The Herald Travel’s annual search for New Zealand’s most beloved beaches is coming to a close for another year, with our supreme winners to be unveiled on February 2. Our readers narrowed down hundreds of beaches to 50 finalists across five key categories: Best Family Beach , Best Surf Beach , Best City Beach , Best Camping Beach and Best Hidden Gem , and now’s the time to cast your votes. But what makes a “best beach”? Here are our thoughts.
This last month, we have spent a lot of time unpacking the finest beaches Aotearoa has to offer: but before we reveal our 2025 champions, one very important question remains. What actually makes a best beach? While one might think the criteria for a top 5 beach is fairly straightforward (sand, sea, surf?), it’s a question that is, in fact, highly subjective. Everyone values different elements when it comes to that perfect slice of coastal paradise: for parents, it might be safety.
For surfers, it’s the swell. Some like their beaches buzzing and bustling: others prefer a deserted, end-of-the-Earth oasis. Then there’s urban dwellers, who may opt for cityside coastlines backed by skyscrapers, while their countryside counterparts might favour secluded coves bordered by nothing but forest.
Campers also differ in their wants and needs: some seek out cabins, others are happy bivouacking in the bush. Shape is also totally subjective, from quaint crescent bays to sprawling stretches of sand..