Maraetai sits on the fringe of New Zealand’s biggest city yet feels a world away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Maraetai is part of the metropolis that makes up greater Auckland City but it doesn’t seem that way. It has the feeling instead of a charmed seaside village. The journey by road from Auckland to Maraetai leaves the urban sprawl behind and takes you through rolling hills and farmland. Here you’ll discover quintessential New Zealand.

With Covid-19 restrictions on international travel, Maraetai makes an ideal holiday destination for New Zealanders.

Even the drinking water is special. Maraetai residents proudly choose to stay disconnected from Auckland’s city water supply; instead they store rainwater to provide untainted chemical-free drinking water.

An uncrowded, relaxed atmosphere pervades this idyllic beach location. A world away from the city congestion, Maraetai is a leisurely 40 minutes’ drive from Auckland International Airport. It’s truly one of Auckland’s best kept secrets.

The calm, clear waters of the Tamaki Strait just off Maraetai Beach provide the perfect playground for sailing, paddleboarding, boating and fishing, swimming and paddling, Off the heads of Beachlands at Pine Harbour the offshore breeze makes it a perfect spot for windsurfing.

Maraetai’s scenery is unsurpassed. The coastal walkways follow volcanic cliffs, shelly beaches and rocky shores. Children delight in practicing their acrobatics by diving from the Maraetai Beach pier. Groups of walkers relax and chat over coffee at the Maraetai Wharf Cafe following their coastal excursion through pōhutukawa-lined pathways. Visible from the shores of Omana Reserve, the volcanic cone of Rangitoto Island sits on the horizon. In the distance Auckland’s Sky Tower is visible and across the water lies Waiheke Island. As a backdrop, the distant mountain range of the Coromandel Peninsula is visible on clear days.

Follow the Pacific Coast Highway south along the Pohutukawa Coast to discover Waiomanu Beach, Umupuia Beach, the Duder Regional Park, Clevedon Village and Kawakawa Bay.