Better yet, our coastline offers some of the most breathtaking views along with tones of swimming, surfing, relaxation and kayaking opportunities.

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1 In New Zealand we think we re pretty dam lucky. Why? One look at a map of New Zealand might give you a clue: We are surrounded by kilometers of gorgeous coastline. Did you know that you can t drive for more than 2 hours without coming across a beach? New Zealand s coastline is a whopping 15,134 kilometre s long not bad for such a small country! Better yet, our coastline offers some of the most breathtaking views along with tones of swimming, surfing, relaxation and kayaking opportunities. East versus West Coast Beaches However there are some key differences between New Zealand s East and West Coast beaches. They are like two siblings from the same family. Related as they may be, they each posses unique personalities. The East Coast beaches are typically the well behaved sibling - generally very safe, tranquil, white-sanded and gentle. Jump to the West Coast and you ll notice it possesses a much more wild personality. The West Coast is the rebellious sibling. Always up for a challenge, living life a little dangerously, rough, wild, moodier and a little more mysterious. And very alluring. Another key difference: West Coast beaches tend to be black sanded (from volcanic mineral deposits) while white sand covers the beaches on the East. Surf Lifesavers on TV In fact one beach in particular on the North Island s West Coast is so rebellious and dangerous, there s a TV series about it! The show Piha Rescue has, for a number of years, been prime time viewing. It chronicles the rescue adventures of lifeguards on popular West Coast surf beach Piha. Piha s location and beauty make it a favourite with kiwi s and international visitors alike, leaving plenty of action to be filmed. Its popularity, combined with its strong current and large waves mean the TV crews are never short on action to film. And boy are we grateful for lifesavers in New Zealand! Surf Life Savers are a deeply ingrained part of New Zealand beach culture. Every year on average they rescue 1,500 people and help to prevent a further 350,000 people from getting into difficulty. Phew! You car at the beach

2 Safety at the beach actually starts before your feet touch the sand. As beautiful and alluring as our beaches are, it pays to be prepared and clued up on some basic beach safety etiquette - starting with your car (if you choose to drive to the beach). When you park your car, make sure you lock it and take all your valuables with you. It may seem like common sense but you d be surprised how many people instantly switch into the relaxed beach mode as soon as they so much as see water! So remember to lock your car and take any valuables with you. Wear Sunscreen & stay hydrated! Once you hit the beach, it can be all too tempting to either instantly go in the water for a swim or collapse horizontally into a sun worshipping heap on the sand. There s nothing wrong with doing either, so long as you remember to apply the necessary and VITAL sunscreen first. Idyllic as our beaches are, New Zealand has one of the harshest suns in the world. This is largely due to the fact that the New Zealand s Ozone Layer has a large hole in it. If you re coming from the Northern Hemisphere, you ll feel a noticeable difference between the sun back home and New Zealand s sun. It literally sometimes feels like someone has taken a match to your skin. It is so harsh that New Zealand holds the unfortunate position of having the highest death rate from melanoma skin cancer in the world, with 200 people dying every year. A further 50 people die from other preventable forms of skin cancer. But fear not! It doesn t all have to be doom and gloom if you play it safe by applying some simple common sense. Common sense tip number 1: Wear sunscreen! We have a huge range of great sunscreens in New Zealand. Generally the higher the SPF rating, the better the protection. Tip number 2: Cover up. Wear a hat and t-shirt. Tip number 3: Re-apply your sunscreen after you ve been swimming (even if you re wearing sunscreen that claims to be water proof). Not only will these tips save your skin from burning, they ll also stop you from looking like a discarded saggy brown paper bag at the age of 50! And while we re on the subject of sun, make sure you keep hydrated to avoid sunstroke (and we don t necessarily mean with alcohol!) If you re not careful and don t remain hydrated, you could find yourself carrying a rather large headache and nauseous feeling. So drink up!

3 Safety in the water The next danger you need to be aware of is a rip. A rip is a strong current beginning around the shore, extending through the surf and running out to sea. In mere seconds, a rip can cause a swimmer can be carried out to deep water. Most beach rescues are due to rips, so you need to educate yourself on what to look out for and how to get out of a rip, should you find yourself in one. There are some important signs to look out for when identifying a rip. One or more of the following signs may indicate a rip: darker colour, indicating deeper water murky brown water caused by sand stirred up off the bottom smoother surface with much smaller waves, alongside white water (broken waves) waves breaking further out to sea on both sides of the rip debris floating out to sea a rippled look, when the water around is generally calm If you get caught in a rip, here are some basic tips to help get you back to safety. Don t Panic and remain calm. Float on your back and raise your arm to signal for assistance. If you are able, swim parallel to the shore for metres. Return to the shore where the waves are breaking, parallel to the rip. But really the best piece of safety information to adhere to is to swim between the flags. New Zealand s most dangerous beaches generally tend to have flags pitched in the sand, indicating ia safe swim area, patrolled by lifeguards. Check out: for more information on beach water safety. Dangerous Rocks A danger often overlooked on some of New Zealand s more rugged beaches, particularly those on the West Coast of the North Island, are rocks. While people like to go exploring around rocky outcrops, many don t realise how quickly the

4 tide can come in and how powerful the waves can be that crash up on the rocks. Be careful when you are climbing around rocks - make sure you re always facing the ocean and keep an eye on the water to make sure the tide isn t coming in (so you don t end up either being swept away or stranded!) Jellyfish A danger of a different sort (and perhaps a little more slimy) are jellyfish. The pale coloured varieties aren t the ones you need to worry about. Instead you should keep an eye out for blue bottle Portuguese man-of-war jellyfish. They re not hard to miss a deep dark blue colour, as their name suggests. They float along the surface of the sea but are at the mercy of the tide and currents that s why you ll sometimes see them washed ashore. Their sting is painful and even dead blue bottles can sting you. Should you get stung, there are a few simple steps you need to take. Firstly, remove any part of the jellyfish that s still sticking to your body with either tweezers or a gloved hand. DO NOT rub the wound! Apply a cold pack to ease the pain. The ocean feeds us! But we don t want to leave you with a bad taste in your mouth when it comes to fishy creatures on the beach. The good news is that not all fish species found in and on the sand are dangerous. In fact some are nutritious and VERY tasty! It s a bit of a time-honoured tradition in New Zealand for Kiwi s to wade through the sand at low tide to pick a variety of shellfish on the beach. Popular varieties include pipi s, tuatua and mussels (though these are picked off rocks). Oysters and scallops are also very popular though require a bit more effort to harvest. 12 awesome beaches to get you started The ocean feeds us, refreshes us and relaxes us. It is a defining part of New Zealand s identity. You may find it defines your time here in New Zealand too. So to get you started on your oceanic journey, here s a list of some of the best beaches in New Zealand (there are so many to choose from, this is just to get you started): Ocean Beach, Tauranga: Massive expanses of golden sand set against the backdrop of popular town Mount Managnui. New Chums Beach, Coromandel Peninsula: A stunning and secluded beach where you really will feel removed from the rest of the world!

5 Long Bay Beach, North Shore, Auckland: What really appeals about this beach are its massive expanses of white sand and huge green reserves. Great for throwing a Frisbee and playing some beach cricket. Only a 20 minute drive form the city centre. Piha/Kare Kare/Bethells/Muriwai, West Coast, Auckland: Some of the most wild and spectacular beaches in the country. These beaches truly do create a unique atmosphere. They re rugged and great for surfing but make sure you stay between the flags if you re swimming! Cathedral Cove, Whitianga: Truly one of a kind, this beach is only accessible by foot or boat. The headland here was once the site of an ancient Maori pa. Cathedral is used to describe the massive arched cavern that sits between the two coves. Its beauty is further enhanced by the red Pohutukawa trees that dot its fringes. Hot Water Beach, Coromandel Peninsula: this beach gives you the unique opportunity to create your own spa in the sand! If you time it right with the low tide, you can dig up your own hot spring in the depths of the sand. Ngarunui Beach, Raglan: This is the main swimming beach in Raglan and is a great beach for good, inexpensive surf lessons. Wainui Beach, Gisborne: This is the place to be if you want to be one of the first in the world to see the sun come up everyday. It s also a year round favourite for surfers. Ninety Mile Beach, Cape Reinga: Though the name may be a little generous in describing the length of this beach (actually only 55 miles), it still is the longest beach in New Zealand. It s famous for its massive sand dunes and also offers a unique vantage point for watching the Tasman Sea meet the deep blue Pacific Ocean. Abel Tasman National Park beaches, Nelson: Secluded stretches of beach that are great for snorkeling, swimming and kayaking set amongst impressive surroundings and extraordinary wildlife. Sumner Beach, Christchurch: A great place for swimming and surfing and only a 20 minute drive from the city centre. Baring head, Wainuiomata: A beach encased in rugged beauty. This place is a haven for rock climbers and bouldering enthusiasts.

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