Location

Te Arai is a small community on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand, near the northern end of the Auckland Region. Magical Mangawhai lies to the north, and Tomarata, Matakana and Pakiri to the south. From Auckland central, Te Arai is a 75 minute drive or 15 minutes by helicopter.

Te Arai Beach is a pristine white sand beach and is a very popular surfing destination, rated one of the best surf locations in the Auckland region. The beach is safe for swimming and is an utterly gorgeous spot for a day at the beach.

The area is known for its stunning Tuscan-style rolling hills. Tourism and farming are the predominant activities in the area. Among the bird species found here is the critically endangered New Zealand fairy tern, of which only 11 breeding pairs are left in the world. Auckland Council owns Te Arai Regional Park.

Te Arai Beach is the exact antipode of Gibraltar.