At a Glance
- Best time to visit: November to April (New Zealand Summer)
- Best for: Families, couples, day trippers
- Budget: Free entry to all beaches
- Getting there: Car recommended for most beaches, some accessible by bus
- Don’t miss: Tawharanui Regional Park — our number one pick
If you’re looking for the best beaches in Auckland, you’ve come to the right place.
New Zealand’s largest city stretches an impressive 160km from north to south and is blessed with around one hundred beaches along its vast and varied coastline.
That’s a huge amount of sand for the family to play in.
This guide covers our favourite beaches depending on what you’re after. Because not every beach visit is the same. Sometimes you want calm water for little ones. Sometimes you want crashing surf. Sometimes you just want somewhere to eat fish and chips and stare at a volcano. Auckland, remarkably, has all the above.
We’ve been to the majority of beaches on offer, though not every single one as Auckland is big enough that a few hidden gems have likely escaped us. If you think we’ve missed something special, tell us in the comments. We love a good tip.
This is our honest opinion. Go explore and make up your own mind.
In This Article:
- Best Beach in Inner-City Auckland: St Heliers
- Best Beach in West Auckland: Piha
- Best Beach in North Auckland: Pakiri
- Best Auckland Beach for a Long Walk: Omaha
- Best Auckland Beach for a Picnic: Shakespear Regional Park
- Best Auckland Beach for Bars and Restaurants: Orewa
- Best Beach on Auckland’s North Shore: Takapuna
- Best Beach on Auckland’s Islands: Waiheke
- Best Beach in East Auckland: Maraetai
- Best Beach for Being the Best: Tawharanui
1. Best Beach in Inner-City Auckland: St Heliers
Auckland has several inner-city beaches running along the Eastern Bays, from Mission Bay through to St Heliers, as well as options on the western side around Point Chevalier. These are the beaches to know if you’re short on time, staying in the city centre, or don’t have access to a car.
Of all the inner-city options, St Heliers is our pick.
How to get there? St Heliers is easily reached by bus from the city centre, or if you fancy stretching your legs, it’s a walk of just over an hour along the stunning waterfront with constant views of Rangitoto volcano.
Why this beach? Mission Bay, the next door beach closer to the city, tends to get the tour buses and the weekend crowds, making it the obvious choice, which means it’s also the busiest one. St Heliers, just a short walk further along the coast, has a noticeably more relaxed, local feel. The white sand is lovely, the views across to Auckland’s iconic Rangitoto volcano are hard to beat, and there’s a good selection of cafes and bars right on the waterfront. It’s the kind of place where locals actually go, which is usually a good sign.
Family friendly rating: ***** 10/10
Backup option: Point Chevalier Beach — ‘Point Chev’ is a great inner-city beach on the western side of the isthmus. Calm, shallow, and perfect for kids, with trees providing shelter and rarely overcrowded. About 15 minutes from the CBD, it is a solid option if you’re staying on the western side of the city.
Family friendly rating: ***** 9/10
2. Best Beach in West Auckland: Piha
The wild black sand beaches of Auckland’s west coast are something else entirely. Backed by the dense native bush of the Waitakere Ranges, dramatically rugged, and pounded by powerful surf, they’re a world away from the calm eastern bays. Think moody, cinematic, and spectacular.
They do, however, come with a serious warning. Strong rip currents are frequent on all the west coast beaches, and tragically there is at least one drowning here most years. Always swim between the red and yellow flags when lifeguards are on duty. Outside of summer, there are no lifeguards so exercise extreme caution.
How to get there? Piha is about 45 minutes from the city centre by car. There’s no direct bus service, but you can take a bus or train to Henderson or Glen Eden and grab a taxi from there.
Why this beach? The approach alone is worth it. The narrow, winding road down through the bush opens up to a dramatic view of Lion Rock – a volcanic monolith rising straight out of the sea, and the vast black sand beach stretching out below. Piha village has a couple of brilliant hippy-ish cafes, the beach is enormous, and when the surf is up it’s genuinely exhilarating, provided you respect it.
Family friendly rating: *** 6/10 (the surf and currents make it less suitable for young kids)
Backup option: Muriwai Beach — Another stunning black sand surf beach further north along the west coast, with dramatic scenery, a big local surf scene, and a colony of Australasian gannets nesting on the cliffs that’s genuinely worth seeing. A couple of good cafes nearby too.
Family friendly rating: *** 6/10
3. Best Beach in North Auckland (Rodney Region): Pakiri
One of Auckland’s best-kept secrets is just how far its boundaries stretch north, and how wild and remote the beaches get once you leave the suburbs behind. Head north past the North Shore, through Warkworth, and into the Northern Rodney region, and you enter a different Auckland entirely.
Pakiri sits about an hour from the city, and the last few kilometres are on a gravel road which, rather than being a deterrent, feels like it’s only for the serious.
How to get there? Car is the only practical option. The gravel road at the end adds to the adventure. There’s a campsite right by the beach with cabins and tent sites which is a stunning spot for an overnight trip.
Why this beach? Sheer, glorious remoteness. On a weekday outside school holidays, you may well have the entire 14km of white sand almost to yourself. The waves are wild, the scenery is rugged, and there’s a company nearby that does horse rides on the beach which is worth looking up and booking in advance. Lifeguards are seasonal so swim with real care.
Family friendly rating: *** 6/10 (beautiful but not calm so it’s better for older kids)
Backup option: Matheson Bay, Leigh — About 15 minutes south of Pakiri, in the tiny hamlet of Leigh, you’ll find this lovely sheltered little beach. The bay’s shape and rocky headlands protect it from the swell, making it genuinely calm and perfect for young children. A hidden gem that most visitors completely miss.
Family friendly rating: **** 8/10
4. Best Auckland Beach for a Long Walk: Omaha
Sometimes a beach visit isn’t really about swimming at all. Sometimes it’s about putting one foot in front of the other, breathing in sea air, and clearing your head. For that, you need length, space, and the kind of wide open emptiness that makes the world feel smaller and your problems feel manageable.
Omaha is our beach for that.
How to get there? Omaha is about an hour from Auckland city centre by car, which is the easiest and most practical option. There is a bus service from Warkworth, but getting to Warkworth from the city requires two buses, making it a three-bus journey all up. Car or taxi is the way to go.
Why this beach? Omaha is nearly always breezy. We’ve never been on a still day which means it’s not our first choice for swimming or sunbathing. But as a walking beach, it’s hard to beat. Four kilometres of soft, powdery white sand stretching ahead of you, waves crashing to one side, and enough space that you can walk for an hour and feel genuinely alone. There’s a surf club at one end where you’ll also find a few cafes if you want food and coffee.
Family friendly rating: **** 8/10
Backup option: Orewa Beach, North Auckland About 30 minutes from the CBD, Orewa’s 3km of sandy beach is a great alternative for a stroll, with a lovely surf club restaurant and several cafes right alongside it. Easier to get to than Omaha and with more amenities.
Family friendly rating: ***** 10/10
5. Best Auckland Beach for a Picnic: Shakespear Regional Park
At the tip of the beautiful Whangaparaoa Peninsula, about 45 minutes north of Auckland, Shakespear Regional Park is one of those places that makes you wonder why you don’t come here every single weekend.
How to get there? By car to Whangaparaoa, then into the park. There is a bus to Gulf Harbour at the tip of the peninsula, though a car gives you much more flexibility within the park itself.
Why this beach? Shakespear has two main beaches: Okoromai and Te Haruhi Bay, with the latter being the most stunning. The park is a predator-free sanctuary, meaning native birds are genuinely abundant here. Tui, fantails and kiwi (at night). Wide open grassy areas, shade from Pohutukawa trees, BBQ facilities, clean toilets, and calm water in the sheltered bays. Pack a proper spread and spend the whole day.
Family friendly rating: ***** 10/10
Backup option: Wenderholm Regional Park, North Auckland — About 40 minutes from the CBD just north of Orewa. A calm, shallow beach flanked by cliffs, backed by a huge grassy and forested area with public BBQs and toilets. Perfect for big group gatherings. Gets busy on sunny weekends and public holidays so arrive early.
Family friendly rating: ***** 10/10
Planning a Trip to Auckland?
🏨 We recommend checking accommodation options early — Auckland gets busy in summer (December to March)
🏖️ Waiheke Island ferry tickets can be booked in advance at the Fuller’s ferry terminal on the waterfront
🚗 A hire car is essential for reaching the best beaches — book early for the best rates
🛡️ Don’t forget travel insurance for your New Zealand trip — we never travel without it
6. Best Auckland Beach for Bars and Restaurants: Orewa, North Auckland
If you want sand under your feet and a decent meal or cold drink within stumbling distance, Orewa is hard to beat in the Auckland region.
How to get there? About 30 minutes north of the CBD by car, or catch a direct bus from the city — one of the more accessible beaches on this list without a car.
Why this beach? Orewa’s 3km beach is wide, sandy and pleasant, but what makes it stand out is the strip of good bars, cafes, restaurants one block back from the beach and the excellent surf club right alongside the beach*. The surf club has a bar and restaurant with stunning sea views. It’s the kind of place you intend to stay for one drink and end up at for three hours. It’s a proper beach town that actually has things to do beyond the sand.
*The surf club is due to undergo a huge multi-million re-build and promises to be one of the best beach locations in the country, when it opens some time in the late 2020’s
Family friendly rating: ***** 10/10
Backup option: Mission Bay, Eastern Bays — The obvious answer for this category, and honestly it earns its place. Mission Bay has a solid strip of restaurants, bars and cafes right on the waterfront, decent parking, and is only about 15 minutes from the CBD. It does however attract tour buses and weekend crowds, and the dining options lean more chain than charm. But if you want sea views, cold drinks and food without travelling far, it delivers. Just don’t expect a hidden gem as Mission Bay knows exactly what it is and leans into it.
Family friendly rating: **** 8/10
7. Best Beach on Auckland's North Shore: Takapuna
The North Shore has a string of beaches running along its coastline, and while they’re all reasonably good, Takapuna is the pick of the bunch for us, and it’s one of the most convenient beaches in the whole city.
How to get there? Takapuna is just 20 minutes from the CBD via the Harbour Bridge, and is well served by buses. One of the few great beaches on this list that’s genuinely easy to reach without a car.
Why this beach? Takapuna has everything in the right proportions: a decent stretch of golden sand, calm enough water for families, and a lively town centre about two minutes’ walk from the beach with excellent cafes, restaurants, and shops. On a clear day the views across to Rangitoto are spectacular. It’s the kind of beach you can combine with brunch, a swim, and a browse for a full morning or afternoon sorted in one location. It can get busy on summer weekends but big enough that it rarely feels overwhelming.
Family friendly rating: ***** 10/10
Backup option: Brown’s Bay, North Shore – Further north along the Shore, Brown’s Bay is a lovely, slightly quieter alternative with a sheltered beach, good cafes right alongside it, and a village feel that makes it a pleasant place to spend a few hours.
Family friendly rating: ***** 10/10
8. Best Beach on Auckland's Islands: Onetangi Beach, Waiheke Island
Waiheke Island sits just 35 minutes by ferry from Auckland’s downtown terminal, and yet it feels like a completely different world: slower, sunnier (it genuinely gets more sunshine than the mainland), and dotted with vineyards, olive groves, and beautiful beaches.
How to get there? Fullers ferries run regularly from the Auckland Ferry Terminal at the bottom of Queen Street. Once on Waiheke, local buses connect to the main beaches, or hire a car or scooter to explore properly.
Why this beach? Waiheke has several good beaches, but Onetangi is the best in our opinion – a long, wide sweep of white sand on the island’s north coast that offers good swimming, space to spread out, and excellent food and drink options nearby. After a swim, the combination of Waiheke’s wine scene and the general island pace makes for a near-perfect day out. A day trip to Waiheke is honestly one of the best things you can do in Auckland.
Family friendly rating: ***** 10/10
Backup option: Medlands Beach, Great Barrier Island — A step up in remoteness and effort, Great Barrier Island requires a longer ferry or a small plane, but rewards you with one of the most spectacular and untouched beaches in the Auckland region. Medlands is a vast, wild, beautiful sweep of sand with almost no development in sight. For a proper off-grid adventure, it doesn’t get much better.
Family friendly rating: **** 8/10 (the journey is the commitment)
9. Best Beach in East Auckland: Maraetai
The eastern beaches of Auckland sit along the Manukau coastline and the Firth of Thames, have calmer, warmer waters than the west coast, and with a quieter, more local feel than the popular Eastern Bays closer to the city.
How to get there? Maraetai is about 45 minutes south-east of the city centre by car. Not well served by public transport, so a car or taxi is the way to go.
Why this beach? Maraetai is the kind of beach that locals quietly love without shouting about it too much. A calm, sheltered bay with safe swimming, a playground right by the beach, good picnic spots, and a relaxed village atmosphere. On a clear day the views across the Firth of Thames to the Coromandel Peninsula are genuinely stunning. Notably less crowded than many northern beaches even on summer weekends.
Family friendly rating: ***** 10/10
Backup option: Cockle Bay, Howick — Closer to the city at about 30 minutes from the CBD, Cockle Bay is a pleasant, sheltered beach in the Howick area with calm water, a good waterfront walkway, and cafes nearby. A solid east Auckland option if Maraetai feels too far.
Family friendly rating: **** 9/10
10. Best Beach for Being the Best: Anchor Bay, Tawharanui Regional Park
And so to our number one (at number 10) the beach we keep coming back to, the one we recommend to anyone who’ll listen, and the one that, in our opinion, represents Auckland beaches at their absolute finest.
Tawharanui Regional Park sits on a peninsula about 90 minutes north of Auckland, and Anchor Bay on its northern coast is, quite simply, stunning.
How to get there? Car only and about 90 minutes from the CBD. No other way.
Why this beach? The park is a fully fenced, predator-free sanctuary, which means the birdlife is extraordinary. You’ll hear and see native birds here that are genuinely rare elsewhere. The beach itself is a long arc of white sand with clear waters. Depending on the swell, the waves can be large – always swim between the lifeguard flags. Behind the beach, rolling farmland and native bush. No development, no shops, no noise except waves and birds. It’s the kind of place that makes you feel genuinely lucky to be in New Zealand. We’ve been many times and it has never once disappointed. Pack everything you need for the day as there are no facilities beyond toilets and a small campsite. That’s entirely the point.
Family friendly rating: ***** 10/10 (even when there’s a large swell, younger kids can still paddle)
Backup option: Te Arai Beach — Just south of Pakiri, Te Arai is another long, remote, undeveloped beach that sees very few visitors. A wonderful option if you want the Tawharanui experience without quite as far to drive.
Family friendly rating: **** 8/10
Link to Auckland Council page on Tawharanui here.
Auckland’s coastline is one of its greatest assets — and most visitors barely scratch the surface of what’s on offer. Whether you’re here for a weekend or calling it home, there’s always another beach worth finding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the best beach in Auckland for families?
A: Tawharanui Regional Park is our top pick: calm water, stunning scenery and wide open spaces and great fun for the kids.
For something closer to the city St Heliers is excellent, or Point Chev or Takapuna.
Q: Are Auckland beaches safe for swimming?
A: East coast beaches are generally calm and safe. West coast beaches like Piha have dangerous rip currents so we recommend that you always swim between the flags when lifeguards are present.
The further north you go, will depend on the swell (Pakiri, Tawharanui)
Q: Do you need a car to visit Auckland beaches?
A: For the best beaches yes — many of our top picks like Tawharanui, Pakiri and Maraetai are only reachable by car. A few like Takapuna, St Heliers, Mission Bay, Point Chev and Orewa are accessible by bus.
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