Kohimarama Beach in Auckland is 900 metres long and the longest beach along Tamaki Drive near the entrance to the Waitamatā Harbour. The shared walking and cycling path runs along the beach's edge and is lined by pōhutukawa trees. The beach is primarily used for swimming but is also popular for small-class yacht races and kayaking, with easy boat access.
The south side of Tamaki Drive is flat compared to most other eastern bays. It is an upmarket beach suburb with limited retail and eateries compared to Mission Bay to the west and St Heliers to the east. Accordingly, it is less crowded in good weather.
The suburb's development has also been relatively recent. The land was originally part of a large acquisition by Bishop George Selwyn of the Anglican Church in the 1840s to support the development of Saint Johns College, then the Melanesian Mission in Mission Bay. It was leased as a farm for a while, and then, in 1943, the church trustees started selling sections. The development included 550 houses, some shops known as the Melanesia shops, and a 30-acre space was set aside as reserve land, Madill’s Farm Recreation Reserve, three blocks from the beach.
