Check out Himatangi Beaches rugged driftwood huts or make your own one to have a picnic in, and explore the massive sand dune field, said to be the largest one in New Zealand at over 20 kilometres long.

The local fishing club runs restaurant nights, while the local store offers coffee, takeaways, fresh baking and everything else a good Kiwi dairy has. The kids will love the adventure playground, concrete skating rink and the mini golf area, and the award winning Himatangi Holiday Park is only 200 metres from the beach itself.

Himatangi Beach is great all year round, even in winter when you can rug up, have some fish and chips on the beach and watch the waves roll in. The beach can be driven on if you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle.

Make sure to check our Guide to Staying Safe before getting into the water.