[Tia Maria]

What with summer holidays and so many new people arriving in Jan/Feb, thought we could help out people this summer by passing on our new local knowledge so ......

Devonport - North Shore Auckland

Where: Narrow Neck Beach

Best For: Families, Boating & paddling

Facilities Nearby: Toilets/Changing area, Car Park, Small park with BBQ/swings etc, Boat Club, Small shop selling pies & ice cream.

Where: Cheltenham Beach

Best for: Views, Couples and families

Facilities Nearby: Toilets, small reserve, access to North Head, buffet restaurant, can be difficult to park near in holidays

Where: Windsor Reserve

Best for: Quick visit while visiting Shops/Devonport, watching the container ships come and go

Facilities Nearby: Park, toilet, ferry ......all the shops/restaurants of Devonport

Over to you ....

Cheers

Tia

[StevieD]

Tia, ever worked on travel guide?? :laugh

Good one... useful I suppose for us virgin kiwis who would like to go to places recommended by people who have already been there.

[gil]

Hi Tia,

Howick, Eastern Suburbs, Auckland

Where: Eastern Beach

Best For: Families, Boating & paddling, very safe swimming

Facilities Nearby: My house :D


And, cafe (2), dairy, swing park, plenty of road parking

Gil

[macs gold]

A selection of my favourites:


Where: Allens Beach, Otago Peninsular

Best for: Surf, wildlife (penguins, sealions) , walking

Facilities Nearby: nothing



Where: Rabbit Island, Nelson
Best for: Families

Facilities Nearby: Toilets, BBQ/picnic




Where: Victory Beach, Otago peninsular

Best for: Walking, Cave for kids to explore, wildlife

Facilities Nearby: nothing




Where: Riverton Rocks, Southland

Best for: Views, family holidays, rock pools

Facilities Nearby: Toilets, shop, cafe, accomodation

[jubjub]

Hi Tia,

Howick, Eastern Suburbs, Auckland

Where: Eastern Beach

Best For: Families, Boating & paddling, very safe swimming

Facilities Nearby: My house :D


And, cafe (2), dairy, swing park, plenty of road parking

Gil

The Oasis Cafe does the best brunch! The Dairy does fabby Tip top cones, only thing is we can't take the dog for a walk along it in summer...

Its one of our faves too.

Oh, another couple...

Beach - Piha Beach

Where - Piha, West of Auckland - its down a very steep windy road...

Best For - Surfers, or watching the surfers, dont go in the water unless you are very very good at swimming/surfing, and even then only when the flags are up, its a very dangerous rip tide beach

Facilities - Ice cream shop/burger bar, nice picnic areas.


Beach - Maraetai

Where - Maraetai east of Auckland

Best For, jumping off the pier (no I have never done it, but know people that have), not a wide beach, but perfectly nice for a stroll, and as with the other eastern beaches its fairly safe for water play!

Facilities, nice chippy/burger bar & ice creams, and a restaurant (I think its italian) good large toilet block, and a good play area. Oh and a petrol station! Warning, its VERY busy on a good weather weekend day, or the bank holidays...

[gil]

Oooh! Piha! Went there a couple of weekends ago and someone (a teenager who had been drinking, apparently) was swept away...it's a serious beach. However, it IS stunning and I am booking surfing lessons there as my Christmas pressie....:D

Gil

[Marie P]

We like Stanmore Beach a bit further up from Orewa.

Toilets ,park [with huge flying fox ] safe shallow sea .

We spent Christmas day there last year .

Marie x

[also happy memories of day with Marcia ,Kev and kids there ]

[jonSE]

Waiheke Island

Palm Beach

Southern end
enough surf for boogie boards but not too intimidating for kids

Northern End
Nudist beach

middle
ice creams to die for

both ends - rock pools
public loos in the middle

Little Oneroa Beach

Scene of many weddings (idyllic) , don't visit for 3-4 days after heavy rain, public loos, and a dairy

Enclosure Bay

calm and good for swimming - enclosed by rocks , no facilities.

Onetangi
Long Beach, bigger surf than Palm beach, coupl of bars in the middle, can't remember where the loos are.

[Debbie P.]

Where: Rabbit Island, Nelson
Best for: Families

Facilities Nearby: Toilets, BBQ/picnic



Oooh, Rabbit Island - I want to be there nooooowww :wah

Our friends go there every Christmas day (weather allowing)

[Tia Maria]

Stevie D wrote:

Tia, ever worked on travel guide??

Ahhhhh 'travel writer', dream job, closely shared with 'cocktail designer' and 'luxury house sitter' (where I get to live in the homes of the rich and famous in exchange for watering their plants!).

So I'm taking note of all the beaches with fish & chips/ice cream and toilets so I can pay them a visit this summer. I'm sure all those without children are taking note of those also ..... so they can go to the other ones.

Cheers

Tia

[kiwidebs]

Fab thread guys. Now, if we just had some decent beach weather to go check out all these places.


Where : Goat Island - North of Auckland on the East coast.
What: Marine reserve
Good for : Snorkelling and fish watching.

Weblink to more info http://www.seafriends.org.nz/issues/res/gi/

Debs

[Tate6]

Okay, I am taking notes!! But I need some "eye candy"!! Let's add some pictures to this wonderful thread!! I'm very visually stimulated!

Terry

[gil]

OK, let's try! Here's Eastern Beach yesterday afternoon

[Oregonkiwi]

There are a few photos of Tawharanui Regional Park beaches and Kare Kare beach on our flickr account - link in signature below.

Kare Kare beach is my sentimental favorite, but I'd recommend Piha for first-timers as the road down the hill to Kare Kare is a bit tricky (I've been going there since I was a baby and that road stills scares me.) (By tricky I mean very steep, should really be one-way but isn't, and no guard rails.) But once you get down there, the beach is great. No facilities though other than a couple of porta-loos. And parking can get full on very popular weekends. And like all the Auckland west coast beaches, be very very cautious when swimming and only swim between the lifeguards' flags.

[Tate6]

Ahhh......that's what I'm talking about!!http://bestsmileys.com/happy/3.gif
Thanks Gil!!

Terry

[wanderingoregonian]

I really liked the beaches at Davenport in Auckland, Ohope (NE of Rotorua), and once back in Welly I have to say that the water was an amazing color today!

[Sean-n-Judy]

Here are some photos of us at Piha

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/113/284508230_ae9916bb8f.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/121/284508760_65fbd27235.jpg

[Ana&Steve]

Oh Sean, I'm gonna miss your hair!*snipsnip* Great pics, but where's Judy and the belly? :D
Ana

[Sean-n-Judy]

OK Ana here is Judy and Shuggy at Mission Bay

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/127/323427461_41c96e6e4c.jpg

Sean
Other NZ pics here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mccoypics/

[jubjub]

Pauanui Beach - Coromandel Peninsula, East coast

Lovely drive over the mountains, took us an hour and a half from Auckland, would be best driven in a open top sports car, but hey you cant have everything! :D

Beach was lovely soft sand, looked as though it could get some great waves for surfers, but none there today. It had a nice shallow long shelf for paddling before you got to the waves anyhow.

There is also a good chippy and ice cream shop at the other end of the town, its only small, so a 15 min walk from shops to beach, not bad really!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v690/asjohnstone/IMGP2067.jpg

[Tia Maria]

Where: Narrow Neck Beach, Devonport, Auckland

Best For: Families, Boating & paddling

Facilities Nearby: Toilets/Changing area, Car Park, Small park with BBQ/swings etc, Boat Club, Small shop selling pies & ice cream.


http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p147/tiamariaNZ/IMG_1686.jpg

Cheers

Tia

[Tia Maria]

I've only visited these 2 on our travels, so can't give full information, but the one with the boats is Paihia Beach, Bay of Islands and is next to all of Paihia's shops/restaurants/places selling dolphin tours etc.

And the other one is Sumner Beach, Christchurch. This is the end near the children's outdoor paddling pool/park and a cafe.

Paihia Beach

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p147/tiamariaNZ/IMG_2289.jpg

Sumner Beach

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p147/tiamariaNZ/IMG_1586.jpg

Cheers

Tia

PS Tate6 - great idea to add photos

[Moorf]

I've dug up some from a couple of years ago when we lived in Chch

South Shore from Shag Rock (Sumner Beach)

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c389/Moorf/newcamera037.jpg

Brighton Beach (north) looking south to Pier and Banks Peninsula

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c389/Moorf/newcamera103.jpg

Brighton Beach (north) looking north

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c389/Moorf/newcamera061.jpg

[Moorf]

The other side of Sumner Beach (north of Cave Rock) at low tide.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c389/Moorf/newcamera2008.jpg

Mind you, anywhere can look good with great weather and funnily enough I can't find any pics taken on beaches when the weather was crappy, moody yes, crappy no!! The pic below is our old view in Scotland which was more often than not grey and miz, but look what a bit of sun does!! :D

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c389/Moorf/DSCN1305.jpg

[Tia Maria]

Moorf wrote:

Mind you, anywhere can look good with great weather

Funny you should mention that because when we visited the 'other end' of Sumner beach in your photo, we had to leave the beach because of a full on sandstorm!

Never seen anything like it, and you're right we didn't get the camera out as we were too busy shielding our eyes. Not sure if its a rare event but on our trip we actually found Sumner windier than Welly.

Cheers

Tia

PS I've got to get me one of those 'driftwood on the beach' photos

[Tia Maria]

Anybody got any photos of Hot Water Beach in Whitianga?

Cheers

Tia

[Mexican in NZ]

Ok i am not very good with pics so i dunno if i did it right...

The first pic is of Castlepoint in the Wairarapa...we just went there with the family and spent a great day, it was a bit chilly but after the pics we did take the sun and got toasted!!! In the pic is my hubby anton :p
Amenities: Toilets, easy access(important for me with my back injury), Diary and Camping grounds if u want to spend some days there.
Other attractions in there: is not only the beach and nice sand but also you have the option of going up to the light house and have a beautiful view(have not done it is long walk and hard for my back, but my in laws did and loved it), There is a little kinda lagoon inthere that is formed by the sea that gets thru the rocks.
For who???? For all the people that want to enjoy a nice time in the beach..from the little ones to the elderly. :yes

The second pic is from the beach of mount maunganui in Tauranga....
Ok when i went there it was on winter so i did not get in. But it was breath taking the scenary so if u come to NZ u should definately visit!!
Ammenities: Toilets, Cafes, well why going one by one if it has EVERYTHING!!
Other attractions: Going to the top of mount maunganui, or the other little hill in there where the pic was taked, as it has amazing views!! you also find so many beautiful seashells and as i said b4 u find everything closed by.
For who?? For everybody, the down side is that if u want a little privacy i dont think u can get it there!!

The third and las pic is of Wendelhom Regional Park in Auckland (by Orewa) I just really love it there! the water is so clear and u can find beautiful seashells everywhere!! in the pic is my mom, dad and i it was taken on the begining of October so it was still a bit cold in Auckland that is why i am wearing a sweter (coming from tropical acapulco, mexico is very hard for me to get used to cold weather)
Ammenities: toilets and showers camping grounds and barbeque grounds
Other attractions: Lots of walk tracks where u can spot so many different birds, from wood pigeons to parrots, fan tails, etc.. you have the choice of being in the grass or in the sand, there is a historic house i believe too, etc.
For who??? For all the family is just a very beautiful place to go and relax or have a swim in the calm beach, take a sun bath and listen to the birds...etc is a very nice place i surely recomend it!!

Please forgive me if the pics are not shown but as i said b4 i am a bit dumb with this :laugh !

Adriana

[Angie and Mick]

HI
Can not find the picture of the full beach however 1st picture on Hot water beach of the hot water. 2nd bottom of Mt Mangunui, got some good shells from the beach. Camp site across from the beach.

Also Picture on 90 mile beach.

[Tia Maria]

Angie & Mick - love the Mount Maunganui photo, I'll take your word on it about the hot water!

Mexican in NZ -I like your Mount Maunganui photo as well, I think I'll have to add it to the list of places to visit.

Cheers

Tia

[oldtimbo]

Hot water beach is lovely, but can get a bit too "touristy" at times. If you want a stunning beach, almost certain to be just about empty anytime other than xmas, then drive about an extra 1/2 hour through Whitianga, to Kuaotunu beach. From here it is a fairly short but very scenic drive over a metalled track to Otama and Opito beaches, and the little known Matapua bay. We are fortunate to have these as local getaways. All have safe swimming,diving,fishing etc, but NOTHING else. By that I mean there are no shops cafes etc. I will try and dig up some pics.

[Tia Maria]

Come on guys - lets see some more beach photos, or are you all spending your weekends doing jobs around the house like me?!

Cheers

Tia

[Oregonkiwi]

There are a few photos of Omana Regional Park (east of Auckland) and Okahu Bay (downtown Auckland) on our Flickr page (link below)

[kiwidebs]

Come on guys - lets see some more beach photos, or are you all spending your weekends doing jobs around the house like me?!

Cheers

Tia

Unfortunately we've been busy in the house - the in-laws arrive in 10 days :eek: . We planned on getting to the beach sometime this weekend (Hubby had Monday off so 4 days) but with me doing a night shift on Sunday and with all the stuff needing doing around the house.....:no
Ah well, once the inlaws are here we'll be doing alot of beachy type stuff - sun-dances everyone please :nice1 .

Debs

[Trigirl]

i'll probably be heading down the beach later today - in the meantime one from Watering Cove in Abel Tasman and a friend of ours getting ready to fly a kite at Nelson....

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/129/342958487_a67ef75cd9.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mandysimpson/342958487/)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/159/343717266_6bf6e92e40.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mandysimpson/343717266/)

[Pimmar]

herebelow some pictures of more great beaches in NZ:

http://www.pimmar.co.nz/beach/nzbeach1.jpg
somewhere in the North

http://www.pimmar.co.nz/beach/nzbeach3.jpg
beach in Napier area

http://www.pimmar.co.nz/beach/nzbeach4.jpg
beach in Gisborne

more pics see below .. :yes

[Pimmar]

http://www.pimmar.co.nz/beach/nzbeach6.jpg
Sandy Bay in Opunaki, Taranaki (on a rainy day)
http://www.pimmar.co.nz/beach/nzbeach7.jpg
one of the beaches in New Plymouth
http://www.pimmar.co.nz/beach/nzbeach8.jpg
somewhere in NZ
http://www.pimmar.co.nz/beach/nzbeach9.jpg
Paihia beach, Auckland

[miep]

Here's the beach at Eastbourne on that really hot day, I think last sunday. Mind you the beach in Days Bay ( 1 bay down) was chokka! We even had a traffic jam:roll

[Glo & Gil]

There are a few photos of Omana Regional Park (east of Auckland) and Okahu Bay (downtown Auckland) on our Flickr page (link below)


Hi

great pics.

re: pics yellowstone, watch a 3hrs film yersterday "Super Volcano" was about yellowstone eruption which continued for several days and lead to another ice age. very scary .

:cheers


glo

[Oregonkiwi]

thanks Glo.
Yellowstone - I was amazed by just how huge the thermal area is - and I couldn't help thinking about how utterly devastating it would be if it did all blow...

Back on topic...
Cornwallis Beach. We went there this afternoon (forgot the camera, sorry). It's in western Auckland (past Titirangi) on the Manukau Harbour. Safe swimming at high tide, nice long sandy beach, big grassy areas and pohutukawas for shade. Not much in the way of facilities, just toilets. A very nice place for a family picnic. There are other nice beaches in the area too (eg Kaitarakihi Bay, Mill Bay) and also the Nihotupu Reservoir dam is interesting.

[Oregonkiwi]

today's outing:
http://www.arc.govt.nz/auckland-regional-parks/northern-parks/shakespear.cfm Shakespear Regional Park, north of Auckland at the end of the Whangaparaoa Peninsula.
We spent our time at the main beach in the park rather than exloring the park as it was a hot sunny afternoon, the tide was high and the water was warm:), but there are walking trails and great views from the look-out points. There's a large flat grassy area with pohutukawas for shade (great for picnics) and a white sand beach with safe swimming. An excellent place for a family outing and an easy drive from Auckland. Lots of birds, I've never seen so many pukekos http://www.pukeko.ws/bird.html in one place before.

There are also lovely sandy beaches all along the Whangaparaoa Peninsula.

Photos on our Flickr page (link below), the ones with today's date are the Shakespear ones.

[Tia Maria]

Trigirl - love that shot of Watering Cove in Abel Tasman, is it easy to get to, or only accessable by boat? Oh and that kite puts our Thomas the Tank Engine one to shame!

Pimmar - fantastic photos - my fave one is called 'somewhere in NZ', now if we can just all start guessing where .......

Oregonkiwi - how long did it take you to get to Shakespear Regional Park from say Auckland Harbour Bridge? I think my boys would love it.

Cheers

Tia

[Oregonkiwi]

how long did it take you to get to Shakespear Regional Park from say Auckland Harbour Bridge?

We forgot to check our watches so I'm not sure exactly how long the drive is, I'm guessing about 30 mins from the Bridge. It's a smooth drive, just take the motorway north to Silverdale, then through Silverdale to Whangaparaoa Road and then keep going until you run out of road. The park is signposted well along the way. There are several beaches in the park, we went to Te Haruhi Bay.

[Tia Maria]

Oregonkiwi

Thanks! :nice1

Cheers

Tia

[Trigirl]

Trigirl - love that shot of Watering Cove in Abel Tasman, is it easy to get to, or only accessable by boat?
i don't think you can get to it by car. its either the Abel Tasman walking track or boat i think. but there are "aqua taxis".

[Oregonkiwi]

We went to Muriwai beach this weekend.
http://www.arc.govt.nz/auckland-regional-parks/western-parks/muriwai.cfm
It's similar to West Coast beaches like Piha - black sand and rough surf - but different because the beach is very long, and not surrounded by steep hills. The main attraction for a lot of people is the gannet colony:
http://www.newzealand.com/travel/sights-activities/scenic-highlights/natural-phenomena/scenic-highlight-details.cfm/businessid/69652.html

The drive to Muriwai is easier (ie, straighter and flatter) than to other West Coast beaches; from the city take the North-western Motorway and then follow Hwy 16 to Waimauku. It took us about 30 mins from Mt Eden.

A few photos are on our Flickr page (link below).

[Tia Maria]

Just checked out your Flickr page, loved the photos, particularly the one of the giant inflatable can of corned beef! :laugh

The OH went to Waiheke the other week while I was away, but failed to take any beach photos :( , so I'll just have to wait till I get a chance to go.

Cheers

Tia

[Oregonkiwi]

Our Flickr page has just been updated with photos of Kare Kare Beach and Bucklands Beach (and the view from the Skytower) - link below.

[gil]

Hey Oregonkiwi, lovely pics! BTW, the one with Rangitoto is Bucklands Beach for sure, the others look like Eastern Beach to me, all that sand and the Norfolk pines...Looks like you had a good day, next time give us a shout, we're at the top of the steps onto Bucklands Beach...
Gil

[Oregonkiwi]

thanks Gil. It could well have been Eastern Beach; I wasn't there. (It was one of Nik and Peter's weekday outings before Nik started work, so I was in my office :( while they played.)

[gil]

thanks Gil. It could well have been Eastern Beach; I wasn't there. (It was one of Nik and Peter's weekday outings before Nik started work, so I was in my office :( while they played.)

Aawhh, another time, maybe?

Gil
x

[jess]

View from the Paekakariki Hill Rd north to the Kapiti Coast

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t60/islandinthepacific/e79a007c.jpg

Lagoon meets beach at Waikanae

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t60/islandinthepacific/38298d6e.jpg

[Tia Maria]

Seeing as lots of you have got the hang of this photo business thought you might have some to add here. Don't forget to add some practical details, like where the beach is, what facilities it has and whether its frequented by gorgeous surfers - just the important stuff! :D

Cheers

Tia

[Kiwi-In-Texas]

Love the photo of Kapiti Coast taken from Paekakariki Hill and the one of Waikanae Lagoon...Won't be long now and we will be there enjoying all that beautiful scenery.

Suzanne.

[Lara Croft]

This is Waikanae Beach, taken just before sunset the other day - Kapiti Island is in the background.
I don't think it has any facilities, except a car park or two, there is a shop & bar about a mile further down. But it is beautiful, and about 2 mins walk from our house... :)

Jane

[Potato]

This is a big thread....

Has New Chum's Beach been mentioned yet? The Coromandel's greatest Beach :D

Does anyone in the area know if they are really planning to develop it?

[Tia Maria]

This is Little Oneroa Beach on Waiheke, its absolutely fantastic for families, nice enclosed bay, shallow clear water, play area, toilets (worm ones), BBQ and beach shop.

Its about a 7 minute bus drive from Matiatia Bay (where the passenger ferry arrives), just ask the driver to tell you where to get off. Or a 5/10 minute walk from Oneroa and all its shops and cafes.

Really beautiful .....

Little Oneroa Beach - Waiheke Island:

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p147/tiamariaNZ/IMG_4474.jpg


The Playground at Little Oneroa Beach:


http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p147/tiamariaNZ/IMG_4476.jpg

The Beach Shop at Little Oneroa:

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p147/tiamariaNZ/IMG_4478-1.jpg

Cheers

Tia

[willsken]

I love that top pic of the beach Tia! :nice1

[Tia Maria]

Thanks! The great thing is it really does look that good, (as I'm sure AndrewandJane would confirm), as I just have one of those point and click cameras, so things only look good if they genuinely do look good (can be a bit harsh on the family! :laugh ).

Cheers

Tia

PS Whoops there goes 'Locations' Willsken, but I'm off to feed the kids so no more post from me for an hour! Good Luck! ;)

[GreenMeansGo]

I've been lurking mostly, this is my first post, but as this is a really pressing question I thought I'd break my silence.

Are the south island beaches (christchurch area especially) "swim-able"? As in, are wetsuits required so as not to freeze your tail off?

Latitude-wise, it seems comparable to Oregon (42-46-ish degrees north latitude) and although the beaches are beautiful there, I wouldn't want to swim there. I'm originally from Hawaii, and it would be wonderful to be able to go swimming in the ocean on a regular basis again (we're in Alaska currently). I seem to recall a pic where people looked like they were wading...? Also, are currents and such safe for kids there?

My husband seems fixated on the south island (he's planning a, what do you call it, reccie trip?, this august/sept) but it'd be nice to know which island I should be voting for in advance (crucial issue, this :laugh ).

thanks all :)

[JandM]

Hello, and welcome.:) I'm not there (NZ) yet, but I'm sure someone will soon be along to tell you what you want to know.

[alan999]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2333/2351259963_d043a07997_m.jpg

Had to snap this of eastern Beach on the way to work the other day.