Wharariki Beach is one of the wildest and most beautiful beaches in New Zealand. It is the famous Windows 10 wallpaper with the big rock arches standing in the water !

You reach the beach by walking about 20 minutes from the car park across farmland and sand dunes. The track is easy and well marked, but it can get windy and sandy, so good shoes help. I recommend planning at least an hour on the beach, because it is very beautiful.

This is also a good spot to see baby seals in winter and early spring. They sometimes play in the shallow rock pools near the caves. Keep your distance and do not block their path to the sea.

There is a holiday park right at the start of the track called Wharariki Holiday Park. I recommend staying there for the night if you want to easily catch sunrise or sunset at the beach. The light is amazing at low tide during golden hour and perfect for photos.