Best Party Beaches in New Zealand

Located on the western coast of the North Island in the Far North region of New Zealand, Ninety Mile Beach - also known as Te-Oneroa-a-Tohe - is an 88-kilometer-long, beige sand beach. The beach stretches from Ahipara Bay in the southwest to Scott Point in the northwest and has a spectacular backdrop of sand dunes, scrubland, wild vegetation, and a few oceanfront buildings, creating a picturesque setting along the Tasman Sea.  The beach is officially designated as a highway and is used by vehicles as a substitute for State Highway 1 north of Kaitaia, though driving conditions depend on the tides.  This beach is promoted as an ecotourism destination, encouraging sustainable tourism practices that preserve its natural environment and marine life.

Located on the west coast of Auckland, New Zealand, Karekare Beach is a small black sand beach with many rocky portions.  The black sand of Karekare Beach is due to the presence of high iron content that comes from the volcanic activities in the region.  This beach is positioned near the famous Piha Beach and Muriwai Beach and has a spectacular backdrop of the Waitakere Ranges, lush forests, and rugged cliffs, creating a picturesque setting along the Tasman Sea.  Also, there is a small stream that drains into the sea near the beach, creating a beautiful contrast with the dark sand.  Karekare Beach is part of the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park and is promoted as an ecotourism destination, encouraging sustainable tourism practices to preserve the natural beauty and diverse marine life of the region.

Located on the eastern coast of the North Island in the Far North region of New Zealand, Rarawa Beach is a long white sand beach.  The beach is positioned near the Aupouri Peninsula and has a spectacular backdrop of sand dunes, scrubland, wild vegetation, and a few oceanfront buildings, creating a picturesque setting along the Tasman Sea.  There is a small stream, popularly known as Rarawa Stream, that flows into the ocean, creating a picturesque estuary.  This beach is part of the Paxton Point Conservation Area and is promoted as an ecotourism destination, encouraging sustainable tourism practices that preserve its natural environment and marine life.

Located between the towns of Moeraki and Hampden on the Otago coast of New Zealand, Koekohe Beach - also known as Moeraki Boulders Beach - is a one-mile-long beige sand beach with many rocky portions.  The beach is renowned for the Moeraki Boulders, large and spherical stones that weigh several tons and are up to two meters in diameter.  These perfect, spherical-shaped, cracked, honeycomb-like boulders were formed around 60 million years ago by septarian concretions in sea floor sediments.  Many also believe the boulders are the remains of eel baskets, gourds, and kumara from the wreck of the ancestral canoe, Araiteuru.  The beach has a beautiful backdrop of rugged cliffs, dense vegetation, and a beachfront cafe that offers Instagram-worthy views of the South Pacific Ocean.  It is worth noting that these boulders are protected by law, and visitors are encouraged to respect the natural environment.

Located near Raglan town on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island, Whale Bay - also known as Te Whaanga - is a 600-meter-long golden sand beach with many rocky portions.  This is one of the most popular surf beaches in Raglan, known for its natural beauty and surf culture.  It has a beautiful backdrop of the summit of Mount Karioi, hills, headlands, wild vegetation, and a coastal forest, with many tree ferns, nikau palm, kawakawa, and kowhai, creating a picturesque setting along the Tasman Sea.  This beach is part of Wainui Reserve Bush Park, which is a protected area and is promoted as an ecotourism destination, encouraging sustainable tourism practices that preserve its natural environment and marine life.

Located on the eastern side of the Coromandel Peninsula in the Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island, Cathedral Cove - also known as Cathedral Cove Beach - is a 150-meter-long, immensely popular white sand beach.  This is one of the most photographed beaches in New Zealand, which is named after its massive, naturally-formed rock arch present right on the beach, resembling a cathedral that has been formed by natural erosion over thousands of years.  It is positioned on the shores of the famous Mercury Bay and has a beautiful backdrop of limestone cliffs, pohutukawa trees, and forests, which together offer spectacular views of Te Pare Point, Whale Cave, Te Hoho Rock, Motueka Island, and the vast Pacific Ocean.  Also, Hahei Beach is the gateway to the iconic Cathedral Cove, as there is no direct access to this beach.  This beach is part of the Te Whanganui-A-Hei Marine Reserve, which is a protected area and is promoted as an ecotourism destination, encouraging sustainable tourism practices that preserve its natural environment and marine life.

Located kilometers west of the famous Fox Glacier Town on the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island, Gillespies Beach is a five-kilometer-long and wide black sand beach with many pebbles.  The beach stretches from Gillespies Point in the north to Otorokua Point in the south and has a beautiful backdrop of the Southern Alps, dunes, lush vegetation, a historic cemetery, and dramatic driftwood formations brought in by the strong tides, creating a spectacular setting along the Tasman Sea.  The beach is part of Westland Tai Poutini National Park and is promoted as an ecotourism destination, encouraging sustainable tourism practices to preserve the natural beauty of the region.