90 Mile Beach isn’t 90 miles long, more like 90 kilometers long, but that doesn’t roll of the tongue as well. It’s officially a highway, but it’s impassable at high tide. Tour buses roar up and down it, and people regularly get stuck. Almost every rental contract in NZ expressly forbids driving rental vehicles on 90 Mile Beach. Good thing we weren’t renting!
Of course, we didn’t just blast up the beach at a million miles an hour. We found an awesome place to stay and relaxed for a few days there in both directions. Utea Park is sort of a holiday park but unlike any other we saw in New Zealand. It’s off the grid, using solar for hot water and a small amount of electricity. Guests are welcome to charge their devices, but there are no refrigerators or microwaves. We rented a little cabin for a most reasonable donation and shared the communal kitchen and bathroom facilities. It’s just over the first dunes from the beach, and we dug clams for several yummy dinners. I’d link to their website, but they don’t have one. No advertising either. But many very loyal return guests.
Then we did blast up the beach! If by blast, you mean explore leisurely and take lots of photos.
Our first visit to 90 Mile Beach
Sunset watching
The blowing sand was cool to watch but made the surface hard to see.
A local, relatively unperturbed by either the tour bus or the motorcycles.
The view from the cockpit.
Exploring Te Wakatehaua Island after the tour bus left.
Crossing a stream
The road off the north end of 90 Mile Beach goes up the Te Paki stream
Hmmm…. Might have to stop and explore the dunes some.
Beautiful, windblown Te Paki dunes. The road/stream is down there somewhere.
Heading upstream
Approaching civilization (as defined by a gravel road).
Riding Around 
Hi, thanks- how difficult is access to 90 mile beach. I am here in NZ from Oz on an R1200GS with my wife…
Ease of access seems to depend on the weather. We went on and off at Utea Park then from there up to Te Paki dunes and up the creek there. Access was easy, as there had been recent rain. A week or so later, we went from Utea Park to Ahipara, and getting on and off the beach was a little trickier, as the sand was dry and loose. Have fun and watch out for the tour buses!
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Thank you, that’s very helpful. If you are in Queensland Australia ever, let me know – I would be happy to help. Brad