February 17, 2023: Wharariki Beach takes the prize as the most beautiful beach in New Zealand, if not the world. Absolutely stunning.
“To experience sublime natural beauty is to confront the total inadequacy of language to describe what you see. Words cannot convey the scale of a view that is so stunning it is felt.”
Eleanor Catton
Jean and I stayed only a few nights in Golden Bay and wished we had longer. A half-dozen remarkable natural sights were within a 10-minute drive of our Airbnb in Tākaka. But the best was at the far north-west end of the Southern Island – Wharariki Beach.
A Long Road
The Beach lies at the end of a 60-mile lane that winds up over narrow Tākaka pass and along the Golden Bay. The road grants the only way in or out, unless one is afoot or afloat.
Wild Wharariki Beach
At the end of our drive, we found ourselves surrounded by green pastures. A short hike took us up and over, past the sheep and through the dunes. And then beach appeared, with sea arches and clouds reflected in the sheen of the wet sands. The view took our breath away. Perhaps a dozen people wandered the beach, but the scene was so vast that were but distant specks.
Offshore were the picturesque Archway Islands. You may recognize them – they are the default image on the lock screen for Microsoft Windows 10.
Seal Pups
Fur seal pups played in the shallow tide-pools. We and others watched for perhaps a half-hour, mesmerized. One by one, we all slipped away and left them to frolic.
Next on the New Zealand road trip… Rawhiti Cave
Thank you for sending me your blog. I look forward to using the info to plan trips!!
I already want to go back!