New Zealand Beaches

Spread Along 15,000 Kilometres Of Coastline

Beautiful New Zealand beaches skirt about 15,000 km coastline with climate variations from subtropical to temperate and significant regional differences. This sounds like paradise for water activities, beach lovers as well as photo enthusiasts like these beach stories of our site visitors show. Start here to introduce your favourite beach, beach story, or beach activity in word and with up to four images.

Where lies the attraction?

New Zealand's coastline stretches over a distance of 2000 km from Cape Reinga in the very north where the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean meet to Bluff in the very south.

NZ's repertoire encompasses easy accessible or secluded sand beaches in colour variations from whitish to brownish and the blackish ones that are experienced on beach vacations in the Auckland region. Then there are bays where hundreds of islands are scattered, smaller inlets, and stretches of wild and rugged coast, pebble beaches, and shell beaches all the same.

Shells and shore life change according to the pre-dominant climate. The further south the coastline the more common are the famed paua shells. On the North Island they are found in certain areas of the Coromandel Peninsula. At the hot water beach on the Coromandel Peninsula at low tide hot water springs are set free inviting to indulge in a hot bath with a sea view.

Different beaches have regular shore visitors and marine life or are breeding grounds to rare shore birds. Amongst these are sea lions, seals, penguins, and dolphins. A wide variety on sea birds includes oystercatcher, pied shags, and Australasian gannets.

Living on a long narrow island country like New Zealand enables everyone to reach the coast from any place in about one hours’ drive. With these NZ beach posters get an idea about how attractive New Zealand's coast is. 

Find out how to use your NZ photos to create photo puzzles.

Do you have a special place or activity to rave about?

What was the most mesmerizing place or the most exciting activity you experienced while travelling New Zealand? Future New Zealand visitors gain from your advice.