Where Is Ninety Mile Beach? New Zealand's Iconic Coastal Highway

Ninety Mile Beach (Te Oneroa-a-Tōhē) stretches along the western coast of the Aupōuri Peninsula on the North Island of New Zealand.

Geographic Details

• Northern terminus: Near Ahipara (south of Kaitaia).
• Southern terminus: Scott Point, at the base of the peninsula.
• Length: ~88 km (55 miles)—despite the name, it's not 90 miles.
• Orientation: Faces the Tasman Sea; exposed to prevailing westerly swells.

Unique Character

• Officially a public highway—vehicles (4WD recommended) drive on the hard sand at low tide.
• Backed by massive sand dunes (some >100 m high) at Te Paki, popular for sandboarding.
• Rich in shellfish beds (tuatua, pipi); traditional Māori harvesting grounds.
• Spectacular sunsets over the Tasman.

Access and Safety

• Main vehicle access at Ahipara (north) and Waikanae (south).
• Check tides: drive only at low tide; avoid 2 hours either side of high tide.
• Watch for quicksand near streams and soft sand at dune bases.

Ninety Mile Beach is a cultural landscape, a highway, and a wilderness experience rolled into one—uniquely New Zealand.