Auckland Travel Forum

Hi,

I have been to Phuket and rottnest island and love the white beaches abd the cleap blue waters.....will i be dissappointed on a day trip or overnight trip to bay of islands?

I am not into water sports etc, just like the view.....

Is there anywhere else in Auckland or Christchurch areas like that?

Overnight trip would be better as there is some distance involved. The bay of islands is very scenic as to is the journey there. Did a combined boat (tour of the isdlands and hole in the rock) and 4wd (got to parts that are hard to get to) day tour which was very good.

The beaches in NZ are not as romantic as in Thailand, as we have no leaning palm trees... Most beaches are much wilder.

And the beaches are very different. Golden beaches in ... guess... Golden Bay (Abel Tasman National Park), grey beaches on the West Coast, fine sandy and rough rocky beaches, also white beaches...

From Auckland you have nice beaches in Takapuna, and on Waiheke Island.

In Christchurch we have a 25 km long white sandy beach from New Brighton to the river mouth of the Waimakariri with sand dunes but no trees, and smaller beaches like Taylor's Mistake, Sumner and around Lyttelton Harbour. Lonesome white beaches and turquoise blue waters on Banks Peninsula, especially Le Bons Bay and Okains Bay. But you will need a car to reach these whereas you can get to New Brighton and Sumner by bus.

One word: Coromandel - this is the cost line just down from Auckland (2 hours away). Cooks Beach, Whangapoa, Whangamata but the best most secluded beach is Onemana. There are tours around the area and it is fairly laid back. You'll love it!!

Yes, if you have a chance to get to the Coromandel - this really is wonderful, especially in summer when the pohutukawas are in bloom. Then the white beaches, especially on the west coast, are seamed by a red ribbon of the red blossoms. Forget when you will be in NZ... They have started to bloom already, even in my garden in Christchurch - so they are further advanced up there in the north. Also check out the Coromandel Pohutukawa Festival.

there is no possible way you will be dissapointed at all...different from thailand but definitly rivals it for beauty