Our Beach Picks

Aotearoa New Zealand is full of stunning beaches, and the dish team has a few favourites further afield, too. Here are some of our top picks from home and across the Tasman.

Sarah Tuck, Editor
Whananaki, Northland
We are spoilt for choice for beautiful beaches in New Zealand, so it’s hard to pick just one for a shout-out. Standouts from holidays past include Whangapoua and its stunning New Chums Beach, Waiheke’s Palm Beach and Enclosure Bay, and, closer to home, the tiny Croatian-style beach at the end of O’Neills Avenue in Takapuna for a quick-dip situation. This year I was incredibly lucky to be invited by friends to join them at their beach house in Whananaki, 2½–3 hours north of Auckland on the east coast of Northland. You might not have heard of Whananaki but you may recognise a photo of the footbridge over the Whananaki Inlet, a rickety crossing that, at 395 metres long, is the longest footbridge in the southern hemisphere. And while the bridge is pretty, it is the beaches that are truly breathtaking. Some are only accessible by foot or boat, but by crikey the effort is worth it. The surrounding area offers crystal clear water and fine white sand as well as options for all-comers as to what to do. Just add cicadas and sunshine, and a chilly bin full of fresh new season’s stonefruit and a cold drink, and, well, bliss.

Claire Aldous, Food Editor
Sunset Beach, Port Waikato
I have a soft spot for Sunset Beach, Port Waikato. It’s under an hour and a half drive from Auckland and there’s so little development that it feels like you’ve stepped back in time. There’s a great coffee shop, Sundays, overlooking the beach, which means you can sip away while watching the surfers or swimmers battle the west coast waves. If you get there early enough there’s also pastries, toasties and pies on offer but be warned, by 11am they’re usually all gone. If you’re keen on sunsets they don’t get better than from this beach and I’ve heard the new burger place next to the wharf store is serving up some great eats of a weekend evening, which I can’t wait to try.

Siana Clifford, Sub-editor
Piha Beach, Auckland
I live in Kāhomaian in Tamaki Makaurau and in many ways Kōti is my fave beach. It’s a relatively unremarkable city beach, but it is still such a thrill for me to be able to roll out of bed, stroll along the road and two minutes later have my toes in the sand and my body in the cool ocean — I’ll never take that for granted. Almost diametrically opposed is my other fave beach, Piha. Getting there requires more effort — an hour-plus drive, some on winding roads through the densely forested Waitākere Ranges. Then the scene opens up to a rugged black sand beach with the majestic Lion Rock watching over the waves — it’s literally breathtaking every time. This is a place for soul-rejuvenating walks (wear jandals, the iron hot makes the sand glass HOT!), water dips, avoiding dips (between the flagged beach and spectacular surfing (only if you’ve experienced). The whole process lets you fully decompress, and it’s one of those places that encourages you to slow down and just breathe.

Harry Butterfield, Contributor
Main Beach, North Stradbroke Island, Brisbane
This is a really hard one, we have so many amazing beaches, but if I have to pick one it would probably have to be Main Beach, North Stradbroke Island. It ticks every box for me — great surf, dog-friendly, good fishing, not crowded, clean water and beautiful scenery. Some of my favourite memories are catching the last ferry over on a Friday with a fully loaded 4x4, with my now-wife Lily and our groodle, Gnocchi. We would always be racing to set up camp before it got dark. We would then spend the next couple of days migrating from the hammock (strung between two shady casuarina trees), to the ocean, surfing empty waves where the only other people you can see are in the 4x4s that pass every now and then. You feel like you have the whole 32km stretch of sand to yourself, except for the kangaroos that occasionally hop through camp. If the fishing’s no good you can always rely on collecting some pipis and whipping up a spaghetti alla vongole. You definitely forget you’re only a few kilometres from Brisbane.

Phoebe Holden, Digital Editor
Maroubra Beach, Sydney
Less touristy and packed than Coogee, this is a beautiful beach. The shoreline is framed by rocky headlands and natural shelves instead of sand, and the smooth stones around the ocean pools make it ideal for sleeping, reading or picnicking between swims. When you feel like going for a walk, there’s a trail of fairy houses that make for a very cute game of hide and seek.

Charissa Terblanche, Art Director
Matapouri Beach, Tutukaka Coast
Matapouri Beach, located on Northland’s stunning Tutukaka Coast, is one of those places that stays with you. Every time I visit, I’m reminded why I love it so much: the soft white sand, clear turquoise water, and that calm, laid-back vibe. It’s perfect for a swim, a bit of sunbathing, or just chilling with friends. I’ve spent countless lazy afternoons there, wandering over to the Headland track (from the northern side of the beach) to secluded Whale Bay, watching the sunset light up the bay. There’s something about Matapouri that always feels like coming home, peaceful, beautiful, and full of memories. Even on quiet days, it has this magic that makes you slow down and just breathe. It’s my little slice of paradise.

Bel Bonnor, Commercial Manager
Torrent Bay, Abel Tasman
I’m lucky to be spending New Years this year in Torrent Bay in the Abel Tasman. It’s a stunning, peaceful bay in one of New Zealand’s most scenic regions. If you have never done a Great Walk, the Abel Tasman is one of the easier tracks to tackle, but with an extremely high pay-off! Any beach along the track could be a favourite, and the views, birdsong and native bush are worth it. You can access a few of the beaches by water taxi and do a half-day hike, or discover the full track over 3–5 days.

Yvonne Lorkin, Drinks Editor
Waimārama Beach, Hawke’s Bay
Seeing a long, colourful line of Massey Fergusons, Fendts, John Deeres, Nuffields and New Hollands, all in various states of rust, parked up on the white sand on the southern end of Waimārama Beach in Hawke’s Bay never fails to bring the grins. Proudly clamped to boat trailers, with Bare Island in the background, they tell me where I am: this is surfcasting territory. I graduated to a cray, a king, a kingfish or a fillet or two of gurnard if luck was handy! Secondly, why did I not make the cut to be part of the crew that day?