New Chum Beach - Wainuiototo:
This stunning stretch of golden sand is fringed by Pohutukawa and native forest and is deserted for most of the year.
Hot Water Beach:
Justifiably famous, Hot Water Beach is quite extraordinary. For two hours either side of low tide, you can access an area of sand in front of a rocky outcrop at the middle of the beach where hot water oozes up from beneath the surface. Bring a spade, dig a hole and, voila,you’ve got a personal spa pool. Surfers stop off before the main beach to access some decent breaks. The headland between the two beaches still has traces of a Ngāti Hei pā (fortified village).
Cathedral Cove:
Beautiful Cathedral Cove, with its famous gigantic stone arch and natural waterfall shower, is best enjoyed early or late in the day – avoiding the worst of the hordes. From the Cathedral Cove car park, around 2km north of Hahei, it’s a rolling walk of around 30 to 40 minutes. On the way there’s rocky Gemstone Bay, which has a snorkelling trail where you’re likely to see big snapper, crayfish and stingrays, and sandy Stingray Bay.
