The Ninety Mile Beach

Located on the Western Coast of the North Island of New Zealand, the Ninety Mile Beach is famous for its beautiful sunsets, vast horizons and some of the best surf scenes in the country. Ironically, the beach is 88 km long (55 miles); despite its name. One of the longest beaches of the country, it stretches from Kaitaia to Cape Reinga.

It’s name comes from early european settlers, whose horses could travel 30 miles a day. As it took them around three days to travel along the beach, they assumed the beach was 90 miles long, (they didn’t take in consideration the fact that sand slows down the pace of the horses), which in reality it is only 55 miles long.

The Maori name of the beach, Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe, which means “The long beach of Tohe”, is definitely more accurate.

There are many things to do in the Ninety Mile Beach, like swimming, bodyboarding down the sand dunes, take pictures, surf or look for shellfish; but to enjoy the vast landscapes and amazing views are for sure the principal attractions. The sand stretches into the horizon on every direction.

Although the Ninety Miles Beach is an official highway in New Zealand, it comes with many risks (like driving on sand, only suitable for 4WD, the rain and the tides, only safe to drive at specific times), and rental companies won’t cover driving there.