Northland is known for its warm climate and picturesque bays. While the city of Whangārei is a hot-spot for summer road-trippers, as a region, it also hosts some of Northland’s best beaches. A few of Whangārei’s gems offer sheltered crystal clear blue waters, while the white sand of others sweep out to the wide open ocean. A day on the squeaky white-sand beaches leads nicely into an evening checking out the rest of Whangārei. Here are the top six beaches in Whangārei to plan your next Northland beach spree.
1. Sandy Bay
Sandy bay is one of the best beaches in Northland for surfers on the East Coast. The perpetual waves on this Tutukaka Coast beach keep surfers busy year-round, and provide scenic beach visits to everyone else. This Whangārei beach is popular for swimming too. There’s no lifeguard service, so do keep an eye on your little ones while they splash in the waves.
2. Matapouri Bay
Look up “gorgeous New Zealand beach” in the dictionary and you’ll likely see a picture of Matapouri Bay. This picture-perfect white sand beach is well equipped for family fun, with public toilets, BBQs, parking, and shops nearby. There’s no better way to spend a full day at the beach than relaxing on this highly accessible and deservedly popular beach. If you want to spend the whole weekend in Matapouri, you can even stay the night in one of the nearby accommodation options like the Matapouri Beach House.
3. Ocean Beach
If you love sand dunes and coastal views, one of the best beaches Whangārei has to offer is Ocean Beach. During the summer, the local life saving club keeps swimmers safe, so you can splash around with some peace of mind. If you want to combine your beach-going with some scenic hiking, you can do the 3-hour hike from Ocean Beach to the more secluded Kauri Mountain Beach. Just remember to bring plenty of supplies!
4. Bream Bay
This large bay resides about half an hour south of Whangārei City and hosts several sweeping beaches with soft white sand, excellent swimming and surf-casting for the avid fishers. Ruakaka Beach is a great spot for a weekend getaway with a beachfront motel, and delicious food and coffee at The Bach Cafe. Just down State Highway 1, you can spend the night camping at the Uretiti Beach campsite. If the idea of listening to waves crash from your tent appeals to you, then this is the summer camping experience in Northland for you.
5. Smuggler’s Bay Beach
If snow-white sand and the potential to spot seals and dolphins sounds good to you, Smugglers Bay Beach is a must-visit. The clear, calm waters make it one of the best beaches in Whangārei to snorkel at. The beach is accessible by the Smuggler’s Bay Loop Track, which gets you to the beach in an hour and a half, past WWII gun emplacements and coastal forests. If you’re not up for the walk, you can head directly over the hill to the beach in 15 minutes from the carpark.
6. Whangaumu Bay
Also known as Wellington’s Bay, Whangārei boasts this excellent spot as one of the best Tutukaka Coast beaches. Whangaumu Bay provides hours of fun for families and young beach-goers alike. Kids can spend sunny days exploring the tidal pools or cruising on their boogie boards, while Mum and Dad can relax in the shade of the trees. The beach is rarely crowded and close enough to the Tutukaka marina to pop over for some seafood and a cold one at Schnappa Rock restaurant.
