Driving on Te Oneroa a Tohe is nothing like driving on a road. The surface is sand, the lanes are unmarked, and the hazards are real. These rules apply specifically to Ninety Mile Beach.
Bring a shovel. You may not need it, but you do not want to be stuck without one.
Stay in the middle zone. Drive roughly halfway between the soft sand near the dunes and the waterline. Follow existing tyre tracks -- you can tell from the depth whether someone ahead hit soft sand.
Do not drive near the dunes. The sand is soft and you will get stuck.
Do not drive in the water. Rogue waves known as sweeps can rush in and literally sweep a vehicle away. You may see the roof of a buried car poking through the sand.
Watch for corrugation and humps. The sand sometimes forms speed humps or hollows. Take these at an angle -- hitting them head-on can snap a front axle. Travel slowly over corrugated sections.
Cross streams at an angle toward the dunes, not the sea. You do not want to be caught in a sweep.
Do not speed. It is far more dangerous than any road. The locals who use this as an alternative route do not speed, and that should tell you something.
No sudden turns. Sharp steering inputs at speed can flip a vehicle as the sand creates ridges and resistance. SUVs and 4WDs are more prone to tipping than cars.
Passing traffic. There are no painted lanes. Let oncoming vehicles pass on whichever side comes naturally -- do not change your mind at the last moment.
Give way to anything bigger than you.
If you see someone stuck, stop and help. Next time it could be you.
There are many exit ramps along the beach but only about three heading north are suitable for tourists. Te Paki Stream is the northernmost. The locals use the others, but they have the vehicles and know the terrain -- you can spot these exits by the tyre tracks going straight up the dunes and disappearing over the top.
Keep an eye out for wildlife: penguins, sea birds, and occasionally stingrays or a stranded whale or shark.