Maraetai Beach

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 areas that are good for picnicking or to escape the sand and tiny white shells that are strewn across Maraetai Beach.

There are public toilets and several cafes nearby. In addition, there’s a children’s play area, and good parking, including along the length of the beach itself, although spaces here are limited.

Taking its name from the Maori for ‘meeting spot by the sea’, its short pier - which is a favourite place for jumping into the water - is dwarfed in length by this magnificent stretch of sand, which runs uninterrupted for over a kilometre.