Mount and Papamoa beaches, best in NZ

Mount Maunganui Beach. Photo/File

Mount Maunganui has claimed top spot as New Zealand's favourite beach.

According to the TripAdvisor 2017 Travellers' Choice Awards Mount Maunganui topped the pole for best beach for the forth time in a row. Papamoa came in at 10th place. Ohope Beach got 6th place.

Mount Maunganui was also named as one of the Top 5 beaches in the South Pacific.

In its fifth year, the Travellers' Choice Awards Best Beaches are determined by the quantity and quality of traveller reviews and ratings for beaches on TripAdvisor gathered during a 12-month period.

While Mount Maunganui was praised for its picturesque beauty, TripAdvisor users hailed Papamoa Beach as "one of the best beaches in the world", adding that it was less crowded and a great place to relax.

Tourism Bay of Plenty CEO Kristin Dunne said claiming three spots in this year's list is a fantastic achievement and was thrilled to see Papamoa Beach recognised in the Top 10.

"Ohope and Mount Maunganui have always been two of our flagship beaches, but we're very happy to see Papamoa join them on the list this year. As a growing area, with more opportunities and events than ever before, we hope to see it become a permanent fixture in the Top 10.

"TripAdvisor is one of the key ways international and domestic visitors learn about our region, and to have these top spots along our coastline recognised as must-see attractions is something to be celebrated.

"We pride ourselves on the quality of our beaches, as well as the activities that our coast enables, and look forward to preserving the coast for many more years to come."

The good news comes hot on the heels of the launch of Tourism Bay of Plenty's No Place Like Home campaign, a community initiative focused on equipping residents with a comprehensive knowledge of what is available in their own backyard.

The campaign launched at the end of January with a community survey, which asked residents what they love about where they live and what attractions they spend time at.

TripAdvisor's 2017 Travellers' Choice Awards Top 10 New Zealand Beaches:

1. Mount Maunganui Beach - Mount Maunganui
2. Piha Beach - Piha
3. Oriental Bay - Wellington
4. Ninety Mile Beach - Kaitaia
5. Whangamata Beach - Whangamata
6. Ohope Beach - Whakatane
7. Takapuna Beach - Auckland
8. Kaiteriteri Beach - Kaiteriteri
9. St Heliers Beach - Auckland
10. Papamoa Beach - Papamoa