This has to be one of the busiest beaches during the summer months! And it's pretty obvious why…read more The beach itself is absolutely beautiful. The water is clear and crisp and the sand is squeaky clean... it actually squeaks sometimes when you rub your feet in it! This is a great beach for the family as more often that not there are little waves, which make for some fun boogie boarding or body surfing. As Jacob said it's not often that there's real surf-able waves here but when the east coast swell gets up and hits at the right angle you might be in for a treat. There are some awesome rock pools to explore and a hill to climb which gives you a great look out over the bay. But be careful! I once saw a group of young kids get washed along the rocks as a set wave rolled in. Make sure you accompany your kids and only go exploring if there aren't big waves and the tide's not too high!

Beautiful Anchor Bay is a day trip spent perfectly in one of our regions golden treasures…read more I spent Easter Sunday here with my son and partner, we arrived not too long after lunch, and the car park close by was already packed to maximum capacity. A short walk down to the beach via the beach path and we found a lovely patch of sand with our name on it. I spent my time here swimming in the beautiful clean cool ocean, body surfing waves, and sun tanning. I recommend if you're not too relaxed to take a walk down the beach towards the rock pools which fill up and explore a deep human sized rock pool that you can dive bomb into! Sublime. The little kids will enjoy running about the rock pools and soaking in them, or searching for the little and big crabs that call it their home. The oceans out beyond the bay are protected as a marine reserve so the fish/sea creatures are happy and you won't see a fisherman in this regional park area. I love the peace I feel at Anchor Bay and always cherish my time here.

We went here on recommendation of a friend and what a discovery. This is one of those reviews I…read morewasn't sure I should write because once the secret is out, some of the magic of this place will be lost in the crowds. There's a few in the know already because we certainly weren't alone but it's absolultely one of the quietest beaches I've been to in a long time. It's calm and safe, albeit a little sharp underfoot and the tide never seems to go out very far. There's a grassy area under the trees if you prefer or a reasonable amount of shade under the rockfaces. It's really beautiful and we spent an afternoon here quietly relaxing with everyone doing their own thing (read boys throwing things around and digging holes, the girl making a beautiful sand sculpture and the parents snoozing and reading). Bliss.

Good beach for swimming when a nor'easterly blows (it's calm then). Also not very tidal, unlike (to…read moremy knowledge) all other Manukau harbour beaches. Been going there for years.

Just to the south of popular Muriwai beach on Auckland's West Coast is the small cove of Maori Bay…read more This beach can be accessed either by foot from the stairs at the Southern end of Muriwai, or by turning up left before the car park. To get to the beach you are faced with a very steep walk down over rocks gravel, and this is one of the reasons that if you went to this beach to relax, you are less likely to be surrounded by hoards of children. What you will come across is a large number of surfers. My partner tells me that the break at this bay is better than at Muriwai, and it is often less crowded. This is not a swimming spot for amateur or weak swimmers as there are no life guards on duty, and there can be a very nasty rip that runs along the beach and straight into the rocks at the northern end. I have seen surfers walking back around over the cliff path after being sucked out and swept around to Muriwai. You have been warned! Rare and endangered Fairy terns nest at the northern end of the beach in the right season, so heed the signs and don't touch the baby ones, even if they look lost!

Every time I pull into the car park at Maori Bay I smile. Even though I visit the surf spot often,…read morewhen the swell is good, I am always surprised by the amazing views. The car park sits high on a cliff giving you a tremendous view of the rough ocean crashing onto the rocks at the base of Otakamiro point, where hundreds of gannets flock together at one of New Zealand's few breeding colonies. It really is a sight. The west coast waters here are a little too feisty for the casual swim, but even if you're not a keen surfer, the grassy clearing next to the car park sets the scene for the perfect picnic to watch the sunset. Or if you're more of an adventurer take the walk over the hills to get snap-happy up close and personal with the gannets!

Commonly know as the 'Secret Beach' this reserve is so awesome. Probably one of my top five spots…read morein Auckland, which is saying a lot. You walk down a set of steps to find the cutest little beach in what seems like the middle of the city. And the best thing is that there is usually no one there! This is unheard of for most Auckland beaches and I love that it's like that. The beach looks out over the harbour and also at the harbour bridge, which makes it the perfect date spot. I've also got friends who've had wedding photos there. But you do need to be aware of when it is low and high tide as it goes out a little way. We like to go get a coffee from Jervois Road and take it down with us. Nature truly provides the best setting to enjoy a good coffee.

Super beach reserve which looks out towards the Chelsea Sugar Factory. There is a toilet and…read moreshower in the reserve which is handy. On the beach there are lovely low hanging Pohutukawa which provide some shade if you want. The best time to come here is a couple of hours either side of high tide.

Auckland is spoilt for choice when it comes to great beaches, but some days you feel like leaving…read morethe city and going on a little adventure. Mangawhai is a great option. Only one hour north of Auckland, it is perfect for a day trip, weekend or long weekend away. From the moment you enter Mangawhai you feel instantly relaxed - the whole place oozes the beach vibe. Mangawhai beach is a very popular beach and for good reason. The sea is a lovely teal colour, there is great surf and the sand is soft and white. It is pretty large too, so there is plenty of space no matter how hot the day is. The sea can get a bit rough but there is generally always a calm spot for the kiddies somewhere. It is a cool place with rocks to explore and whatnot. Parking can be a bit tricky on really busy days, but give the surf club a go because you might get lucky. Even if it is super stormy, it is a cool beach to walk along and watch the crazy people kite surfing of surfing the waves. There is a great fish and chip shop nearby too, so grab some post a beach day out to top off your very Kiwi day. And awesome place to go for the day, and the drive is nice too!

do NOT go to this beach. my whole family got bit by something and gave them red itchy bites just by…read moregoing in the water. Also we saw plenty of poisonous jellyfish which could've sent my babies to the hospital

Narrow Neck Beach is simply the most beautiful beach in Auckland !…read moreNear Devo, this beach is very large and quiet. Here, you will find clear water, fine sand not forgetting a wonderful view. But the photographs will talk better about it than a long explanation. Just the perfect place to go and relax after a working day.

My wife's family have been living in Te Atatu for over thirty years and believe it or not, they…read moredidn't know about this place until recently. I saw an article in the paper about secret beaches in Auckland and this was one of the beaches that was mentioned. The good thing is there is hardly anyone here in weekdays, mind you, you get people walking dogs and jogging on the weekends. It's a sandy beach but the surface is full of shells so you would need footwear to walk along here - well, I wear footwear but some of locals don't. There's a beautiful view of the city from an angle you've probably never encountered before. There is a also a nice walkaway which goes right around the to the next beach. It's a nice place to come for a long walk during summer. A great spot for kids, there is also a playground so plenty to keep them busy.

A great spot for a picnic, this little beach is a great place to bring the kids, go for a swim, or…read morewalk the dogs. My friend and I used to always come here during the week when the sun was out, because there'd be hardly anyone else here. We'd bring a blanket, some food and book, and have a relaxing afternoon in the sun, looking across the harbour at Auckland City. The water itself is harbour water, so it can be a bit muddy, but it's fun for the kids because it's flat as anything, and you always see lots of kids on floaties and people out on their kayaks. There's a playground in the reserve that's pretty decent, with bark as the base for safety. Make sure you bring your dog on a lead though because everyone brings their dogs down here, so if you're dog is the type to take off, it's much safer on a lead. We bring both our dogs down here and one of them loves running into the mud and into the water. The other just likes to roll around in the sand. The sand is quite shelly, actually. It's kind of like a really small Mission Bay, out west, with no shops and of course far less people.

Located around an hours drive from Auckland you will arrive at this beautiful and peaceful bay…read more Discovered in the 1800's by a ship maker from the UK, which the bay was then aptly named after. Just this past weekend, I went for a family outing with my husband and the children and whilst out in the area, it was decided our packed picnic would be glorious down at the bay with the sun out in full happiness. This is one of the best picks you can take for the family. There is a playground for the little ones right above the beach, and a bit of grass to lay about and have food or relax. I even saw a father with his little ones playing a game of soccer, which was right behind the coffee caravan! Yes for all those caffeine addicts, I was very happy to find that there was a coffee cart here dishing up some delicious beverages. Not only do you have the benefits of the facilities of the bay but the true treasure is the beautiful deep bay, where you can swim out to a floating platform, if your a keen water enthusiast perhaps bring your paddle board or waka down for a go. People of all ages appreciate the rock pools at low tide, as you can walk out amongst the rocks and peer into pools of seaweed, starfish and crabs- just wonderful stuff for the little people who find it a thrill! Places like Mathesons, make me truly appreciate our city and how much beauty she beholds.