Maunganui Beach is a beautiful crescent-shaped beach between Mount Maunganui and Moturiki in the Bay of Plenty. Moturiki, the rocky point at the south end covered in pohutukawa regrowth, is also known as Leisure Island.
The beach is similar to many others along the east coast of the North Island, with mostly whitish sand, a golden tinge, and patches of colourful shell debris. But unlike most others, it has a major city on its doorstep, complete with high-rise apartments that overlook it, beach volleyball courts, and some cool food trucks. There is nowhere else in NZ with a similar vibe, although there are plenty of city beaches around the country.
As expected, the beach is busy in warm weather and pretty much overwhelmed during summer holidays. But you can still visit without crowds at other times of the year, and it’s a relatively safe place for an ocean swim.
If it is too busy, drive down the coast road a bit. The beach extends beyond Moturiki for about 30 km, all the way to Maketu.
