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Ninety Mile Beach
Northland, New Zealand
Whether you count in miles or kilometres, it’s still a really long beach. While the name Ninety Mile Beach is actually a misnomer (it’s really only 55 miles long, and New Zealanders use kilometres rather than miles), it is justly a top tourist destination for its staggering beauty.
Natadola Beach, Viti Levu, Fiji
A turquoise sea, pure white sand and palm shade trees, Natadola Beach has it all. The beach has earned a reputation as the greatest treasure of Fiji’s main island, Viti Levu. The reef forms a lagoon, providing a haven for swimming and at low tide you can walk all the way out to the reef.
United
States &
Canada
Polihale Beach
Kaui, Hawaii
Dunes frame this wild 27kms stretch which is not only the westernmost public beach on Kauai but also the longest sandy shoreline in Hawaii. Since Polihale is accessible only via an old 8kms farm road, few travellers venture here, so the isolated coastline, known for great shelling and blood red sunsets, is even more rewarding.
Venice Beach
Los Angeles, California
Sure, the water is nice, but Venice Beach’s raison d’être is its scene. Here surfers and soccer players strut their stuff along the water’s edge while street dancers, body builders and tattoo artists hang out near the city’s 4kms promenade.
Padre Island National Seashore
Padre Island, Texas
Forget the party beach of South Padre Island. Right next door is the longest expanse of undeveloped barrier island in the world, the Padre Island National Seashore, which ambles along for an impressive 100kms. Empty beaches are almost guaranteed here. Many accessible only by boat or four wheel drive. And the coastline is home to dozens of endangered animals including the Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle.
Footbridge Beach
Ogunquit, Maine
The Algonquian Indians called the stretch of powdery white sand Ogunquit, which means “beautiful place by the sea.” Centuries later, just when Ogunquit Beach faced the threat of over development, the city declared it a public park and limited access to three entry points.
Head of the Meadow Beach
Truro, Massachusetts
For a quiet retreat along 65kms Cape Cod National Seashore, visit Head of the Meadow Beach. Its warm summer waters are great for swimming and wading and the ever changing sandbar makes for awesome bodysurfing. Keep an eye out for seals, dolphins and whales as you stroll the beach or bask in the sun.
Hither Hills Beach
Montauk, New York
After a morning spent exploring Hither Hills State Park’s woodlands and the walking dunes of Napeague Harbor, spread a blanket on this wide stretch of sugary sand. Families return year after year for a prime front row seat at the edge of the Atlantic and water that’s great for swimming, paddle boarding and fishing.
Lifes a beach (from left) The people are as interesting as the sand and surf in California’s Venice Beach. Brazil’s Ipanema Beach is a truly exotic location.
A more genteel option could be Nags Head in North Carolina or for a change of pace you could sample the crystal clear waters of Dona Ana Beach in Portugal.
Oceanfront Beach
Virginia Beach, Virginia
At 89 blocks, the Oceanfront is the longest beach in the city. Its wide yellow sands are divided into two distinct sections. The North End, great for families, is quiet and fairly residential while the South End packs a punch with hotels, waterfront restaurants, music venues and a 4kms boardwalk lined with
ice cream shops.
Nags Head Beach
Outer Banks, North Carolina
A 2011 beach replenishment reinforced the 18kms long Nags Head shore, protecting it against
the wrath of Hurricanes Irene and Sandy, which would batter many of its fragile sister beaches. Settled more than 150 years ago it continues to attract vacationmakers with endless diversions, like snorkelling, sailing, sea kayaking and hang gliding.
14 APRIL 2014