Country guide
Sea glass beaches in New Zealand
3 sea glass spots in New Zealand, pinned by 1 collectors. Each one has photos and notes from someone who has been.
All 3 spots in New ZealandOpen the interactive mapWhat colours turn up in New Zealand
The colours members report most often across these 3 spots.
Amber
3 beaches
Green
2 beaches
Aqua
2 beaches
White
2 beaches
Soft blue
1 beach
Every sea glass beach mapped in New Zealand
Ōpunake Beach
Can be a really good spot for older sea glass, especially around the cliffs at either end of the beach. That’s where most people seem to have the best luck, though you’ll want to go near low tide and keep an eye on the waves. Some very old bottle glass has been found here, probably coming down from the old tip above the cliffs. The main beach near the surf club is much easier to reach, but usually not as productive.
Uncommon coloursA good amount
French Bay, Akaroa
Akaroa's main beach, right next to the wharf, is a reliable spot if you're after sea glass. The harbour has been busy since the 1800s, so there's usually plenty of worn glass mixed in with old pottery fragments. Most finds are white, green and brown, but blue and even the odd lilac piece do show up once in a while. It's an easy beach to walk and only a couple of minutes from the town centre
Common coloursLoads of glass
Days Bay, Eastbourne
Days Bay is an easy spot to check, especially around the old wharf. Most finds are brown or white, but aqua seems to turn up here fairly often too. It’s usually worth looking on both sides of the wharf rather than sticking to the main stretch of beach. The beach is flat, easy to walk and can be reached either by road or ferry from Wellington.
Uncommon coloursA good amountSea glass beaches in other countries
Found sea glass in New Zealand?
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