Road trips for Beach lovers

Cathedral Cove at sunrise, Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand.

Book a rental car in New Zealand with VroomVroomVroom and get yourself around to New Zealand’s beautiful beaches. That way, you can stay as long as you like without anyone telling you to get back on the bus!

A beautiful sunset at Piha beach, New Zealand.

The beautiful Te Hoho Rock at Cathedral Cove Marine Reserve on the Coromandel Peninsula / Te Tara o Te Ika a Māui.

Hahei Beach - Coromandel / Te Tara o Te Ika a Māui, North Island

Hahei Beach on the Coromandel Peninsula / Te Tara o Te Ika a Māui is one of the most breathtaking beaches on offer. This sheltered and fabulous beach is perfect for fishing, boating, and swimming.

Directions: Rent a car from Auckland Airport and drive to Thames via State Highways 1 and 2 toward Coromandel Peninsula / Te Tara o Te Ika a Māui. Continue onto State Highway 25 towards your destination.

Māhia Beach - Gisborne / Tūranga Nui a Kiwa, North Island

With clear blue waters and soft white sand, Māhia Beach is a summer staple for those who live on the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island.

Directions: Start your journey in Gisborne / Tūranga Nui a Kiwa by picking up a rental car and heading to Māhia via Nūhaka.

Sea shells on main beach at Mt Maunganui Bay, New Zealand.

Waihi and Mount Maunganui - Bay of Plenty, North Island

The Bay of Plenty region is famous for its bright sunshine and cool, clean sea. You can start at the eight-kilometre-long Waihi Beach or continue driving for another 40 minutes to Mount Maunganui.

Directions: Pick up a rental car from Auckland Airport. From there, it's around a two-hour drive to Waihi Beach. However, if you’re planning on flying into Tauranga, Rotorua, or Whakatāne, it takes less than an hour in the car to reach the Bay of Plenty.

Kaiteriteri Beach - Nelson / Whakatū, South Island

Situated at the very top of the South Island, Nelson / Whakatū boasts long hours of sunshine. Kaiteriteri Beach doesn’t have surf, but it does have golden sand, and it’s the gateway to the magnificent Abel Tasman National Park.

Directions: Pick up a rental car from Nelson Airport and head northeast on Trent Drive toward Rapide Place. Continue onto Kaiteriteri-Sandy Bay Road via State Highway 60 to your destination.

Koekohe Beach - Otago / Ōtākou, South Island

Situated on Koekohe Beach–between Moeraki and Hampden—is one of the most enchanting and popular attractions on the South Island: the Moeraki Boulders. Currently, there are 50 gorgeous boulders, and they are now said to be protected by law.

Directions: Collect a hire car from Dunedin / Ōtepoti and head north on State Highway 1 toward Queens Gardens. Follow the signs for Route 1 Timaru / Te Tihi o Maru to Moeraki Boulders Road in order to reach your destination.

Hokitika Beach — West Coast, South Island

Hokitika Beach is another amazing place to unwind and relax with family and friends. This is also an ideal place to carve your own greenstone pendant, since Hokitika is known as the jade capital of New Zealand.

Directions: Pick up a rental car from Greymouth / Māwhera and head north on State Highway 6 to reach your destination.