The Most Beautiful Beaches in New Zealand.

But before we get to the bottom of our subject, let's talk about water temperature, the recommended seasons and the safety instructions.

This article provides clear answers to the taboo questions of travel guides that hope to make you believe that water is at 30 ° C all year round!

In reality, you should plan your trip during summer vacation (December to February) if you hope to swim with a simple swimsuit in New Zealand.. But beach activities like kayaking are possible even in winter.

New Zealand has 15,000 km of beaches. If there are many seaside resorts in the North, wild nature is back the more one descends in the south. The scenery is far different from what you are used to see, and you will generally be all alone to enjoy it!

The beaches of the East Coast are covered with fine white sand, and the peaceful sea is adorned with turquoise reflections. It is the postcard's landscape that everyone dreams of seeing, with the pohutukawas in flowers and dolphins that swim nearby.

In contrast, but not less spectacular, the beaches of the West Coast are distinguished by their black sand of volcanic origin.

The very rough sea makes the surfers happy. Just visit Piha's beach(from “the piano lesson”, not far from Auckland (45 min) to retrieve the atmosphere of the film.

The contrast of styles between the East Coast and the West Coast continues on the South Island.

Holidaymakers will fall in love with the lagoons to explore by kayaking in the Abel Tasman National Park. The sand, rich in oxide of iron, is orange and no hotel resort will spoil the landscape!

Further south, the West Coast reveals its stretches of pebbles where tree trunks run aground after weeks at sea. The former Maori names of these beaches being lost in the mists of time, nothing prevents you from writing your own name in the sand! The beach will be yours, until the tide clears any tracks of your passage....

It is customary to say that the minimum temperature for bathing is 23 ° C, but a thermometer at 27 ° C would be better for most people. These conditions are fulfilled in New Zealand, but under some conditions!

On the North Island the thermometer in the water displays 24 ° C on average in summer with peaks at 27 ° C during the sunny days. Bathing the rest of the year is only possible with a combination.

Nevertheless, the temperature of the water drops by a few degrees on the South Island. The lagoons of the Abel Tasman Park are still pleasant to swim, but bathing elsewhere in a simple swimsuit is reserved for Viking tourists. Midnight swimmers will plunge into Milford Sound, even in the winter, but I do not recommend it!

There are, however, exceptions related to geothermal activity. Hot Water Beach it possible to dig natural spas in the sand, and the pools of Hanmer Springs and Rotorua allow swimming even under snowflakes.

Finally, even if you do not travel in summer, I recommend you put a swimsuit in your suitcase to enjoy the heated swimming pools of the hotels.

And even if you do not put a foot in the water, you will appreciate better the beach in a swimsuit than with jeans filled with sand ...

More dangerous than sunburns, the sea currents can drag swimmers offshore. When it's impossible to swim in direction of the beach, in spite of any efforts, it is better to let go and try to get the attention of the rescuers instead to fight until exhaustion.

You should swim only when you are not alone on the beach and when you can spot a green flag. Because a same beach can alternate zones with or without danger. This is particularly true at Hot Water Beach and Piha, two beaches yet very crowded.

Under these conditions, the surfers would be well inspired to redouble vigilance.

Asking if it is possible to swim in the nearby shops or directly to the beach lifeguards is the only responsible attitude to adopt.

If you follow these guidelines, swimming in New Zealand does not pose any particular risk. I do not mention basic precautions (avoiding for example to throw yourself in the water just after having lunch), because you already know them by heart.

The Abel Tasman National Park offers a multitude of beaches and coves where you can swim in turquoise waters.

It is the paradise of kayaking that allows to explore the deserted beaches, and to approach the sea lions in their natural environment.

Kayaking is with hiking and cycling (mountain biking) one of the three must-do sports to practice in New Zealand.

I invite you to consult our kayak special guide to prepare your stay.

The stand-up paddle is to be practiced by standing up on a large surfboard. A paddle allows to move to the surface of the water. The sensations are very different from those provided by the kayak!

Some falls are inevitable at first, but you will learn quickly. You could then explore national parks, like Abel Tasman where the sea is calm enough not to lose balance easily.

Kitesurfing combines paragliding, windsurfing and surfing all in a same sport. Linked to a small sail that floats in the air, kitesurfers stand on a surfboard attached to their feet.

The Kitesurf cannot be learned in one day, but the thrills are infinitely superior to those provided by a banal windsurfing! The weather in New Zealand is ideal for an initiation at sea or even on a lake.

New Zealand has surf spots that have nothing to envy to those of Australia.

Most beaches have surf schools and some even guarantee to be able to teach you how to stand on a surfboard in only 3 hours!

You would be wrong not to try a new sport that could change your life.

If the topic interests you, I invite you to consult our special surf guide on Kiwipal.

Easily accessible, the black sandy beach of the “piano lesson” is a 45-minute drive from Auckland. Very photogenic, the Lion Rock eroded by erosion for 16 million years seems to have been carved by giants.

New Zealand's most famous beach was even the main filming location of a Kiwi version of Baywatch on local TV.

The seaside resort of Tauranga is an hour's drive from Rotorua.

The Maunganui Beach takes its name from the extinct volcano, and I recommend the easy hike that climbs to the summit in just 30 minutes.

White fine sand, turquoise water (when the weather is nice) and powerful waves appreciated by surfers.

Pohutukawas with red flowers contribute making this beach a little paradise where you can swim in summer. This is my favorite beach of the North Island.

The beach of Cathedral Cove is a pure jewel that can be admired in the second part of the “Narnia” trilogy.

An arch of limestone and fascinating rocks emerge from the crystalline water that sparkles in the sun.

You can reach the beach at the end of a beautiful forest hike, or by kayak along the limestone cliffs that glow under the rays of the sun.

Swimming is possible during summer-time, but you should come quite early in the morning or stay late if you want to admire blue penguins and avoid the crowd of tourists.

Of ordinary appearance, Hot Water Beach has a secret that makes it unique in the world.

The magma which flows a few hundred meters under the beach heats a thermal spring whose water at 65 ° C rises to the surface.

Whatever the season, a shovel is all you need to dig a natural spa in the sand.

However, you should plan your visit according to the tides and arrive as early as possible to avoid Auckland holidaymakers.

Best itinerary to reach the Cape Reinga, this endless beach can be followed by car!

Deserted from end to end, the Ninety-mile beach leads to the giant dunes of Te Paki that you can descend on a surfboard!

Wrecks of rusty vehicles trapped by tides are a warning that you should not neglect.

If you wish to drive on the beach with your vehicle, you should preferably have an SUV or a 4x4 and the appropriate insurance.

A true paradise on earth, Abel Tasman is the sunniest national park in New Zealand. The orange color of the beach comes from the iron oxide present in the sand. In fine weather, the turquoise lagoons compete with the flagship destinations of the Pacific.

If you can swim in summer, you will mostly enjoy the park by kayak. Many water taxi companies establish the connection between the most beautiful beaches of the park and the transportation of kayaks is usually included in the service.

Located on the northern tip of the South Island, this beach is not the most accessible in the country, but it is one of the most remarkable.

It rewards travelers who face a four-hour hike after a long gravel road by car.

The huge rocks, the giant waves and the wind blowing strongly do not make it an ideal beach for farniente, but the photographers will be under the spell. If you have the means and the time, it is recommended riding along this beach of 26 km on horseback.

The beach itself offers few attractions, and one does not come here to swim. The main reason for the visit is to contemplate the Moeraki Boulders. The origin of these spherical rocks about one meter in diameter remains uncertain. Some people imagine dinosaur eggs fossilized, but scientists opt for geological formations of several million years. The beach is only a 45-minute drive from Dunedin.

This small beach that you will often have to share with sea lions is a 15-minute drive from Dunedin.

The hike to the beach cuts across the fields, and goes down constantly (of course, bear in mind that the return will necessarily be harder).

Before putting your feet in the sand, you will have to borrow a long tunnel dug in the rock with dynamite!

The spectacle of limestone cliffs carved by erosion is spectacular at dawn when the sun makes the rock blush.

At twenty-two kilometers from Dunedin, this white sandy beach is surrounded by verdant hills. The ocean appears dark green or turquoise depending on the weather.

Allans beach is above all a beach of surfers, but observatories allow to admire the fur seals and the yellow-eyed penguins who come to bathe.

With its geothermal activity, and its dreams beaches of every color, New Zealand does far more than just defending itself against Australia. I hope to have given you the desire to practice a beach activity during your stay. You need farniente for sure, but you should as well book a kayak excursion in the Abel Tasman Park!

A word about surfing in New Zealand before concluding! The subject is so vast that I preferred to fly over the question, but surfing has its very own special surf guide on Kiwipal. The same is true for fishing, which is very popular in New Zealand, but concerning only a minority of travelers.

The country fans might regret the absence of some beautiful beaches in the Kiwipal rating. But with 15,000 km of coastline, it was necessary to choose, and I have selected beaches which matches with the itineraries of Kiwipal and which one can easily reach without detours.

I leave nevertheless to our friend Ben the care to give you the list of the ten beaches which have not been retained in the rating, despite their exceptional beauty.

Do not forget your sunscreen and your camera, two essential accessories to enjoy the beaches of New Zealand.