12 Gorgeous New Zealand Beach Towns

New Zealand isn’t quite as well known for its beaches as Australia. The latter is practically totally composed of noteworthy golden sands opportunities.

 However, New Zealand’s explosive topography and diverse landscapes mean that this country is a hidden gem of coastal sights. Given that many of these beaches are mere hours away from the dramatic Southern Alps and other dramatic mountainous landscapes means that oftentimes you’re getting double your money in terms of outdoor activities.

 If you have a New Zealand trip in store, or are just curious about what this country has to offer, take a look at this list of some of the best beach towns in the country.

1. Kaikoura

Kaikoura is a delightful little town on the east coast of the southern island of New Zealand. If you didn’t know, New Zealand is split into two different islands, each of which hosts its own nuances in terms of climate.

 The main thing that sets Kaikoura apart from the other entries on this list is that it combines beautiful beaches and coastal vistas with stunning views of the northern tip of the Southern Island’s iconic Southern Alps mountains. The combination can often be jaw-dropping.

Kaikoura also has a large “crayfish” catch – a local term that refers to massive rock lobsters that they harvest off the coast.

2.  Oamaru

Oamaru is also on the South Island of New Zealand and features an interesting combination of historicity and gorgeous coastlines.

Oamaru is also notable for the sizable colony of yellow-eyed penguins that can be glimpsed off of its coast. Also of note is the fact that many of the buildings are constructed of a very specific kind of limestone that is mined in the area – a substance appropriately named “Oamaru Stone”.

Oamaru is also a co-actor in some notable films – the most recent being 2021’s The Power of the Dog.

3.  Westport

Another South Island gem, Westport is primarily notable for being a great surf town. In the past, it was also a center for the coal mining industry that flourished in the surrounding hills.

Like much of the west coast of the southern island of New Zealand, Westport receives high amounts of rainfall. That being said, its temperate climate means that the weather never gets quite too cold, especially when you’re surfing in a wet suit.

4. Tauranga/Bay of Plenty

Tauranga and the rest of the Bay of Plenty region in the northern island of the country that gets compared to Florida in the United States. In some ways, it’s just a nice sunny place to retire.

Tauranga gets more sunshine and boasts warmer temperatures than many other places in the deeply temperate southern hemisphere country. Also of note is the fact that there are several volcanic islands off the coast of this region.

Tauranga is composed of several other small towns, each of which is stacked with miles of coastline. This region is perhaps the best area for beach lovers in the country.

5. Omaha

Omaha isn’t just a city in Nebraska – it’s also a beautiful beach town on the northern peninsula of New Zealand. This region of New Zealand is amongst the warmest in the country, as it stretches towards the subtropics and the equator.

Omaha is also significant as a breeding place for certain types of shorebirds. Among them is the endangered New Zealand Dotterel, a shorebird native to the north coast of New Zealand. Aside from the birds though, Omaha doesn’t have much of a population – just 756 permanent residents exist in this tiny seaside village.

6.  Raglan

Raglan is of interest due to its beautiful black sand beaches. For surfers as well, this beach town has much to offer, and Manu Bay was featured in the classic 1966 surf movie The Endless Summer.

 Despite the small size of the town, Raglan also hosts a sizable music scene, with several venues that are regular stopovers for acts on tour. The town is in proximity to two of the largest cities in the country, Auckland and Hamilton. This means that it has access to convenient amenities, despite the rather remote feeling you might get when you’re there.

 Raglan is also a center for the environmental movement in New Zealand, evidenced by its very high proportion of Green Party voters.

7. Ahipara

Ahipara is a tiny community close to the southern end of the granddaddy of all New Zealand beaches – a 90-mile beach. This massive coastal stretch dominates the northern tip of the northern peninsula of the country.

90 miles beach is in actuality, only 55 miles long. Despite this apparent shortcoming, the beach manages to be awe-inspiringly beautiful. It can be visited as one takes a tour of other sites of interest in the area, including the nearby “Bay of Spirits”, Cape Reinga.

8.  Matauri Bay

Matauri Bay is a delightful coastal community in the northland of New Zealand. It’s just about 20 miles north of Kerikeri, the largest town in this district. This town is quite the hot spot in the New Zealand summer, where surfers and other beachcombers flock to its white sands and very clear waters. This small coastal settlement is also of attraction to artist types. These folks congregate in this pleasant coastal community in order to find peace and space to work.

Also somewhat of note is that the famous Greenpeace vessel The Rainbow Warrior was put to rest in Matauri Bay. The ship was sunk, and has since become a flourishing reef, supporting much of the aquatic life in the bay.

9.  Colville

Colville is a tiny town in a region of New Zealand called the Coromandel Peninsula. This region is somewhat remote for the North Island but features some of the best beaches in the country.

The remoteness of the Coromandel Peninsula plays to its favor in other ways as well. The peninsula provides a habitat for the endangered Brown Spotted Kiwi, the national icon of the country. Endangered Kauri Trees also flourish in this part of the country, which means that harvesting their gum can be partaken in. This resinous gum is used in many Maori arts and crafts.

10. Takaka

Takaka is a hidden gem in New Zealand’s South Island and fosters a strong countercultural scene of activists and artists. There’s also a thriving foodie scene, as well as a strong food and beverage game to partake in.

One thing to take note of is that Takaka isn’t actually technically on the beach. That being said, its within spitting distance of The Golden Bay, a region notable for receiving the most days of sunshine in the south island.

Also not too far away is Abel Tasman National Park, one of the most popular destinations in the country for backpacking – or tramping, as it’s called in the local vernacular.

11. Matarangi

Matarangi is another winner on the Coromandel Peninsula, and is a good place to go in order to catch sight of the cultural fixture known as a “bach”. In New Zealand, a “bach” is a modest beach house, holiday home, or formal shelter that allows one to get away from it all without breaking the bank, so to speak.

 Matarangi’s mild tides and temperatures make it a popular spot for families, as the conditions are just right for swimming for most of the year. The town is also a popular spot for fishing and bird watching.

12.  Curio Bay

Curio Bay lies at the southern end of the south island in a region known as The Catlins. The Catlins are renowned for their dramatic cliff faces and rugged coastal scenery.

Curio Bay also has a petrified forest on its coast, which has made it a popular destination for fossil diggers and rock hunters. These fossilized tree stumps dot the coastal scenery, creating surreal scenes for beachcombers to walk through.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © KYPhua/Shutterstock.com