All the most beautiful beaches in New Zealand, which to visit for a unique holiday, from Karekare, famous for the film Piano Lessons, to Jackson Bay, from Hahei Beach to Mount Maunganui.
If it seems to you that there are many beaches in Spain, know that i kilometers of coastline here we are 8.300; on the other hand the New Zealand, which has an area comparable to Spain, has some 15.100, almost double.
The coasts of the two islands, the North and the South, are a continuous succession of sandy beaches and cliffs, of tides that come and go between the Tasman Sea to the west and the Pacific Ocean to the east. This is a selection of beautiful beaches, with their own characteristics, assuming there are thousands of others.
Karekare
The most famous beach in the country, because it entered the history of cinema thanks to the film Piano Lessons by Jane Campion Karekare. If you have seen (and loved) that film, you will remember the scene of the landing, where the piano is abandoned. Karekare is located west of Auckland on the North Island. It is a black sand beach, very deep, wild and intact, without tourist services. Its charm is at least as great as its danger, in fact at this point the currents are strong and it is absolutely necessary to avoid swimming in it. Recommended for those who love nature and metaphysical places.
Ninety Mile Beach
The northernmost part of the North Island stretches like a finger and in this strip of land, west coast, is the so-called Ninety Mile Beach: the name speaks for itself, about 90 kilometers of beaches (not miles, in fact) of golden sand, endless waves, tides, unforgettable sunsets. New Zealanders love sports and here you can practice, in addition to surfing, swimming, fishing, even the descent on the dunes. In fact, if on one side there is the sea, on the other there are the dunes and behind an intact forest, the Aupouri Forest. Recommended to everyone, who can find their favorite activity here.
Hahei Beach
You will have to drive to the Coromandel Peninsula to find the wonderful beach of Hahei and nearby Cathedral Cove, which can be reached with an hour's walk. Hahei is a luxury town, very green and elegant, with a beautiful beach of almost pink sand and a sea that is a protected nature reserve. The natural architecture of Cathedral Cove is the main attraction, an arch carved into the cliff that rises like a Gothic vault. The whole coast is full of coves, nature is green and lush and islets covered with vegetation are on the horizon. Recommended for those who love quiet places, families with children and those who do not want to give up style.
Mount Maunganui
On the east coast of the North Island lies Bay of Plenty, a large agricultural region with a mild climate, with hundreds of kilometers of coastline popular with surfers. Of all the beaches, not far from the city of Tauranga, is the beach of Mount Maunganui, a hill rising from the sandy coast - this is New Zealand's premier surf spot. The sea is powerful and wavy, but in some quieter place, among the rocks, you can snorkel in the transparent water. For the rest, surf schools, clubs, cafes, sports and sun: the worldly life is not lacking on this beach, very popular every day of the week, where you never get tired of watching the surfers' acrobatics. If you are too, this is your place.
Abel Tasman National Park
Going down to the South Island here is the divine, idyllic Abel Tasman National Park with a succession of enchanting beaches of golden sand; the sea is intensely green, calm and almost "Mediterranean"; nature bursts from all sides, cars do not circulate, silence reigns. Of course, in summer, water taxis unload hundreds and hundreds of swimmers every day, but the park extends for 50 kilometers, guaranteeing everyone little corners of paradise. Access to this protected area is regulated, however even here you can play water sports such as canoeing and swimming and you can walk through the entire park, stopping at spartan but welcoming DOC (Department of Conservation) campsites.
Jackson Bay
We are towards the southernmost part of the South Island, at a point where the wild West Coast it curves gently forming a natural harbor. Jackson Bay is essentially an isolated fishing village: Haast, the nearest town, is an hour's drive away; this is the last point before the region of the fjords, where the mountains end plunging into the sea. The road is extremely scenic, the beach of this town is famous above all for the Cray Pot, a restaurant housed in a caravan, specializing in fish, seafood soups, fish & chips. All overlooking the bay, with an eye on the (snow-capped) peaks. Recommended for gourmets, who like extreme locations.
Photo Karekare: Auckland Council
