It may seem obvious but that doesn’t mean we should exclude it from the list as hitting the beach is one of the best family friendly activities in New Zealand. It doesn’t matter what season you visit, the beaches here are always beautiful. If you happen to be visiting in the summer, then head to the golden East Coast beaches near Auckland or the Coromandel Peninsula where families can swim, paddle, camp and play. If you are here in the wintertime, then the best places are on the West Coast where volcanic black sand and driftwood await you. Sun, sand, waves, a picnic lunch and a couple of bathing suits are all you need to enjoy at this awesome place. Make sure to head over to Onemana Beach where a pirate playground awaits kids as well as a restaurant to make sure they don’t starve. If the kids are too young, then one of the best beaches to discover is Pakiri Beach where along with dolphins that are seen almost daily, there are great kiddie pools formed by changing tides. And last but not the least, the most family friendly and perhaps safest beach in New Zealand is the less crowded Taupo Bay in Northland that boasts warm and calm waters.