Auckland's Best Beaches
- Helen
- Feb 2, 2019
- 7 min read
Updated: Jun 2, 2019
When you visit Auckland in New Zealand, you will find that a large part of the attraction here is from the natural beauty it offers, no more so than from it's incredible coastline and beaches.
Breathtaking and idyllic white sand beaches found on the east coast of Auckland are contrasted by dark, volcanic and dramatic beaches on the west coast.
Whether you only have time and transportation to visit the beaches close to the city or the resources to go a bit further, Auckland's beaches are definitely worth visiting.
During my house-sit in Auckland I was fortunate to have several weeks to fully appreciate and explore the diverse coastline around me and will share here the best beaches I found - whether they were city based, white sandy or volcanic.
The Best Beaches With Easy Proximity To Auckland City
- Mission Bay
Located just minutes from Auckland's Central Business District (CBD) you will find Mission Bay.
Mission Bay is a small, seaside suburb of the city with a beautiful sandy beach, clear waters, a good selection of cafes, bars and restaurants and fantastic views of Rangitoto Island lying a short distance off shore.
Due to the beauty and location of Mission Bay, it is very popular with locals and visitors and on a sunny day you will find that there is a fun, relaxed, family orientated vibe to the area.
The sea is safe and children and adults alike enjoy cooling off in the gentle waves.
Accessing Mission Bay is easy by car or there are plenty of buses running the short journey from the city.
- Takapuna Beach
Located over the bridge from Auckland CBD, on the north shore is Takapuna - an affluent suburb with more beautiful sandy coastline.
Takapuna itself offers a range of boutique shops, alongside cafes, bars and restaurants.
The beach here is clean and family friendly with a children's play area adjacent to it.
Alongside the beach Takapuna also offers a range of watersport options, such as paddleboarding and jet-skiing.
Another popular destination for locals, particularly on a weekend when brunch at one of the eateries is a favourite thing to do (before hitting the beach)!
For anyone wanting a walk, the walk between Takapuna beach and Milford further to the north is a gentle and enjoyable stroll.
Cheltenham Beach (Devonport)
A 12 minute ferry ride from Auckland City harbour will take you to Devonport, where you will find Cheltenham beach nestling on the other side of North Head.
There is a beach directly in the centre of Devonport if you do not want to venture further which will provide beautiful views back to the city skyline as you soak up the sea and sun but Cheltenham beach is worth the extra 1.5 km distance.
Cheltenham beach is a long sandy beach that is more private and ideal for swimming, sunbathing or strolling along while soaking in the atmosphere and the scenery, including views directly across to Rangitoto Island.
Nearby Vauxhall Road offers a couple of cafes or a fish and chip shop if you need refreshments.
St Heliers Beach
Located further south of Mission Beach in south Auckland is the final golden sandy beach found within easy proximity of Auckland city on this list.
St Heliers beach is a slightly quieter spot, an affluent suburb and described as a 'warm sunnyside village'.
Along the beach is a wide boardwalk to meander and some fine restaurants are found nearby.
Family friendly, peaceful, with clear waters and another perfect setting!
If you want a walk from St Heliers beach then walk along Cliff Road to a viewing platform called Achilles Point with breath-taking views out across the water and to the neighbouring islands.
The Best White Sand Beaches Outside Auckland
Orewa Beach
Approximately 20 minutes drive north from Auckland's harbour bridge you will find the long white sand beach of Orewa, as part of the Hibiscus coast.
Orewa is an Auckland suburb that has a small town feel and is a popular holiday destination in it's own right.
The beach here stretches for 3 km and is a good choice for walking along, swimming, sunbathing or picnicking, with water sports also on offer.
Orewa is another family friendly and safe option to enjoy, that feels further removed from the city.
Alongside the beachfront is a long row of cafes, restaurants and bars, including a cat cafe!
Within the suburb there are also banks and a supermarket.
Easy to access and offering a beautiful outlook, Orewa is a recommended beach to visit.
Tarawhanui Peninsula & Beaches
A greater distance from Auckland city (but more than worth the journey) and found on the north east coast is Tarawhanui Peninsula with associated beaches and regional park.
The beaches here are stunning, with pohutukawa trees lining them, golden sands and they are broken up with areas of ancient rocks - good for rock pooling or fossil finding!
The area here is a conservation area with reefs, over 50 species of fish and a thriving lobster population. Bottle nosed dolphins can also be sighted on occasion.
Bring a snorkel if you enjoy admiring the sea bed as the water here offers plenty to see.
The regional park located here was historically used for farming and also for shingle mining and today offers good walking opportunities with breath taking views, so bring some walking shoes with you too!
Pakiri Beach
Travel slightly further north and you will find the perfect paradise spot of Pakiri beach.
The beach here extends for over 14 km of clean, white sands and crystal clear water.
If you fancy doing something a bit different there are guided horse rides available along the sands, so you can appreciate the full beauty of your surroundings by horseback!
Pakiri can be a popular weekend spot with Aucklanders and it is easy to see why.
Great for swimming and for surfing and with some bars and cafes nearby you have a range of options here.
If you prefer tranquillity, finding a quiet spot here will also not be difficult.
Picture perfect paradise? Pakiri delivers.
Long Bay
If travelling too far from Auckland does not appeal then do not despair - Long Bay is located along the east cost north of the city but is not as far out as the others on this list.
Despite this, the beauty it offers is no less captivating.
Long Bay Regional Park is 160 hectares of coastal land, offering a stunning backdrop to Long Bay beach itself. Alongside the beach, within the park are picnic areas and playgrounds for children.
The beach is long(!), sandy and safe.
From Long Bay beach there are walking tracks into the park which offer incredible views back down to the beach and out across the ocean. A short walk further north of Long Bay beach you will also find some quieter and idyllic smaller, sheltered beaches and bays, including Granny's Bay.
To feel like you have truly left the city but without needing to travel a great distance, take the time to visit Long Bay beach and regional park... it offers a genuine taste of Auckland's natural beauty when it comes to white sandy beaches and ocean views.
The Best Volcanic Black Sand Beaches In Auckland
Piha Beach
The west coast of north Auckland is where you will find dramatic and incredible black sand beaches and Piha beach is commonly tipped as one of the best.
Piha Beach is long and extensive, offering rugged coastline and is divided north to south by a large rock formation and now icon of the region called, 'Lion's Head'.. when you see it you will know why it is named such!
Considered one of New Zealand's best surf beaches, Piha is a very popular spot where the waves are more impressive than along Auckland's east coast.
As you drive down to Piha beach there are look out points for people to stop and admire the view of the coastline and Lion's Head, capturing picture perfect photos!
Enjoy relaxing on the beach here, surfing, walking along the sands or climbing Lion's Head for more views out to the Tasman sea.
Karekare Beach
The beach at Karekare is located just south of Piha beach and nestled on the coast within the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park in a small settlement.
Made famous from the 1993 film, 'The Piano' and in 2017 trumping second place in a list of 25 of the world's best beaches by Passport Magazine, Karekare beach is a tucked away spot definitely worth your time.
Another good surfing beach, but equally good for walking, relaxing and taking a picnic.
The scenery here is truly magical and inspiring - it is easy to see why many artists, writers and photographers are drawn to this beautiful spot.
Muriwai Beach
Muriwai beach is found further north on the west coast of Auckland and is most famous for it's large natural gannet colonies who nest here between August and March.
An extensive and dramatically breath taking black sand beach in it's own right, with rugged backdrop and natural beauty, the gannets here merely add to the attraction!
Boardwalks along the coastline take you from the beach at Muriwai to lookout points where you can view the approximately 1200 pairs of gannets nesting happily... just be prepared for the smell!
Surfing, picnic spots, swimming and walking are activities you might choose to enjoy at Muriwai.
The journey from Auckland to Muriwai will also take you through Kumeu, which is New Zealand's oldest wine region with several boutique wineries to visit.
Te Henga (Bethells) Beach
Finally, on the coast between Piha and Muriwai beaches is the more sheltered Te Henga or Bethells beach within a small coastal community.
Sand dunes lead down to the extensive beach here where the water is dramatic and waves impressive, ensuring it is popular with surfers. The rocks add more to the stunning scenery and atmosphere.
On the way to the beach at Bethells is Lake Wainamu which is a very popular spot for people looking to 'surf' or toboggan along extensive sand dunes. If this is your sport, just be careful as several accidents from this are regularly reported!
Remote, rugged and stunning, Bethells beach with it's black sand is deserving of it's spot on this list.
And so concludes this round up of the best beaches in Auckland.
Whichever you choose to visit, I can guarantee you will be impressed at the beauty, the wonder of nature and our planet and the clean, well preserved coastline Auckland provides.
**To make my travels possible and affordable I do so through international house-sitting, using both Trusted Housesitters and Kiwi Housesitters**
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