The best beaches in Northland, New Zealand

Last Updated on April 19, 2024 by snaphappytravel

Introducing our top contenders for the best beaches in Northland, New Zealand.

As you may already be aware, I’ve been living on the North Island of New Zealand since September. In fact, we live in Northland in a quiet little town called Kerikeri. Although we settled in this area due to my job being but a 30-minute drive away, we’ve fallen in love with Northland and its magnificent secluded beaches.

In fact, I think I’ve spent almost every day off this summer at one of the beaches below. The Northland beaches are rarely-if-ever-crowded, typically sheltered with squeaky white sand. Doesn’t it sound like a dream?

The Best Beaches in Northland

1. Ake Ake Point, Kerikeri
2. Opononi Beach
3. Te Werahi beach, Cape Reinga
4. Paihia beach, Paihia
5. Matai bay, Karikari peninsula
6. Whale Bay, Tutukaka Coast
7. Matapouri Bay, Tutukaka Coast
8. 90-mile beach, Kaitaia
9. Cable Bay beach
10. Matauri Bay beach

So, without further ado, here are (in full detail) my contenders for the best beaches in Northland, New Zealand:

1. Ake Ake Point, Kerikeri

As a matter of fact, this beach is nameless. Ake Ake Point is the name of the viewpoint at the peak of the walkway to this beach. We simply call this beach “our beach” as we are both so fond of it. 

When you get to Opito Bay (approximately a 15-minute drive from Kerikeri), follow the signs across from the car park for Ake Ake Point. It’s a beautiful walk through the rainforest, filled with birdsong and the distinct smell of tea tree.  Follow the signs for the beach, and at the end of a steep hill, you will be greeted by perhaps one of our favorite beaches in Northland. In fact, it’s where we got engaged recently!

We often come here to sunbathe and swim, and we pretty much have it to ourselves every time. We have started coming here for a sunset picnic (with some beers of course) in recent weeks and it’s become one of my favourite past-times.

2. Opononi Beach

A completely different coastal terrain to the eastern side, the west coast is all white-sand beaches, sand dunes and massive purple jellyfish lurking in the shallows. At least they were the day we were there, eeek!  We walked part of the Waimamaku Coastal Track to get to Opononi Beach. The track starts in the Arai Te Uru Recreation Reserve, at the end of Signal Station Road. There’s a large carpark here too.

We walked the entire length of the beach which was blissfully deserted and felt like another world. There is also a gorgeous view point and scenic walk at the end of the carpark for that all-important ‘instagram shot’.

3. Te Werahi Beach, Cape Reinga

You’ve probably already heard the hype surrounding the famed Cape Reinga, the most Northerly point of New Zealand and the point where two oceans meet (the Tasman and the Pacific). Well, I bet you didn’t know that there’s an absolutely incredible beach about a 25-minute walk from the Cape Reinga lighthouse called Te Werahi Beach. I mean look at the photos.

The windswept walk there teetering along the edge of Cape Reinga’s cliffs makes it all the more worthwhile. We went for a swim in it’s icy waters and it was honestly one of the most refreshing swims I’ve had in a long time. Paul did lose a flip flop to its unrelenting waves however.

One of the coolest ways to see Cape Reinga is on this scenic flight and 2.5 hour guided tour! There are also lots of guided tours available from Paihia like this one if you don’t fancy driving the long distance yourself.

4. Paihia Beach, Paihia

Paihia, is perhaps the most ‘touristic’ town in Northland. Also known as the Bay of Islands, Paihia is a bit of a ‘backpacker haven’, with an abundance of hostels & seasonal work. The town runs the length of a golden sandy beach and  has lots of great bars & restaurants.

There’s loads to do in Paihia from a boat cruise to the famed hole in the rock to an adrenalin-pumping jet boating experience. You can even go on a dolphin watching tour here, which I loved and do a scenic helicopter tour!

Of all the beaches on the list Paihia has the most hotels so, I recommend spending a few nights here.

5. Matai Bay, Karikari Peninsula

Maitai Bay is located on the outer Karikari Peninsula, on Maitai Bay Road, about 44 km northeast of the town of Kaitaia. The beach is in a sheltered bay with  a campsite nestled amongst beautiful pohutukawa trees. The water is clear blue, the swimming conditions typically excellent as it is sheltered. This spot is very popular with families.

You can spend the night here at the Matai Bay campsite!

6. Whale Bay, Tutukaka Coast

The best beach in Northland for couples in my opinion is Whale Bay. There’s something very romantic about its seclusion & turquoise water.

Whale Bay is a gorgeous turquoise-hued cove ideal for swimming and kids as it is protected from the elements. The beach is approximately a 10-15 minute walk from the car park on Matapouri road.

The walk although the ground can be a little uneven is beautiful and takes you through groves of ancient Puriri trees with lots of amazing views to be taken in along the way. There is a gorgeous viewpoint here too, a 20 minute walk from the car park for those all-important photos. Whale Bay is in my humble opinion is one of the best beaches in Northland, New Zealand.

There are a couple hotels in Tutukaka and it’s a nice place to spend the night!

7. Matapouri Bay, Tutukaka Coast

Matapouri bay is home to the famed Mermaid Pools. An “instagram darling” here in Northland, I guess you could say. The pools are essentially a naturally formed rock pool that’s large enough for many people to enjoy, while looking out to the Pacific Ocean beyond and, more than likely, waving to a passing dolphin. 

The trek to the Mermaid Pools can be tricky especially in high tide, we had to wade through the ocean at one point and after that it’s a steep climb up hardened muddy ground.

Top Tip – I advise this walk only for the relatively fit. Its also easier to go barefoot so you can get a grip on the dry hardened ground.

The beach at Matapouri is in itself worth the visit, a long stretch of white sand with crashing waves – again, ideal for surfing. Less well-known are the clear waters of the estuary, one of the few in the country to allow snorkellers a close view of rich and rare native fish and plant life.

9. 90-mile Beach, Kaitaia

Driving North towards Cape Reinga you will come across the well-travelled 90-mile beach. This beach is officially a highway, but according to the locals “is really only suitable for 4WD vehicles and is safe to drive only at specific times of the tides”.

We drove in our non-4WD Audi for a little while and were fine, although we were very cautious of the tide and didn’t drive too far from an exit. We’ve heard lots of horror stories, of cars sinking in the sand, and when the tide is out far enough you can see the cars half-submerged under the sand! The sunsets here are pretty epic too.

This guided tour includes a visit to 90-mile beach, sandboarding at Te Paki, Cape Reinga as well as a packed lunch.

9. Cable Bay Beach

Near to Coopers Beach is the very pretty Cable Bay, where we’ve taken some epic sunset shots. The sand here has a pink hue making it even more magical.

Did you know – Cable Bay got it’s name because it was home to the Pacific cable, a submarine telegraph cable which linked Australia, Norfolk Island and Canada to New Zealand . A cable station operated here from 1902 to 1912 and while the building is long gone, we found it fascinating that the morse-coded message reached all the way Vancouver in Canada!

Cable Bay is also a popular spot for surfing.

10. Matauri Bay Beach

Another fabulous beach in  is Northland is Matauri Bay. A 30-minute drive from Kerikeri with the most epic road winding down, the view as you drive down is spectacular, just be careful not to take your eyes off the road.

Matauri Bay plays host to the Rainbow Warrior Memorial an unusual sculpture dedicated to the famous Rainbow Warrior ship – a Greenpeace protest ship which was blown up in Auckland Harbour in 1985. The wreck was moved to the waters off Matauri Bay (FYI – you can dive this wreck too). The walk to the memorial is a steep 10-minute climb but the 180-degree views of the bay is so worth your aching legs that evening.

From the beach itself you may just spot a dolphin or two frolicking in the shallow waters – it’s happened numerous times here.

Due to its huge size and the ample parking available here, I think Matauri Bay is one of the most ideal beaches in Northland for groups.

What is the Best Beach in New Zealand?

Whale Bay on the Tutukaka Coast near Whangarei has to be one of the best beaches in New Zealand. Firstly, despite it’s popularity it seems like a hidden gem thanks to its secluded location. And when you come to it after a 15 minute walk through native bush it almost feels as if you’ve discovered it. Secondly, the water here is calm and turquoise blue – making it the perfect backdrop for a photo with your loved one.

I also love to visit Matapouri bay – also on the Tutukaka Coast with my husband. It’s a nice long beach for a romantic stroll. The sunsets from here are gorgeous too – grab some fish & chips from nearby Takeaways At Ngunguru and sit on the sand and watch the sun sink into the ocean.

The best beaches in Northland for families

90-mile beach is ideal for older kids because you can drive this ‘sand highway’ ideally in a 4-WD. They’re sure to get a thrill out of this fun activity!

For younger kids you can’t go wrong with Matai Bay on the Karikari Peninsula. It’s a wide sheltered beach so it’s a safe swimming spot for the little ones. There’s also an excellent campsite here if you fancy spending the night.

The best beaches in Northland – which is your favorite?

So, there it is a list of 10 awesome beaches to add to your itinerary for Northland, New Zealand. It’s very difficult for me to pick a favorite. Although, I am very fond of Whale Bay for its turquoise ocean and Matauri Bay for its history.

But do tell what do you think are the best beaches in Northland New Zealand? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

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