A black-sand beach run just south of Whanganui, good for a day trip. There's a decent drive down the length of the beach, with open dune and shrubland to play in at the southern end. The dunes here are genuinely impressive.

The driving is easy to medium, but the sand gets soft in places, so carry recovery gear and travel with company. Keep a close eye on the tides, they can rise and block your return along the beach. If you get caught out, there's a gravel exit heading inland through the pines from near a gas station, which brings you out by Kaitoke prison.

It's a known fishing spot, with snapper caught on long lines. The surrounding forest is private with active logging, so stay out of the blocks. The side tracks in there are overgrown and scratchy anyway. Plenty here to keep a beach-ready vehicle busy for a day.