The long sweep of beach down the western side of the Aupōuri Peninsula is one of New Zealand's iconic landscapes. It runs from Scott Point near Te Paki almost all the way down to Ahipara, with hardly a break or a settlement for nearly 90 kilometres. The sand is firm enough to drive on at low tide and the beach has legal status as a public road.
Most visitors see the beach as part of a guided 4x4 day tour from the Bay of Islands that combines the beach drive with sandboarding at Te Paki and the cape itself. Driving yourself is possible but risky: rental insurance usually excludes the beach, the tide can rise quickly, and quicksand patches occur near the stream outlets. Surfcasting is excellent, and the annual February surfcasting competition draws thousands.