The golden sand
Swimming and kayaking.
Bart ryker — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Oren Rozen — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Michal Klajban — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Marek Ślusarczyk (Tupungato) Photo portfolio — CC BY 3.0 · Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand — Public domain
Kaiteriteri Beach is a golden sand beach at a small seaside town in the Tasman Region at the top of New Zealand's South Island, about 8 km from Motueka in a straight line and close to Mārahau, the main gateway to Abel Tasman National Park. On 6 November 2026 the New Zealand Geographic Board officially renamed the town Kaiteretere, the original Māori form; Kaiteriteri had been the common spelling since the 19th century. The name means «to eat quickly»: one account tells of people eating on an island in the bay who were startled by a noise and fled by waka to the mainland to finish their meal. Golden sand meets clear blue water, a small bush-covered island and granite rocks stand in the bay, and quieter Little Kaiteriteri Beach lies next door. Kayaking and swimming are the main things to do in summer. The town lives on tourism, with places to stay and cafés, and boats and water taxis leave from the beach for the bays of Abel Tasman National Park. Walking and mountain bike trails also start here. The beach is busy in the summer holidays, so early morning is the quietest time.
Swimming and kayaking.
Quieter, by the rocks.
To the bays north.
Kaiteriteri, Tasman Region, New Zealand
Yes; the water is usually calm.
Summer mornings, before the crowds.