Auckland Summer Road Trips to Start the Holidays

Auckland in summer is a city surrounded by beaches, and the best of them are the ones the buses never reach. Black sand and big surf on the west coast, clear water and snapper on the east, a gannet colony on a cliff top, and a beach two and a half hours away where you dig your own hot pool in the sand.

December is when it all opens up. The days are long, the water warms, and the holidays begin. With a car from Evolve Rentals collected in the middle of the city, you can be on the sand within the hour. Here are the summer drives we would start with.

Which are the best beaches near Auckland in summer?

Go west first. Piha, Karekare and Muriwai are all around an hour from the city, and they are nothing like the calm harbour beaches in town: black sand, huge surf and bush running down to the dunes. They are also serious water. Swim at a patrolled beach, between the flags, and nowhere else.

Muriwai has a bonus. From August to March, around 1,200 pairs of gannets nest on the headland at the south end of the beach, and a short walk takes you to a viewing platform right above the colony. It is loud, it smells exactly as you would expect, and it is one of the best wildlife sights anywhere near a city. Our Auckland day trips have more on Piha and the rest of the west coast.

What if you want a calmer beach?

Stay on the harbour side. Mission Bay and Takapuna are the classic city beaches, with gentle water, a lawn to spread out on, and cafes a few steps from the sand. They are the easy choice with small children, or for a swim at the end of a long day's driving, and they are close enough to town to do on the way back from somewhere else. If you are still deciding where to base yourself for the summer, our guide to where to stay in Auckland covers the options.

Where can you snorkel near Auckland?

At Goat Island, about an hour and a half north through Warkworth. The Cape Rodney Okakari Point Marine Reserve was established in 1975, the first of its kind in the country, and after half a century of protection the fish have stopped being shy. Step off the beach with a mask and snorkel and you are among them within a few metres.

A few rules come with it. Nothing can be taken or disturbed, dogs are not allowed, and DOC advises staying out of the water when the wind and swell are up from the east or north east. Pair it with lunch in Matakana on the way back, which our weekend road trips from Auckland cover in more detail.

Is the Coromandel worth the drive in summer?

Yes, and it deserves a night or two. Hot Water Beach is about two hours and twenty minutes from Auckland, and it does exactly what the name promises. For two hours either side of low tide, hot water seeps up through the sand near the rocks at the southern end, and anybody with a spade can dig their own spa pool. Check the tide times before you leave. The surf there has strong undertows, so the hot pool is the place to lie in, not the sea.

Cathedral Cove is five minutes away. The walking track from Hahei reopened in December 2024 after storm damage, and there is a shuttle as well. DOC can close the track at short notice in bad weather, so check DOC's updates on the morning you go.

What about a day inland?

If you want a break from beaches, the drive to Hobbiton is a little over two hours south through Waikato farmland. Book the tour before you leave, because summer dates go early.

How do you beat the summer traffic out of Auckland?

Leave early and come back late, or the other way round. The motorways out of the city are busy on summer weekends, and busier still at the start and end of the holiday period. An early start gets you to the beach before the car parks fill, and a late afternoon swim followed by dinner out of town gets you home once the traffic has cleared.

And pack properly. Sunscreen, a hat and plenty of water, because the summer sun here is stronger than most visitors expect, plus a towel you do not mind getting black sand in forever.

Getting the car sorted

In Auckland, you collect from us at the Grand Millennium, 71 Mayoral Drive, in the middle of the city, so there is no trip out to the airport before the holiday starts. In working hours a member of our team hands the car over and walks you round it, and outside them the keys can be left with the concierge.

Every rental comes with unlimited mileage and free additional drivers, which suits a summer of beach hopping. So book your car with Evolve Rentals, pack the togs, and head for the coast.

FAQs

What is the best beach near Auckland for a day trip?
Piha, about an hour west, for black sand and big surf, or Muriwai for the gannet colony. On the east coast, Goat Island is the pick for snorkelling.

When can you see the gannets at Muriwai?
From August to March, when around 1,200 pairs nest on the headland. A short walk leads to a viewing platform above the colony.

How far is Goat Island from Auckland?
About an hour and a half north, through Warkworth. It is New Zealand's oldest marine reserve, established in 1975.

When should you go to Hot Water Beach?
Within two hours either side of low tide, when the hot water can be dug out of the sand near the rocks at the southern end.

Is Cathedral Cove open?
The walking track from Hahei reopened in December 2024, but DOC can close it at short notice in bad weather, so check before you go.