Giant Sand Dunes

Absolutely loved this place! The dunes are massive and give such a surreal feeling—like being in a desert right at the tip of New Zealand. Sandboarding down the steep slopes was so much fun, though climbing back up is definitely a workout! The views from the top are breathtaking, with the forest behind you and the ocean ahead. Bring plenty of water, sun protection, and a sense of adventure. Highly recommend combining it with a visit to Cape Reinga and Ninety Mile Beach. A must-do for anyone visiting Northland!

What a cool thing to get to explore and for free! Unless you rent a board to ride down. It was fun walking across the dunes and surprisingly fun to run down steep hills, plus the small stream you cross to get on is nice as well. Was well worth the stop.

Budget Egypt Experience Without Leaving NZ 🤣🌬️ If you ever wanted to prank your friends and tell them “Bro I’m in Egypt riding camels” just come to the Giant Sand Dunes... One good photo here and people will be asking what flight you took and why your passport suddenly has Arabic stamps... 😂 The dunes are MASSIVE... Like you see ocean then boom Sahara Desert vibes then boom green forest... New Zealand out here mixing three different countries into one location for free... The sand is super soft every step feels like you’re sinking into a warm pillow... Parking? Plenty. Toilet? Yes available. Road? 10 minutes of gravel,nothing crazy unless your car scared of dirt... You can rent a board and slide down like a kid on sugar or if you’re broke or brave just roll down using your body same thrill more comedy... 🤣 Definitely worth a visit the views.. The photos.. The feeling of walking on giant dunes… all next level... Logan was here 🏜️ keeps walking searching for camel's...

They're a short 3km drive on a well maintained gravel road and in the carpark you can hire boards to ride on the sand dunes. There are also toilets at the carpark, although they're a long-drop. There are proper toilets a short walk from the carpark. There are various slopes to ride on and the tallest dunes overlooking the ocean are quite a workout to get to but the views from up there are spectacular. And the ride down on the board is super exhilarating and well worth the effort getting to the top.

In August, the Giant Sand Dunes were empty, clean, and stunning. For $30 we rented two sandboards and spent hours sliding down the golden slopes like kids. The tallest dune, to the far left, offers the most thrilling ride and incredible views of both the dunes and the distant ocean. The off-season solitude made the experience magical—no crowds, just wind, sand, and laughter. A perfect mix of fun, beauty, and adventure in one unforgettable place.

Lucky to visit this amazing place with family a number of times & doesn’t really get old. Love the texture of the landscape. Best to come when it’s not too hot & dry so you can walk further up, explore and wonder at its beauty. However, if you’re after the sandboarding, best time would be summer time so your board can easily slide down.

We had a perfect day for our visit—it was sunny, even with the unpredictable spring weather. The sand was soft and fine, and the dunes were quite large, making it feel like a desert adventure. My 5-year-old daughter had an amazing time!

It was the first desert I’ve ever visited in my life, and it was absolutely stunning. New Zealand is such a fascinating place. This spot is near the northernmost tip of the country, so I highly recommend stopping by! You have to cross a small stream to reach the sand dunes. Next time, I’m planning to go sandboarding!