A long stretch of black sand on Auckland's west coast, about an hour from the city and North Shore. The beach is huge, with plenty of dunes to play on, sweeping coastal views and room to pull over for a swim, a surf cast or just to chill. It's a popular spot, so there's usually someone around to lend a hand.

The sand is soft, especially up the top of the dunes, so air down to around 30psi, keep your momentum and ideally travel with another vehicle. The Coast Road entrance is the softest and suits lower-capability rigs with a good run-up. Wilson Road and Rimmer Road accesses are a bit more fun, and the bigger dunes give keener drivers a real challenge. Good one for 4WD beginners. It's dog friendly, with open areas off the beach to roam.

No facilities and phone reception is patchy, so carry water, supplies, recovery gear and a first aid kit. A permit is required to drive on the beach, now processed manually over several days, so apply well ahead. Always check the tides before heading out.