Mount Beach, Bay of Plenty

Mount Beach, as it is known, is an unbroken sandbar stretching around the New Zealand coast, under the shadow of the dormant volcano Mount Maungauni. It is truly a beautiful sight; clear, white sand and the warm, blue Pacific Ocean. The beach is also a real Mecca for those looking to indulge in an activity packed holiday; an artificial reef has even been installed in the sea just off the main ocean beach to produce perfect surfing waves.

There are more sheltered harbour beaches here too, where the waves are calmer and it’s safer to take children. The section of the main ocean beach closest to the mountain can get pretty busy, especially around holiday times such as Christmas and New Year. But walk east down the sand, people will start to thin out and you can enjoy a really peaceful, laid-back beach experience.