Orewa Beach

Orewa is a very long stretch of sand just past the Orewa bridge over the Orewa river. It’s really great at high tide though you have to walk very far into water before it gets deep– which is neither here nor there. The surf club has a prominent spot along the beach with it’s large lifeguard swim between the flags markers and a lifeguard chair to guard. Thought the elevated wooden square flat stage in front of the surf building was great for a sit down/​picnic and view.
It’s definitely a family beach– with lots of kids during the school holidays with their buckets and sandcastles as well as a playground to entertain. Not only– it’s great for both swimmers and surfers alike with good waves but also can be rather still to make it easier to swim in. Lots of sand for you to lay down a towel to get some sun tan or above grassy areas with some shade from trees.
It’s bookmarked with cliffs on either end and in one direction you can look out towards Hatfields and in the other– Stanmore Bay, Manly, Tindalls, Army Bay all the way to the large Shakespear park. SUP in an unmissably large tent and noticed a group of kayaks going out. Public toilets available behind the surf club and a huge car park to fill.
A good beach– sure to find something to please every type of beach-​go-​er.

Not the best beach but not the worst either. It has a holiday park and playground right by it and lots of shops and cafes/​restaurants nearby.
The thing that rubs me the wrong way with Orewa is that it still has an ‘older person’ feel to it with the look of the buildings and houses. I don’t see the point of driving up there when the North Shore of Auckland has many stellar beaches with better amenities.

My visits to Orewa have decreased dramatically since the construction of the motorway through that hill rather than around it heading up north. It used to be a stop off spot for our family when heading away for the holidays. I can’t say I miss it very much. Even when I was younger, I was never really a big fan of Orewa Beach. Perhaps it’s because I never had any childhood memories there, or perhaps it’s because there are so many better beaches nearby to choose from, that I just wouldn’t recommend this one.
It is long and flat which is good on a hot day as it never feels too crowded. And the swimming is safe. There is a lot of space both on the beach and on the grass areas overlooking it. This makes it good for big get-​togethers, picnics, school trips and sports. These are all good points, but I dunno, it just doesn’t do anything for me.
It’s nice enough though. And there are plenty of ice cream places, bars and restaurants in close proximity to enjoy.

I never used to be the biggest fan of Orewa Beach. It’s big, yes, but it’s also very flat. This makes it good for the little ones, or if you feel like a very long walk but not great for much else. But then along came Kite Boarding. Kite Boarding is that crazy sport where you attach a large kite to a small board and head into the water. The wind, the small choppy waves, and the long stretch of open coast make Orewa Beach perfect for it. Even if this all sounds a bit mental for you (and yes, it’s much harder than it looks) Kite Boarding is a superb spectator sport. These boards can get some mega air and the good riders can perform some impressive tricks. On a windy day my advice would be, grab a large feed of fish and chips from Orewa Township and head down to the beach for some entertainment. Dinner and a show!

This is a family beach and an oldies beach, however I don’t fit in either of those categories, so it must be a beach for all! I went there for the first time on the weekend — we have just entered Autumn, and the days are still filled with sunshine so Orewa had ample attendees. This lovely beach has a very long, and quite wide, stretch of sand, allowing room for many people to sunbath, volleyball or play a game of cricket. The water looked very inviting but we didn’t prepare ourselves for a splish splash, so a quiet stroll was enough. Shady trees nestled close by, parallel to a long flat footpath. When we got to the end of the path there was a water fountain coming out of the ground in several small spurts, a young girl used her feet to play with the water catching it momentarily; several species of birds also entertained themselves alongside her and each other, ever so often taking a drink when they could catch what they wanted. The benches nearby were occupied by families and elderly couples all enjoying the serene atmosphere. It is a novel way to wash off the sand compared to the standard tap I thought!
It was a Sunday early afternoon and the local farmers markets were nearby, less than five minutes walk away, along with many shops and cafes. It was easy to see that this area, particularly because of the beach, would make a strong tourist destination and school holiday draw card. I was told by a local that there was some bushland that is good for tramping in also within walking distance. Next time we go I am taking the togs!