Wharariki Beach

Wharariki Beach sits at the northern tip of the South Island, where pale sand spreads between tall cliffs and the open ocean. Several rock arches and offshore islands rise from the water, shaped over time by the waves.

An image of the coastline was chosen by Microsoft in 2015 for the Windows 10 lock screen. Before that, few people outside the region knew about this stretch of sand.

The beach area connects to Puponga Farm Park and borders Kahurangi National Park, representing New Zealand's commitment to natural preservation.

The walk from the car park takes about twenty minutes through open woodland to reach the sand. At high tide, little space remains between the water and the cliffs, so checking the tide times beforehand helps.

At low tide, seals gather in shallow pools near the rocks, often with young pups. The rock formations look entirely different depending on the light and weather.

Location: Tasman District

GPS coordinates: -40.50389,172.67389

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:29