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- Driving the beach (the long, legal shoreline highway) — This is one of those rare beaches you can actually drive along for miles, so the odd sensation of cruising a coastline is the main draw. It’s tide-dependent and full of soft sand and hidden ruts, so go at low tide with a 4WD, check local tide windows, and don’t try it at night unless you really know what you’re doing — recovery here is a chore.
- Te Paki sand dunes and sandboarding — Towering dunes back the northern end of the beach and give you a moonscape to climb, then the chance to sled or board straight down with the ocean as a backdrop. It’s an absurdly photogenic, uniquely raw combo (dunes next to a drivable coastline) — perfect daylight fun and a killer spot for panoramic photos.
- Powerful surf and long rides — The beach produces
- Driving the beach (the long, legal shoreline highway) — This is one of those rare beaches you can actually drive along for miles, so the odd sensation of cruising a coastline is the main draw. It’s tide-dependent and full of soft sand and hidden ruts, so go at low tide with a 4WD, check local tide windows, and don’t try it at night unless you really know what you’re doing — recovery here is a chore.
- Te Paki sand dunes and sandboarding — Towering dunes back the northern end of the beach and give you a moonscape to climb, then the chance to sled or board straight down with the ocean as a backdrop. It’s an absurdly photogenic, uniquely raw combo (dunes next to a drivable coastline) — perfect daylight fun and a killer spot for panoramic photos.
- Powerful surf and long rides — The beach produces some serious, consistent surf and long rides that attract experienced surfers from around the country. Not a mellow swim spot — the waves and rips are part of what makes Ninety Mile Beach stand out, so if you surf, bring respect for the local conditions and know-how for bigger surf.
- Surfcasting and shore fishing (day and night) — This stretch fishes well for species like kahawai and snapper, and many anglers prefer the quiet of night sessions when the beach is empty and the bite can be better. Practical: check local bag limits, use tide knowledge to pick your spot, and carry a headlamp rather than lanterns to keep your setup simple.
- Horizons, sunsets and dark-sky stargazing — Because it’s remote and flat, the beach offers huge open horizons for dramatic sunsets and, after dark, proper star fields and a visible Milky Way on clear nights. Moonlit walks here are memorable — just mind the tide, and leave no trace; the isolation is the whole point.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.