite Price Rentals, you’ll be able to book the perfect vehicle for your trip. We have plenty of car hire/ car rental options to suit you and your family or friends.
Here are our top picks for the best beaches to visit in the North Island of New Zealand. Next month we’ll let you know our top picks for the South Island… North Island, here we go!
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Hot Water Beach: Hot Water Beach is a beach on Mercury Bay on the east coast of the Coromandel Peninsula. Hot Water Beach is famous for locals and visitors to flock to the beach within the 2 hours each side of low tide, to dig a big sand pit, in which you’ll discover the most wonderful, hot & natural spring water coming through. You’ll see kids, couples, teenagers and big family groups digging in to create their own natural spa on the beach. Hire a spade to help you dig and once it’s the perfect size, sit back relax and enjoy your own spa. Sounds dreamy and adventurous if you ask me!
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Cathedral Cove: Cathedral cove is a beautiful hidden gem. Soft golden sand, bright blue water. Plenty of greenery and shelter to keep that beaming hot sun off you. Take a picnic lunch and head down with your crew of friends or family. The famous rock arch is a must do for snapping a few cool photos! This divine beach is only accessible by foot or by boat. If you walk it, it is most definitely worth it! The beautiful native bush around you and the breathtaking views. What’s not to love. It’ll take you approximately 35 minutes to walk down to the beach, from the carpark and 45 minutes back up to the top.
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Piha: There is actually a popular TV show called “Piha Rescue” which follows the beach’s busy surf-lifesaving crew. Piha is known for is wild and unruly surf along with strong currents but it totally deserves to be on this list of New Zealand’s top beaches. You may not find golden sand here but you will find stunning hot black sand which spans a large area. You’ll find yourself frolicking among the foamy white waves (make sure you always swim between the flags!) surrounded by large rock sculptures like Lion Rock, which has a little walkway up which you can climb to sit and enjoy the gorgeous views. Piha is also surrounded by plenty of beautiful walking tracks which will show you more of our stunning native land.
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Mount Maunganui: You can’t beat the Mount’s Main Beach! It is the ultimate spot to swim, surf and sunbathe and this stunning stretch of golden sand has been voted the best beach in the country (WHAT?!). You’ll easily find hundreds of beach lovers here every day in the summer. Don’t worry, there’s more than enough room for you to set up a spot with your pals out on the hot sand. Make sure you enjoy a dip in the delightfully warm ocean waves, which can reach up to 21 degrees (celsius). If you’re not a fan of the water then, sit back relax and enjoy some people watching. You’ll probably spot some games of beach volleyball, soccer and cricket during the summer months. The perfect spot for all… and if you need a snack and a refreshing drink, there are plenty of options nearby.
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90 Mile Beach: It’s actually a poorly kept secret that Ninety Mile Beach is only 88 km, but there’s no way you’ll feel you’ve missed out on anything here. The beach starts up near Kaitaia and finds itself ending close to Cape Reinga, which is a stunning expanse of sand and endless ocean views. All of which is framed by massive sand dunes. If you’re keen for a little walk, you’ll find a walkway from here which leads to the beach and northwards to Scott Point.
There are deinitely plenty more epic beach spots to check out, but these are just a handful of our favourites.
New Zealand’s 15,000 km coastline is total heaven for beach-lovers. You can enjoy everything from lazy days and firey sunsets, to fun adventures such as swimming, kayaking and surfing. SO what are you waiting for? ! Get your car rental sorted and hit the road, you’ll get home feeling super refreshed and relaxed for the year ahead.
Explore New Zealand with Rite Price Rentals! Rent a car from Rotorua, Hamilton or Tauranga and explore everything that New Zealand has to offer. We have car or van hire options depending on the size of your family or group. Rite Price Rentals is New Zealand’s trusted car rental company.
