Mount Maunganui has been crowned New Zealand’s top beach once again, according to Tripadvisor.

It is the seventh year in a row that the Main Beach has been voted best in the annual rankings.

The worldwide awards are based on millions of reviews submitted to Tripadvisor from travellers, taking into account the quality and quantity of reviews in each category.

In second came Piha near Auckland, while Pilot Bay, also in Mount Maunganui finished in third place. Ōhope Beach in Whakatane and Whangamatā Beach rounded out the top five.

While Mount Maunganui has something to crow about in New Zealand, it has slipped slightly in the South Pacific category rankings. It is now 10th, down from fourth in 2019.

The top nine beaches in the region are all in Australia with Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays leading, followed by Turquoise Bay in Exmouth and Burleigh Heads Beach.

Overall, there was no joy for our beaches on this side of the world in the top 10.

Brazil’s Baia do Sancho was voted best, beating out Grace Bay Beach on Turks and Caicos, Cuba’s Playa Paraiso, and Europe’s best – Spiaggia dei Conigli in Sicily, Italy.

New Zealand’s top 5:

1. Mount Maunganui Main Beach

2. Piha

3. Pilot Bay, Mount Maunganui

4. Ōhope Beach, Whakatane

5. Whangamatā Beach

Source: Stuff.co.nz