Even Hamilton has its riverfront Wellington St Beach. <\/p>\n
So you can nip for a dip on the weekend or after work at one or more of these 10 city beaches that our readers have shortlisted as the best of the best. Over to you, voters. <\/p>\n
\u014crewa: 3km of golden bliss for camping, swimming, watersports and chilling; just 20 minutes from Auckland CBD, boutiques, cafes and restaurants just across the road. If you somehow manage to tire of people-watching and sunbathing, check out the interesting Estuary Arts Centre and beautiful Te Ara Tahuna Walkway. <\/p>\n
Takapuna Beach, Auckland. Photo \/ Tataki Auckland Unlimited<\/p>\n
Insta-perfect views of Rangitoto, long strands of inviting sand \u2026 and if that\u2019s not enough, Takapuna throws in one of the city\u2019s biggest and best beachfront playgrounds, accessible for wheelchair users. Oh, and myriad cafes, restaurants and ice cream parlours at water and hillside levels. <\/p>\n
Aerial view of Auckland’s Cheltenham Beach in Devonport. Photo \/ AucklandNZ<\/p>\n
A few minutes south, Cheltenham\u2019s golden sand, turquoise water and grassy areas \u2013 thoughtfully shaded by trees \u2013 lend themselves to languid picnics or fish\u2019n chips with ocean views.<\/p>\n
Come by ferry: Devonport Wharf is only 1.3km away, a gentle stroll. <\/p>\n
Mission Bay beach, Auckland. Photo \/ Mark Leedom<\/p>\n
On the blue-and-white side of the bridge, two neighbours with only a yacht club separating them (fun fact: both Mission Bay and Kohimarama were known as \u201cKohimarama\u201d until Bishop Selwyn lobbed up in the 1850s). <\/p>\n
Kohimarama waterfront. Photo \/ Alex Burton<\/p>\n
Mission Bay is the louder, flashier, bougie twin: bars, eateries, a cinema, fountain; Kohimarama the slightly more sedate, a smaller foreshore, more benches for sitting and idling, fewer cafes. It\u2019s your choice, knowing that parking is a \u2018mare at both on weekends; consider Auckland Transport\u2019s frequent buses or jogging, biking, skating or scootering along T\u0101maki Drive. <\/p>\n
Before we leave T\u0101maki Makaurau, it\u2019d be remiss not to advise checking in with Safeswim, the Auckland Council website using real-time data on rainfall, wind and other environmental factors to simulate water quality at the city\u2019s beaches. Colour-coded flags indicate water safety, including possible exposure to rashes caused by sea anemones and jellyfish. <\/p>\n
Mount Maunganui beach. Photo \/ Bay of Plenty<\/p>\n
At \u201cthe Mount\u201d, given today\u2019s rules, we have to focus on Main Beach. (Before anyone quibbles that it\u2019s not a city beach because it\u2019s in Mount Maunganui and not Tauranga, they merged in 1988.) Anyway, who\u2019s going to argue with the sand, those rolling waves, the pools, the cafes, the restaurants, the bronzed bodies \u2026 <\/p>\n
Fitzroy Beach, New Plymouth. Photo \/ Venture Taranaki<\/p>\n
New Plymouth has just been named sunshine capital of Aotearoa, and the big draw here is Fitzroy Beach. Locals and visitors flock to its smoking black-sand shore, inviting waters and laidback vibe \u2013 plus a superb holiday park on the slopes above. It sits on the 13km Coastal Walkway along the city\u2019s waterfront, perfect for walking, running, biking and stunning Tasman views. <\/p>\n
Oriental Bay Beach in Wellington. Photo \/ 123rf<\/p>\n
Tucked into the capital\u2019s inner harbour, just around the corner from Te Papa, Oriental Bay has enticed generations of Wellingtonians for safe swimming, picnics and general summertime joy. Uber-chef Ben Bayly is presently restoring the iconic rotunda into a fine-dining destination. <\/p>\n
Tahunanui Beach in Nelson. Photo \/ nelsontasman.nz<\/p>\n
T\u0101hunanui, the closest beach to Nelson city, is a safe 1.75km bay with honey-coloured sand and deep-blue water that could coax even the most reluctant into its ripples. More active types ply stand-up paddleboards, windsurfers and kite-surfers galore. Bonus: the cool playground beyond the dunes. <\/p>\n
St Clair beach in Dunedin.<\/p>\n
Dunedin\u2019s St Clair Beach is best-known for its consistent surfing waves but there\u2019s way more to it, particularly after recent makeovers. As well as swimming and walking, the vibrant Esplanade hosts cafes, bars and (our favourite) the historic hot saltwater pools. <\/p>\n
How do I vote? <\/p>\n
You\u2019ll find the finalists in our Best Surf Beach category in the form below. You have until 11.59pm on Sunday, January 25, to vote for your favourite in this category (you can\u2019t vote for the Sweet-as Spot). <\/p>\n
Vote at\u202fnzherald.co.nz\/bestbeach<\/a>\u202for by using the form below. We\u2019ll announce all winners in the\u202fHerald on Sunday\u202fand at\u202fnzherald.co.nz<\/a>\u202fon Sunday, February 1. <\/p>\n You can be a winner too \u2013 submit your votes and you\u2019ll go in the draw to win one of 10 $100 gift cards to spend at a Four Square near you, wherever you\u2019re spending your summer.<\/p>\n The Sweet-as Spot <\/p>\n This spot didn\u2019t make it to our finalists list but we think it\u2019s one of New Zealand\u2019s best. Make a date to check it out this summer.<\/p>\n Aotearoa has 3800 lakes, one of which is the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere, so it\u2019s way past time to recognise their beaches. Taup\u014d is technically not a city but with over 25,000 residents, it would have been before they changed the rules. Taup\u014d Lakefront Reserve has everything our city beach finalists offer, and quite a bit more. Stretching 5km from the town centre to family-friendly Two Mile Bay, you\u2019ll find safe swimming, watersports, boating, fishing, walking and wildlife trails, easy access to shops, cafes and cultural sites. Bonus: the natural geothermal spring at Hot Water Beach. <\/p>\n