NZ’s Best Beach 2025: Which beaches will take on Ohope? Could Kaiteriteri trump the champ?

The Herald is searching for New Zealand’s Best Beach and we need your nominations. Who will rival Ōhope? The Battle of the Beaches is as hot as feet on black sand, so let’s take a look at some of the hotspot’s stiffest competition this year.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll know Bay of Plenty paradise Ōhope has long been a fan favourite in the Herald’s annual search for New Zealand’s best beach.

The coastal destination secured the title of Best Family Beach 2024, and was runner-up in the Best Camping Beach category. It also placed highly as one of the country’s ‘Best Beaches’ in the Herald’s 2022 and 2023 competitions.

Girl playing in the sand at Ohope Beach in the Bay of Plenty. Photo / Western Bay of Plenty Tourism and Visitors Trust

But last year’s search proved there are other coastlines vying for the top spot. Hot on Ōhope’s heels was Kaiteriteri, a picture-postcard slice of golden sand in the Nelson-Tasman. In 2024 it ultimately trumped Ōhope for the title of Best Camping Beach, and placed second — just behind Ōhope — in Best Family Beach. It also ranked a respectable third in the search for Best Hidden Gem.

Kaiteriteri Beach from above. Photo / Nelson Tasman

Also in 2024’s Best Family Beach category was Waihī, a popular holiday destination with plenty of strings to its bow. A bustling beachside village of boutiques and eateries? Tick. A 9km stretch of white sand, perfect for sunbathing, walking, and all-round family fun? Tick. Lifeguards patrolling the water throughout the summer season? Tick.

Waihi Beach is a popular destination for families during the holidays. Photo / File

Another beach that came close to eclipsing the famed Ōhope last year was Hahei, which Herald readers also placed on the Best Camping Beach podium. The Coromandel hotspot is framed by Pōhutukawa trees and boasts a well-established holiday resort: think barbecues, rope swings, and 6.5 hectares of beachfront real estate.

Cathedral Cove is near Hahei on the Coromandel Peninsula. Photo / 123rf

The sheltered beach also serves as the gateway to Cathedral Cove’s picturesque limestone arch. Runner-up in 2024’s Best Hidden Gem category, Cathedral Cove is indeed hard to find, but not so much an unknown, untouched jewel in Aotearoa’s coastline. It is one of the country’s more popular spots, gracing many an Instagram feed. Perhaps not one to rival our frontrunners, but stunning nonetheless.

So, what makes a “Best Beach?”

We need your nominations to determine the Best Beaches for 2025. There will be a winner, runner-up and third place in five different categories: Best Hidden Gem, Best Surf Beach, Best Family Beach, Best Camping Beach, and Best City Beach.

Before you cast your votes, here’s a rundown of what makes a winning beach.

Best Hidden Gem

This is the beach that remains relatively untouched by society, a clandestine piece of unspoilt coastline: for example, does Cathedral Cove really meet the criteria of a hidden gem? We know it’s hard not to gatekeep these quiet, pristine parts of the country, but let’s share the hidden treasures Aotearoa has to offer.

Best Surf Beach

The Best Surf Beach is a coastal destination where surfers can “hang ten” and ride the waves like aquatic superheroes, but can be appreciated by non-surfers, too. Think wild waves tempered by a picturesque coastline for other beach-goers to enjoy.

Best Family Beach

Think about your favourite place to take the kids for a day of sunbathing, swimming and safe family fun. Nominate the spots that have it all: safety measures (flags and lifeguards), stretches of grass for picnicking, shade to keep cool, and facilities such as toilets, showers, playgrounds, and ice cream trucks.

Best Camping Beach

Fairly self-explanatory: this is the place campers can take in a stunning view and truly be one with nature. It could have a campsite, recreational reserve or holiday park with facilities such as barbecues, cabins, fun activities or on-site dining options. Wherever you’d pitch a tent, is probably a good nomination.

Best City Beach

No, it doesn’t have to be in Auckland. Whether it’s in Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin or a lesser-known city, tell us your favourite beach in Aotearoa’s urban centres. It could be your local, or the little slice of heaven you head to for respite when times get tough. If it’s in the city, we want to know about it.

To submit your nominations for NZ’s Best Beach, go to nzherald.co.nz/bestbeach or fill out the entry form below.

Nominations are open until January 12, and the finalists in all five categories will be revealed on January 19. You’ll then be able to vote for the ultimate winners.