Confused? You have every right to be, and to add to the confusion, there's a '90 Mile Beach' in Australia too. Let's explore how Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe got the name '90 mile beach' and learn a little more about this beautiful coastal location.
Where is 90 Mile Beach?
Spread across the north-west tip of New Zealand's North Island, 90 Mile Beach can be found between Ahipara and Scott Point, near Cape Maria van Diemen. Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe is home to vast dunes, famously home of the Te Paki dunes. Popular with sandboarders, the Te Paki dunes are akin to a desert landscape rather than a coastal location.
How 90 Mile Beach got its name
It's not known exactly how this unique New Zealand coastline got its name, but it's widely believed to be an error of European settlers who miscalculated travel distances on horseback.
Estimating that they could travel 30 miles a day with their horses, a three-day trip along the beach led them to believe it was 90 miles long, following a failure to account for the slower pace on the sand.
Since 2014, like many other places in New Zealand, it's adopted the dual names of '90 Mile Beach' and 'Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe' following the Treaty of Waitangi settlement.
90 Mile Beach tide times
While there isn't a tide meter on 90 Mile Beach itself, there is one on either end at Ahipara Bay and Cape Maria Van Diemen.
Ahipara Bay tide times
Cape Maria Van Diemen tide times
Did you know?
As interesting as its name is, there are some other interesting facts about New Zealand's 90 Mile Beach.
90 Mile Beach Highway
It's officially designated as a highway! You'd not want to take a trip in a Suzuki Swift, but its official designation makes it an alternative to State Highway 1 north of Kaitaia. You'll mainly see 4x4 or tourist vehicles taking the highway.
Shipwrecks
Back when the world's ships were powered by wind, many sailships ended up getting wrecked, mainly due to changeable weather conditions, lack of navigation aids and strong currents. Famously The Forrest Hall was wrecked after it ran ashore in 1909.
Top Gear
Featured in a 2013 episode of the British motoring programme Top Gear, Jeremy Clarkson raced against an AC45 racing yacht crewed by Olympic sailor Sir Ben Ainslie and the winning crew of the 2010 America's Cup in a Toyota Corolla.
Wildlife
The surrounding areas are home to a varied array of bird species and marine life, contributing to its ecological significance. Notably, Matapia Island, located offshore, serves as a habitat for fur seals and diverse seabird populations.
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