Best Beaches In & Near North Shore
- Cheltenham Beach
- Takapuna Beach
- Mission Bay
- Devonport Beach
- Murrays Bay
- Browns Bay
- Little Palm Beach
- Onetangi Beach
- Piha beach
- Oneroa Beach
- Big Manly Beach
- Little Oneroa Beach
- Howick Beach
- Orewa Beach
- Tindalls Beach
- Karekare Beach
- Maraetai Beach
- Muriwai Beach
- Umupuia Beach
- Anchor Bay
- North Shore beaches map
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1. Cheltenham Beach
© Michal Klajban / CC BY Travel time from North Shore: approx 0.5 hrs
Cheltenham Beach is the most popular in the Devonport suburb of Auckland. It is a good-sized sandy beach bordered by the North Head Historic Reserve to the south. Just offshore is the striking form of Rangitoto Island, a 260 m (850 ft) high volcanic cone which only formed around 600 years ago.
It is well worth a visit to the North Head Historic Reserve, if only for the view back… read more »
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2. Takapuna Beach
© Adam & Tess / CC BY Travel time from North Shore: approx 0.5 hrs
Takapuna is sometimes referred to as the unofficial 'capital' of Auckland's North Shore - a series of coastal suburbs across Shoal Bay from the city centre. The Takapuna Beach area is the centre of the North Shore's nightlife, being home to many bars, restaurants, cafes and shops. It is also the main shopping centre of the North Shore.
The beach here is a fine stretch of white sand looking out… read more »
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3. Mission Bay
gérard Travel time from North Shore: approx 0.5 hrs
Mission Bay Beach lies on the southern coastline of Waitemata Harbour in Auckland's Eastern Bays region, roughly seven kilometres from the heart of New Zealand's biggest city. It is generally reached by enjoying the stunning vistas along Tamaki Drive. Those with an eye for landscapes will also want to visit Bastion Point, overlooking the expanse of the harbour, while even from the beach itself it is possible to glory in… read more »
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4. Devonport Beach
Travel time from North Shore: approx 0.5 hrs
Devonport beach sits on the southern tip of Auckland's North Shore with uninterrupted views across the Bay to the city. It is backed by a small park known as Windsor Reserve. Here you will find a children's play area and plenty of open lawn ideal for picnicking.
Devonport Beach is conveniently located next to the Devonport ferry terminal and Victoria Road making it one of the easiest beaches around to… read more »
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5. Murrays Bay
© Holgi Travel time from North Shore: approx 0.5 hrs
Murrays Bay is a suburb of New Zealand's largest city, Auckland. The beach at Murrays Bay is home to a wharf (see photos) that is a popular spot for fishing and also jumping from during the Spring/Summer months.
From Murrays Bay it is easy to walk around to neighbouring Rothesay Bay and Mairangi Bay via a walkway.
The beach also has its own sailing club that sails from the… read more »
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6. Browns Bay
© Sids1 / CC BY Travel time from North Shore: approx 0.5 hrs
Set in a laid-back coastal suburb on Auckland’s North Shore is Browns Bay Beach, a long stretch of golden sand with calm waters. The beach is an ideal spot for swimming, paddleboarding, and picnicking. A scenic walkway runs along the waterfront, offering views over the Hauraki Gulf and nearby Rangitoto Island.
The Browns Bay neighbourhood has a mix of cafés, restaurants, and shops, giving it a lively yet laid-back feel.… read more »
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7. Little Palm Beach
Travel time from North Shore: approx 0.5 hrs
Little Palm beach sits next door to Palm beach in a relatively sheltered bay on Waiheke Island's north coast. It is yet another of the island's pristine beaches with a white sandy shoreline facing into clear blue sparkling waters.
What makes Little Palm well known amongst a plethora of other beautiful beaches of Waiheke Island is its reputation as a naturist beach - in fact it is often referred… read more »
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8. Onetangi Beach
© trakesht / CC BY Travel time from North Shore: approx 0.5 hrs
At nearly 2 km (1.2 miles) long, the north-facing Onetangi Beach is the longest on Waiheke Island. The local have taken full advantage of this fact and the beach has been home to the Onetangi Beach Horse Races for many years.
Other activities the beach is well known for include the annual sandcastle-building contests; the soft sand, which is free from shells, is particularly suitable for the creation of some… read more »
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9. Piha beach
© Fyletto Travel time from North Shore: approx 0.5 hrs
Piha is possibly New Zealand's best known beach and for good reason. Not only is the scenery stunning but this is the birthplace of surfing in New Zealand. In addition, Piha is less than an hour's drive from the centre of Auckland, New Zealand's biggest city.
Despite being so close to the North Island's main city Piha remains relatively unspoilt. The beach backs onto the rugged and heavily forested coastline… read more »
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10. Oneroa Beach
© J.E. Mcgowan / CC BY Travel time from North Shore: approx 0.5 hrs
This long crescent of sand is considered the main beach on Waiheke Island. Set in a wide sheltered bay on the northern side of the islands biggest village, Oneroa, it has plenty of facilities such as a free BBQ area, public toilets and a playground for children.
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11. Big Manly Beach
© russellstreet / CC BY Travel time from North Shore: approx 0.5 hrs
Big Manly Beach is a popular spot on the Whangaparāoa Peninsula, just north of Auckland. This sandy crescent offers calm, shallow waters, making it ideal for swimming, paddleboarding, and kayaking. The beach has a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere, with plenty of space to unwind.
In case you were wondering, yes, there is a Little Manly Beach on the other side of the peninsula, about 1km away.
The surrounding area features coastal… read more »
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12. Little Oneroa Beach
© CC BY Travel time from North Shore: approx 0.5 hrs
Little Oneroa beach is situated on Waiheke Island, around an hour's travel from Auckland. It forms the southern end of the sweeping white sands of Oneroa Bay, which is also the location of the island's main village.
The beach here is separated from the villages main beach (Big Oneroa) by a small finger of rock which can easily be climbed over, or walked around at low tide. Although by no… read more »
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13. Howick Beach
© OrangeZone / CC BY Travel time from North Shore: approx 0.5 hrs
This little, sandy beach in East Auckland has calm waters, making it ideal for swimming, kayaking, and paddleboarding. At low tide, rock pools appear along the shoreline, attracting people looking for small sea creatures.
The beach is backed by a grassy reserve with picnic tables and a boat ramp, making it a popular spot for families. The surrounding area has a mix of modern and historic homes, and nearby Howick… read more »
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14. Orewa Beach
© Steve / CC BY Travel time from North Shore: approx 0.5 hrs
Orewa Beach is a long, sandy beach on the Hibiscus Coast, about 40 minutes north of Auckland. The three-kilometre stretch of golden sand is a popular spot for swimming, surfing, and paddleboarding, with generally gentle waves and plenty of space to enjoy the water.
The beach is backed by a mix of grassy reserves, picnic areas, and a coastal walkway, making it the perfect spot for a relaxing stroll or… read more »
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15. Tindalls Beach
Travel time from North Shore: approx 0.5 hrs
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16. Karekare Beach
Goueg Travel time from North Shore: approx 1 hr
The secluded black sands of Karekare Beach lie surrounded by dramatic cliffs just 35 kilometres from the centre of Auckland on North Island. Immortalised in rock group Crowded House's Together Alone album which was largely recorded nearby, and the Oscar-winning film The Piano in the same year, Karekare beach has been named one of the top 25 beaches in the world.
Part of Karekare Regional Park, surfers regularly frequent the… read more »
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17. Maraetai Beach
Simon Morris Travel time from North Shore: approx 0.5 hrs
Maraetai Beach is located on the Pohutukawa Coast within the Auckland Region. Facing north towards Waiheke Island, it's a popular family beach destination that becomes particularly crowded with holidaymakers from Auckland in the summer months.
It is popular for a number of reasons. For one thing, its clean sands have a shallow entry into waters that are suitable for the whole family to swim in. But there are also grassy… read more »
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18. Muriwai Beach
© JShook / CC BY Travel time from North Shore: approx 0.5 hrs
Muriwai Beach is located on the rugged and relatively undeveloped west coast of the region around Auckland. Atmospherically if not physically far from the sights and sounds of New Zealand's biggest city 42 kilometres north west, it offers visitors a wide, flat expanse of volcanic black sand. Part of a chain of continuous beaches running for around 50 kilometres, its name is said to mean ‘water's end'.
Prevailing offshore breezes attract… read more »
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19. Umupuia Beach
© Mrogex / CC BY Travel time from North Shore: approx 0.5 hrs
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20. Anchor Bay
Nick Allen Travel time from North Shore: approx 1 hr
North facing Anchor Bay lies approximately 1.5 hours north of Auckland in Tawharanui Regional Park. Found on a peninsula of land of the same name, it sits between Kawau Bay to the south and Omaha Beach to the north.
One of Auckland's east coast beaches, grassy dunes shaded by pohutukawa trees slip down onto a wide expanse of pale sand which can be reached by a short set of well-tended… read more »
