Plan a seaside holiday with Karikari beach destinations
Nestled at the far north of Northland between Doubtless Bay and the Rangaunu Harbour, the Karikari Peninsula is one of New Zealand’s best beach destinations. You’ll have your choice of beaches on the bay and the harbour, so you can have safe spots for the kids to swim or rough seas for watersports and adventure. The beaches of the Karikari Peninsula offer an abundance of activities, such as surfing, stand-up paddle boarding, beachcombing, and fishing. You’ll also find cultural attractions in the area and amenities to enhance your beach experience. Whether you’re looking for romance, adventure, family fun, or anything in between, Karikari beaches give you everything you need for a fun-filled seaside holiday.
Tokerau Beach for family fun
Tokerau Beach is one of the longest beaches on the Karikari Peninsula and boasts 18 kilometres of sand along Doubtless Bay. The beach is popular for families to swim and sunbathe, but you could also go clamming or boat and fish on the water. If you want adventure, Tokerau Beach is a great place for sea kayaking or snorkelling beneath the surface to see colourful marine life.
Rangiputa Beach for camping with the kids
Rangiputa Beach is a beautiful beach with striking silica white sand and turquoise waters. The beach is popular for freedom camping, and you’ll enjoy consistent subtropical temperatures for sunbathing and swimming. Mt Puheke and the rainforest surround the beach and you can hike to the summit to see sweeping views of the coast from a high altitude.
Puheke Beach for surfing and watersports
Renowned for its surfing, Puheke Beach is a paradise of subtropical temperatures, unspoilt coastline, and safe swimming areas. Offshore, you’ll find spectacular surf breaks, but there’s plenty of shallow areas near the shore for children to swim and wade. The beach also has sand dunes that you can explore and coastal walks to take in the views. Other activities at Puheke Beach include fishing and boating, stand-up paddleboarding, birdwatching, and wilderness treks.
Karikari Beach for scenic views
Located near Puwheke Beach, Karikari Beach is a scenic beach area with stunning white sand and calm waters on Doubtless Bay. The beach offers a comfortable coastal bay walk to hike with the kids and access the nearby beaches and take in the views of the shoreline. You could also access the summit of Puwheke to see panoramic coastal vistas.
Coopers Beach for family amenities
Bathed in sunshine and soft sand, Coopers Beach is an ideal family beach. You’ll find tide pools for the children to explore and an offshore breakwater that keeps the shallows calm and gentle, perfect for little ones to wade. Coopers Beach is also one of the best fishing beaches on the Karikari Peninsula. Other activities at Coopers Beach include surfing, paddleboarding, and kayaking.
Cable Bay for fun with the kids
Cable Bay is a charming seaside community with a calm beach and azure waters. The beach offers the perfect atmosphere for a quiet beach day and time spent swimming and playing on the sand with the kids. If you want to spend more time by the water, the beach has a nearby holiday park with campsites and amenities. Another fun experience at Cable Bay is trekking along the coastal trail that leads to the highlands for spectacular views of the bay.
Maitai Bay for cultural experiences
Maitai Bay is a remote beach area with unique cultural attractions. The bay beach is a popular spot for families with children and couples looking for a romantic experience. Along with the white sands and clean, clear waters, Maitai Bay has 2 traditional pou that stand over the bay on the Maitai Pa, a symbol of protection for the waters and marina life. The pou represent the ancestors of the iwi, Ngati Kahu.
Taipa Bay for water adventures
Taipa Bay offers a string of beaches with beachfront resorts along the coast of Doubtless Bay. The area features the beaches of Mangonui, Cable Bay, Taipa, and Coopers Beach, giving you access to some of the best shoreline in all of the Karikari Peninsula. Like other areas of the peninsula, Taipa Bay’s beaches give you opportunities for surfing, paddleboarding, boating, and other watersports, as well as coastal hikes and prime fishing spots for family memories. If you want to experience different scenery and ocean environments during your holiday, Taipa Bay is perfect.