Ninety Mile Beach
Northland
Te-Oneroa-a-Tōhē / Ninety Mile Beach stretches approximately 88 kilometres along the western coast of the far north of New Zealand's North Island. Despite its English name, the beach is only about 55 miles long. It begins near Tauroa Point west of Ahipara Bay and runs northwest along the Aupōuri Peninsula, ending near Tiriparepa / Scott Point, south of Cape Maria van Diemen and Cape Reinga. The beach is officially a public highway and serves as an alternative route to State Highway 1, mainly used by tourists or during road closures. The northern dunes at Te Paki resemble a desert landscape and are popular for sandboarding. Historically, the beach was a site of several shipwrecks in the era of sailing ships. In 1932, it was used as a runway for early airmail services between Australia and New Zealand. The beach was included in the Te Araroa trail in 2011, enhancing its significance as a walking destination. The dual name reflects the Treaty of Waitangi settlement with Ngāti Kurī, honoring the Māori ancestor Tōhē. The English name's origin is unclear but is commonly attributed to early European travelers misjudging the beach's length due to slow travel on sand.
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Consiglio: The best time to visit Te-Oneroa-a-Tōhē / Ninety Mile Beach is during the warmer months for comfortable weather and sandboarding activities on the Te Paki dunes. Visitors should consider booking tours or accommodations in advance, especially in peak season. Since the beach is a public highway, caution is advised when driving along it, and checking local conditions is recommended. Discounts may be available for guided tours or sandboarding experiences if booked ahead.
Fatti interessanti
- •The beach is officially designated as a public highway and can be used as an alternative route to State Highway 1.
- •Te Paki dunes near the northern end resemble a desert and are popular for sandboarding.
- •In 1932, Ninety Mile Beach was used as a runway for some of New Zealand's earliest airmail services.
- •The beach was featured in a 2013 Top Gear episode where Jeremy Clarkson drove its entire length in a Toyota Corolla.
- •The Māori name Te-Oneroa-a-Tōhē translates to 'the long beach of Tōhē', referencing a local ancestor.
Storia
Ninety Mile Beach has a rich history marked by maritime shipwrecks during the age of sailing vessels.
In 1932, the beach served as a runway for pioneering airmail flights connecting Australia and New Zealand.
The area gained further recognition when it was incorporated into the Te Araroa trail in 2011, a long-distance walking track across New Zealand.
The dual naming in 2014 resulted from a Treaty of Waitangi settlement acknowledging the Māori iwi Ngāti Kurī and their ancestral connection to the beach through Tōhē.
Guida del luogo
Te Paki Dunes
Located at the northern end of Ninety Mile Beach, the Te Paki dunes offer a striking desert-like landscape popular for sandboarding and hiking. The dunes provide unique natural scenery contrasting with the beach's vast sandy shore.
Beach Highway Route
Ninety Mile Beach is officially a public highway used as an alternative to State Highway 1 north of Kaitaia. It is mainly utilized by tourists and during road closures due to natural events like landslides or floods.