Shelly Bay in Beachlands is a surprise, being one of the few Auckland beaches that can be genuinely described as a hidden gem. Access is from Shelly Bay Reserve on the corner of Second Avenue and Pōhutukawa Road. There is a small sign and several car parks at the start of the reserve, then a short walk to a series of steps that take you down the cliff to a gorgeous beach shrouded in pōhutukawa trees.
The beach is about 300 metres long and reasonably safe for swimming (although watch out for tree branches!). The sand has a gold and pink tinge, and the cliffs are particularly striking shades of yellow and orange. There is a large sun-bleached pōhutukawa on the side of the cliff, barely clinging on with just a few signs of life. At the west end of the beach is the remains of an old graffitied boat shed. Although houses are at the top of the cliff, you will barely notice that they are there.
It is a perfect location for a picnic, away from the crowds, on the Pōhutukawa Coast.
