Where summer memories are made: Kaiteriteri voted NZ’s best family beach

Pictured: Four Square Māpua owners Shaun and Taryn McFadden (far left) with their store team. 

Where summer memories are made: Kaiteriteri voted NZ’s best family beach 

When Kiwis talk about the perfect family beach, one name continues to rise to the top: Kaiteriteri. 

Voted Best Family Beach in the 2026 NZ Herald Best Beaches competition, the much-loved summer holiday destination near Nelson proves why generations of families return year after year.  

Golden sand, sheltered waters, a sprawling campground and direct access to Abel Tasman National Park make Kaiteriteri a standout and a point of pride for local communities across the South Island. 

And where there’s a great beach, there’s often a local, family-owned Four Square store either nearby or en route.  

For Shaun and Taryn McFadden, owners of Four Square Māpua, the recognition feels personal. 

“Kaiteriteri is the best beach,” says Shaun. “It’s the reason people come to this part of the country – from the lower North Island, the South Island, and across Nelson/Tasman. It’s the gateway to Abel Tasman, and it’s just impossibly beautiful.” 

Shaun grew up visiting Kaiteriteri as a child, camping, swimming and lining up for ice creams – memories now coming full circle as he brings his own children, Tyler and Jesse, back to the beach.  “Golden sand like nowhere else, camping with the kids, paddleboarding – it’s all part of the classic Kiwi summer.” 

Kaiteriteri continues to be a major drawcard for the wider Tasman region, with many visitors staying locally and day-tripping to the beach. For Four Square  Māpua, beachgoers are a big part of the summer rhythm - stocking up on picnic food, sunscreen, snacks and those essential end-of-day treats. 

From Kaiteriteri, the celebrations extend north to other reader-voted favourite beaches, many also sitting right on the doorstep of family-owned Four Square stores. 

Waipū Cove claimed Overall Best Beach for the second year, praised for its sweeping sand, surf, rockpools and relaxed camping atmosphere. Just down the road, Langs Beach took out Best Hidden Gem, beloved for its quiet beauty and sense of escape. 

Further afield, Mount Maunganui was named Best City Beach, Manu Bay in Raglan earned Best Surf Beach, and once again showcased why New Zealand’s coastline is among the best in the world. 

Across the country, Four Square stores remain part of the beach-day tradition – the familiar stop for cold drinks, bread rolls, sunscreen, ice creams and fish and chips at sunset. 

“These beaches are taonga,” says Shaun.  “And being part of the communities that care for them – from the South Island to the top of the North – is something Four Square is incredibly proud of.”