New Chums Beach, Whangapoua 3582, Waikato, New Zealand
New Chums Beach is a beach in the Wainuiototo Bay on the northeast coast of the Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand, near Whangapoua.
The northeast-facing beach is accessible only by boat or via a 30-minute walk on a partly unformed track along the coast from the estuary at the northern end of Whangapoua Beach. New Chums Beach is flanked to the north by the 171 m tall Pukenui and to the southeast by the rocky Motuto Point rising to 85 m.
The hills behind the 1 km long idyllic white-sand beach are undeveloped and covered in native bush, adding to its unspoiled appeal. In 2006, New Chums Beach was named one of the top 20 deserted beaches in the world by Britain’s The Observer and highly rated by Lonely Planet and National Geographic.
In 2010, plans were drawn up to develop 20 houses, a boatshed and ramp on land owned by a Queenstown developer. These were met with considerable resistance, leading to various campaigns to save the beach and surrounding land from any development, as it is one of the last sizable undeveloped beaches in the area.
Epic New Zealand Culture & Adventure Route © Monika Newbound
Rate us and Write a Review
Your request has been submitted successfully.
Own or work here?