Wharariki Beach (pronounced “fara-riki“) is located at the northernmost point of the South Island in Kahurangi (Abel Tasman) National Park. It's easily the most photographed beach in New Zealand, and if you think it looks familiar, that’s because it's famous for being the Windows 10 wallpaper.

Although Wharariki Beach is beautiful, it is not safe for swimming. There are currents and rips around the beach that make the water extremely dangerous. However, you can still explore on land.

The best time to visit the beach is at low tide, when you’ll get the full view of the iconic Archway Islands, endless dunes, and seal pups that can often be seen playing in the shallow rock pools around the arches.

Note: Although the seals may look cute, they are very dangerous if they feel cornered, and you must always keep at least 20m distance.

How to get here

Wharariki is approximately 2 hours from Kaiteriteri. Park your car at the end of Wharariki Road, and from there, it's a short 1km (20-minute) walk to the beach.