While New Zealand is a country of islands, there aren't many beach resorts. However, tourism organizers are doing everything they can to make New Zealand's seaside vacations the best they can be. And they succeed. The water here is quite cold, which is warmer on the Tasman Sea side and much colder on the Pacific side. The constant winds make it hard to relax in the warm water, even in the hot summer. Nevertheless, if you come for the nature and excursions, you will have a good quality vacation on the beaches of New Zealand.
Best beaches in New Zealand
Bay of Islands
New Zealand's main resort is considered the Bay of Islands. It has white beaches, mild climate, and hundreds of islands. The place is also famous for its fishing for sharks and other ocean fish. The season is from December to May. You can also go diving in the bay.
Fjordland
The waters of the South Island are chilly to talk about swimming. But the famous fjord region of Fjordland is considered a great place for diving. The mystery of the fjords is that the top layer of water is fresh and saturated with tannin, which absorbs sunlight. This causes the salt water beneath this layer to always be calm and darkness reigns there. This allows deeper life forms to develop in shallow water and swimmers can admire sponges, anemones, and fish that are usually only found at depths of 100m or more.
In addition, the fjords preserve the oldest red and black corals, which live in normal conditions at a depth of 45-50 meters. The Milford Sound fjord is the most accessible to tourists.
Pauanui Beach
This is one of the attractive beaches in New Zealand, located in the east of the Coromandel Peninsula. The locals are very fond of this clean beach. Here one can enjoy the perfection of nature in peace. These places are almost untouched by modern civilization. There are evergreen trees with velvet red flowers that bloom in late December.
Around the beach are forests, fjords, waterfalls, and volcanoes. Every sunset on the beach is unique. This true beauty can be admired endlessly. Fine light sand, calm water surface of the Pacific coast, clean resting places make the beach the best vacation spot for adults and children. Safe enough for swimming, you can find shallow spots where you will feel the bottom with your feet.
City beaches
You can choose any of the major cities like Dunedin, Auckland, or Wellington, and swim at organized city beaches.
Beaches on the Taranaki Peninsula
Or rent a car and go in search of your own perfect beach. For example, you'll find the long sandy strip of the Taranaki Peninsula and an endless 90-mile beach in the very north of the island. There are beaches surrounded by cliffs and reefs, good spots for scuba diving and snorkeling.
Beaches along Tamaki Drive
Gorgeous beaches stretch along the Tamaki Drive highway and further along the coast for 320 kilometers. The golden sands of the east coast and the black volcanic sand beaches of the west coast are quite different from each other.
Tips for a beach vacation in New Zealand
On any of New Zealand's beaches with children, you should vacation with caution. The ocean is finicky, with strong surf that's fun for surfers and dangerous for swimmers. And the currents of the shallow waters are too dangerous.
Virtually any beach on the islands is open to guests, unless it's a designated conservation area or a closed private island. So, when purchasing a tour to New Zealand, feel free to add a seaside vacation clause.
