Brilliant beaches off the beaten track

This beach is a great place to go for that Hot Water Beach experience without the crowds. Hidden near the small coastal town of Kawhia of the North Island, this beach has its own warm waters beneath the sands. Grab a shovel and get digging to reach the Te Puia Hot Spring bubbles. The DIY spa baths are best experienced two hours either side of low tide.

For a unique beach experience, take a walk through history at Curio Bay. There’s a distinct lack of sand and normal beach feelings but it’s epic nonetheless. Here lie tree fossils that are approximately 170 million years old and best seen at low tide. Nestled in the Catlins area, the petrified forest is also home to yellow-eyed penguins.

Truly off the beaten track, this beach is only accessible by boat or a 30 minute walk on a partly unformed path. With native bush reaching all the way down to golden sand dunes and stunning ocean views, this is a site worth seeing. This protected stretch of untouched land has no buildings, roads, infrastructure or camping. Fiercely protected by the locals, New Chums Beach is a hidden gem.

Although the Abel Tasman attracts thousands of visitors a year, Anapai Bay remains somewhat undiscovered. A three hour return walk from Totaranui and surrounded by mahoe and kanuka shrubs, this glorious, golden beach featuring awesome rock formations is simply magnificent. Anapai Bay feels rather like a private slice of paradise, especially in the summer when everything is bathed in warm sunshine.

By Timmi Aplin-Barrett

One of the most northern points of the South Island, this spectacularly isolated beach is a true Marlborough treat. Surrounded by golden hills and clear, blue water, Titirangi Beach is a real beauty. The road leading to this beach is rather windy and tricky but it’s still well worth the drive.

Note: Image is a generic shot in the Marlborough Sounds.

Getting here is a real trek but if you want to hit a really isolated beach, head to Stewart Island. Featuring sandy dunes and rough grasses, Mason Bay is a real wilderness attraction. This beach also takes plane landings and is home to the highest population base of kiwi in the world.

The West Coast has an amazing collection of windswept beaches and Monro Beach is one of them. Access is an easy one hour and 20-minute return walk through coastal forest. In the springtime, beachgoers may even spot the Fiordland Crested Penguin crossing the beach to their nesting sites. Gaze upon the crashing waves of the unstoppable Tasman Sea and then turn to see the wind beaten forest bending into the mountains.

The Waimamaku River meets the Tasman Sea next to a magnificent stretch of sand and rock. A fantastic location to view an absolutely spectacular sunset, this North Island gem has plenty of walking opportunities. Walk along this wide, open and often empty beach whilst taking in the rocky headlands decorating the rugged coastline.

Note: Image is a generic shot of a Northland beach.

Wises