Right out on the East Cape, a simple gravel road runs down to the beach at Whangaparaoa Bay. Classic remote coastal country here, with the wide bay opening out to the Pacific. Good spot to pull up for lunch.

The road in is easy enough. Whether you can actually drive on the sand is another matter, and it comes down to the shape of the beach, which shifts over time. Sometimes it's firm and drivable, sometimes it's not, so it pays to stop and check on foot before you drop down onto the sand.

Take your time and treat the beach with respect.