Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - NZ beach recomendations

Looking for recommendations on locations to visit on the North Island of New Zealand. Would like to stay in a B&B, a few minutes from a quiet beach, and within an hour drive of decent hiking. Proximity to a smallish town for food options would be good too, but not required.

thanks in advance!

There're so many beaches around the NI, I'm afraid you'll need to be a bit more specific. What's the closest major city? What're your interests? When will you be visiting?

Even if you're around Auckland, there're plenty of becahes in Auckland, quite a few north of Auckland - Paihia, the 90-mile beach. Then, south of Auckland, there's the Coromandel. The Hawkes Bay out East, e.g., Gisborne, Napier have good beaches.

South of Hawkes Bay is the Wairarapa Coast, the coastline have some beaches, mainly good for surfing.

Then, you've Wellington and the Kapiti Coast and they got decent beaches too.

Hot water beach on Coromandel is a good choice, and rather unique (it really has geothermal hot water in the sand, all you have to do is dig down a foot and create your own hot tub). Whitianga is a nice small town to stay in with several good B&Bs. Or Thames which is a much bigger town (bigger in this context means a few thousand population -- incredible how small towns in NZ are once you leave Auckland with its millions).

Yes please help us narrow down the type of beach. Is it for surfing, swimming, rock climbing, sun bathing, ...? Do you like crowds or prefer solitude? What time of year are you visiting?

PS the South Island also has nice beaches.

Yes please help us narrow down the type of beach. Is it for surfing, swimming, rock climbing, sun bathing, ...? Do you like crowds or prefer solitude? What time of year are you visiting?

PS the South Island also has nice beaches.

I'm looking for a white sand beach for sunbathing, and will be there in late March/early April.

Thanks!

By April its mostly too cold for sunbathing!

Best bets that time of year would be Coromandel or near Tauranga (Bay of Plenty) or Auckland, east coast of Northland (west coast is black sand). Can be more specific if you'd like.

Going to the beach in April anywhere south of Auckland is roughly equivalent to going to the beach on Long Island in October! Possible but bring a parka. Northland is about the only place that might be warm enough, but even that is variable with the weather and you are not likely to be pleased with the trip if that is your primary objective. Also Northland is a good day's drive from Auckland -- surprisingly far but well worth visiting, some great scenery and very charming touring and hiking country. Just be aware that you are not going at the best time of year for warm weather!!!