Relax by the sea with the best beach baches in New Zealand
From volcanic, black-sand beaches to stunning white coastlines and remote beaches with windswept landscapes, New Zealand offers a wide variety of beach areas for a fun-filled seaside retreat. The beaches are a natural playground for outdoor adventure, including surfing, kayaking, boating, fishing and paddleboarding, but you’ll also have a chance to explore dense inland rainforests and rocky coastal cliffs. Whether you’re looking for a quiet beach trip with the family, a solo adventure with water sports and thrills, or a romantic retreat with your partner, beach baches are one of the best and most versatile accommodation options for your holiday. Find out more about beach baches in New Zealand’s best beach areas.
Brighton baches
Brighton is a beautiful seaside town near Dunedin with a scenic beach of the same name. The beach is a popular day-trip destination for families to sunbathe, swim, paddle and fish with the kids. If you want more water sports, you’ll also find a tranquil stream nearby where you can canoe or paddle. Brighton bach options are available near the water or tucked away in town, so you can be as close to the beach as you wish. If you’re planning to spend more time with water sports and beach days, you can book a bach right on the sand for quick access to the water. The Brookside cottage is the ideal choice for a family stay and offers a garden, nearby beaches, toys and games for the kids, all while staying close to town attractions like Cadbury chocolate factory tours and scenic gorge train rides.
Whangamata baches
Boasting a mix of white-sand ocean beaches and lush rainforest, Whangamata is one of the best places for a beach bach. The area is a haven for outdoor adventures like nature hikes, mountain biking, surfing, paddleboarding and diving in old gold-mining sites. Another highlight of Whangamata is Donut Island, or Whenuakura Island, a wildlife sanctuary where you can book a guided tour to see wildlife or paddle and kayak in the waters with the kids. If you book a Whangamata bach, you can stay close to the sand or deep in the rainforest to be near the activities you want to experience.
Maitai Bay baches
Located on the Karikari Peninsula of Doubtless Bay, Maitai Bay is a picturesque beach area that’s reminiscent of tropical island escapes. The beach is sheltered by the landscape and provides quiet and a calm surf for young children to swim and wade. The surrounding rainforest provides a habitat for rare and endangered wildlife, including many shorebirds and migratory birds. You can spend time by the water or hike in the forest to see the scenery and catch glimpses of the incredible animals. With a beach bach in Maitai Bay, you’ll be close to the wild landscape for more opportunities for adventure and wildlife sightings from the comfort of your holiday home. The Perehipe Getaway features expansive grounds with tees and flat, grassy areas for the kids and dogs to play, a safe swimming beach nearby, television, books and games for kids.
Cathedral Cove baches
Te Whanganui A-Hei Marine Reserve, also known as Cathedral Cove, is a lovely beach area on the southern part of Mercury Bay on the Coromandel Peninsula. Only accessible by foot, boat or kayak, Cathedral Cove offers a secluded beach area with spectacular natural rock formations for a picturesque beach trip with the family. You’ll also find scenic tracks that lead to nearby beaches, such as Gemstone Bay and Mares Leg. While you can’t book a beach bach on the edge of Cathedral Cove, you’ll find beautiful baches close to the walking tracks for peace and privacy.
Piha Beach baches
One of New Zealand’s most beautiful beaches, Piha Beach is a stunning black-sand surf beach on the rugged coast of Auckland. You’ll have opportunities to surf and kayak on the water, sunbathe on the sand or swim and play with the kids. Other water sports are popular at Piha Beach, such as kitesurfing and windsurfing, and you can have fun on the land with rainforest hikes and abseiling in Piha Canyon. Piha Beach baches can be found close to the beach or nestled in the rainforest, ensuring that you’ll have adventure at your doorstep for your whole trip.
Ninety Mile Beach baches
Ninety Mile Beach is a fabled stretch of sand on the western coast of the North Island that runs from Reef Point to Ahipara Bay. Ninety Mile Beach is known for its incredible surf breaks for experienced surfers and beginner-friendly areas where you can learn the waves. Other activities are popular across Ninety Mile Beach, including digging for tuatua, surfcasting, bodyboarding, sandboarding, hiking in the Aupouri Forest and fishing. With a beach bach along Ninety Mile Beach, you’ll be close to all the action and have the sand and forest at your doorstep.