New Chums Beach

New Chums Beach is a white sand beach on the Coromandel Peninsula stretching about one kilometer and bordered by thick forest of nikau palms and pohutukawa trees. The entire coastline remains completely undeveloped with no buildings, roads, or facilities of any kind.

The beach has kept its original natural state as early Maori settlers saw it centuries ago, with no development or infrastructure changing it over time. This preservation is rare for New Zealand coastal areas, where building and tourism have typically left their mark.

Local people actively work to keep this place free from development and enforce environmental protections for it. You can sense how much the community values preserving natural coastal areas in their original state.

You can only reach this beach on foot via a 30-minute walk from Whangapoua Beach, crossing a stream and hiking over rocks and through forest. Wear comfortable walking boots and watch your step on the uneven ground.

The beach has no traditional local name and became known as 'New Chums Beach' simply because the name stuck with visitors who came to explore it. This lack of an official name adds to its sense of being off the beaten path.