National park · New Zealand
Ninety Mile Beach
Drive the 93 km (58 mi) beach for free; walk the dunes or join a 4WD tour (≈NZ$150) in summer, avoid high tide at low‑light.Drive the 58 mi (93 km) beach for free; walk the dunes or join a 4WD tour (≈NZ$150) in summer, avoid high tide at low‑light.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
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Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
1 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (1 km²)
approximate
Established
2020
Best months
Apr–May
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7
- Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
- Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
- Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
- New Zealand ↗Visa-waiver visitors need an NZeTA (with the tourism levy) before travel, including many transit passengers; others need a visa. Apply only through Immigration New Zealand or its official app, and check the rules for your passport.
- New Zealand ↗Declare all food, plant and animal products, and used outdoor gear such as hiking boots and tents, on the New Zealand Traveller Declaration; undeclared risk items bring instant fines.
- New Zealand ↗Drive on the left; give way as signed at one-lane bridges; an English-language licence or one with an approved translation or International Driving Permit is required.
- New Zealand ↗Freedom camping is restricted: sleep in a vehicle only where signed as allowed, and in many places only in certified self-contained vehicles.
At a glance
- Country
- New Zealand
- Area
- 1 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (1 km²)
- Beach is a legal road; no defined park area (approx. 0.5 km² of sand corridor, check).
- Established
- 2020
- Best months
- Apr–May
- Permits
- Not needed
Ninety Mile Beach is a 93 km legal road along white sand in the Far North of New Zealand, offering 4WD drives, sandboarding at Te Paki dunes and wild‑horse sightings; tides dictate safe access.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 2020.
Size and age
1 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (1 km²) · national park since 2020
Beach is a legal road; no defined park area (approx. 0.5 km² of sand corridor, check).
Why go
- Drive a legal road along a 93 km (58 mi) white‑sand shoreline.Drive a legal road along a 58 mi (93 km) white‑sand shoreline.
- Sandboard the massive dunes at Te Paki Stream.
- Spot wild horses roaming the dunes and forest.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarGo
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepGo
- OctGo
- NovGo
- DecGo
- JanWarm, low tide often safe for driving.
- FebWarm, good beach conditions.
- MarSpring, mild weather.
- AprSpring, less crowd, good surf.
- MayCooler, still dry.
- JunCool, occasional rain, tide higher.
- JulCool, higher chance of rain.
- AugCool, rain possible.
- SepSpring, improving weather.
- OctSpring, warm days.
- NovLate spring, good for driving.
- DecSummer start, warm.
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wild horsesAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Kaitaia
Turn onto State Highway 1 north, follow signs to Waipapakauri turn‑off onto the beach road.
15–20 min
From Paihia
Drive north on SH1, then turn onto the beach road at Waipapakauri.
1 h 30 min
Open the page →
From Kerikeri
Drive north on SH1, turn onto the beach road at Waipapakauri.
1 h 45 min
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Beach road | Legal road along the sand, drivable at low tide. | Open to all vehicles; 4WD recommended. |
| Te Paki dunes | High sand dunes used for sandboarding. | Free; equipment hire nearby. |
| Wild horse area | Forested dunes where horses roam. | View from the road or footpaths. |
Sketch map
- 1Ahipara turn‑off · Gate≈-35.097, 173.306Southern access point to the beach road.Map ↗
- 2Waipapakauri turn‑off · Gate≈-34.932, 173.043Main southern entry used by most visitors.Map ↗
- 3Te Paki dunes · Viewpoint≈-34.780, 172.982Sandboarding hotspot.Map ↗
- 4Cape Reinga · Viewpoint≈-34.424, 172.720Northern tip, often visited via tour.Map ↗
Take the points offline
4 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates approximate centre of the beach; exact points given for key access locations.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beach road entry | Free | person | Free to drive; 4WD tours charge separately (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
4WD beach access no permit
Park rules
- Tide safety
- Drive only when tide is out; check local tide tables before entering.
- Vehicle type
- 4WD recommended; avoid low‑clearance cars on soft sand.
- Litter
- Carry out all rubbish; no bins on the beach.
Where to stay
Near the park
Ahipara
Budget motels and campgrounds 5 km (3.1 mi) from the southern beach turn‑off.Budget motels and campgrounds 3.1 mi (5 km) from the southern beach turn‑off.
Near the park
Kaitaia
Hotels, hostels and services; 15 km (9.3 mi) north of the beach.Hotels, hostels and services; 9.3 mi (15 km) north of the beach.
Safety
Tide flooding high
Sun exposure medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Beach road accessible by car; no wheelchair paths on dunes.
Visiting lightly
- Stay on the designated road; avoid driving off‑track to protect dune vegetation.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Ninety Mile Beach?
There is no entry fee; the beach road is free. 4WD tours or sandboard rentals cost around NZ$150 per person (check current prices).
What are the best hikes in Ninety Mile Beach?
The beach itself is a drive, not a hike. Popular short walks include the sand‑boarding dunes at Te Paki and the coastal walk from Ahipara to the dunes.
When is the best time to visit Ninety Mile Beach?
Late spring to early autumn (Oct–Mar) offers warm weather and lower tide windows for safe driving.
Can I drive the whole beach in a regular car?
A 4WD vehicle is strongly recommended; low‑clearance cars may get stuck on soft sand.
Is there accommodation on the beach?
No permanent facilities on the sand. Stay in nearby Ahipara or Kaitaia, both a short drive from the beach.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Ask about Ninety Mile Beach
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