Medlands Beach facts for kids

Medlands Beach is in Oruawharo Bay on the east coast of Great Barrier Island in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. Auckland Council describes it as the most accessible beach on the island. It is one of the island's main tourist areas but is little developed. The small settlement of Medlands consists of permanent houses and holiday baches, some behind the dunes, sheltered from winds from the sea, and others elevated for a view.

Medlands Beach is directly south of Kaitoke Beach, with the Sugar Loaf hill and Pitokuku Island in-between. The beach is a "sweep of white sand" 2.1 kilometres long that can be walked both ways in 90 minutes. Halfway along the beach is Memory Rock, also called Medlands Rock, with a short informal walking track to the summit, where there are views across the bay.

At the northern end of the beach is an exposed beach surf break that offers reliable surfing conditions during most of the year. At the south-eastern end of the beach is Shark Alley, a sheltered spot for swimming and launching boats. It has a small stream with several pāteke (brown teal ducks) and a Department of Conservation campsite.

The settlement has Great Barrier Island's only traditional church building, St John's Community Church, which is used ecumenically. Medlands has a number of accommodation providers, but no grocery stores or food retailers. It is a 4-kilometre drive from Great Barrier Aerodrome and Claris, which has a general store, a New Zealand Post shop, a petrol station and other facilities.