NZ’s Best Beaches

Lists of ‘New Zealand’s Best Beaches’ are ten a penny, but we back ourselves with this list for Lonely Planet – the result of our extensive travels around New Zealand. As LP says, ‘we know because we go’.

Many of our favourite beaches are on the South Island’s West Coast – empty, inhospitable, but unbelievably beautiful, such as Wharariki.

Reached from the far reaches of Golden Bay, it’s certainly an eye-popping surprise after the 20-minute walk across farmland. We recommend a visit at dusk, when its jagged rock islands stand out starkly against the gloaming blue sky.

Read more about our favourite beaches in Aotearoa here.