New Chums is a spectacular sandy beach in the Wainuiototo Bay on the northeast coast of the Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand, near Whangapoua. It is a 35 minute walk to get to this secluded beach and there is room for picnics and for a long walks looking for shells, rocks and marine animals including blue finn fish in the clear waters.
No Dogs allowed as there are nesting dotterels in the area. Native Pohutukawa trees cover the cliff faces with no houses or humans insight. Its stunning pink rocks and slightly pink sand are just what you need after about a 30 min walk over the saddle of the headlands.
Gentle slope into the water, but it gets deep quickly, and waves are strong. Keep an eye on the tidal times as crossing the Pungapunga River inlet/outlet may become an issue.
Having to negotiate the boulders have made this a somewhat secluded beach which used to know as Nude Bums Beach. Nudity is tolerated here.
Good to Know
- Beach Type Beaches and Coves
- Facilities Ample parking at Whangapoua, and a public toilet. There are no toilets, rubbish bins or other civilised structures at the beach. Carry out what you carry in.
- Nudist Status Tolerated / Clothing Optional
- Ease of Access Not accessible other than by foot. Take a good pair of shoes with you if there has been rain on previous days as the track can get a bit swampy. It is 1.5 kilometers in length.
Getting There
- Town / County / State Waikato,
- Zip / Postal Code 3582
- Directions Head to the car park at the William Mangakahia Lagoon Reserve, north end of the beach
After checking the tides times you don't want to get stranded on the other side, cross the stream
Walk across the rocky boulders around the headland
Follow the path over the saddle into the Nikau palm grove. You then reach the beach.
Coordinates
- Latitude -36.837900
- Longitude 175.739000