It’s time to review your 10 finalists for the best family beaches, from north to south. Northland is awash with beautiful beaches, like Matapouri, voted as a top 10 family beach by Herald readers. But will Waipu be named New Zealand's best family beach? There’s a reason – many reasons – why Waipu Cove’s secluded, safe stretch of sand was our family and supreme champion last year. Coromandel’s Best Beach finalists have always been on the Pacific side.

Source: New Zealand Herald January 18, 2026 22:33 UTC