New Chums Beach

{{Short description|Beach on the Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2024}} [[File:Overlooking New Chums Beach.jpg|thumb|Overlooking New Chums Beach from Motuto Point]] '''New Chums Beach''' is a [[beach]] in the Wainuiototo Bay on the northeast coast of the [[Coromandel Peninsula]], [[New Zealand]], near [[Whangapoua]].

The hills behind the {{convert|1|km|adj=on|spell=in}} white-sand beach are undeveloped and covered in native bush, adding to its unspoiled appeal. In 2006, New Chums Beach was named one of the top 20 deserted beaches in the world by Britain's The Observer<ref>{{cite news | publisher = The Observer | date = 7 May 2006 | author = Gemma Bowes | url = https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2006/may/07/restandrelaxation.observerescapesection | title = 20 best deserted beaches | accessdate = 2 March 2013 }}</ref> and highly rated by Lonely Planet and National Geographic.<ref name="savenewchums">{{cite news | publisher = The New Zealand Herald | date = 14 August 2010 | author = Michael Dickison | url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10665974 | title = Chums battle to save paradise | accessdate = 2 March 2013 }}</ref>

In 2010, plans were drawn up to develop 20 houses, a boatshed and ramp on land owned by a [[Queenstown, New Zealand|Queenstown]] developer. These were met with considerable resistance, leading to various campaigns to save the beach and surrounding land from any development, as it is one of the last sizable undeveloped beaches in the area.<ref name="savenewchums"/><ref>{{cite news | publisher = The New Zealand Herald | date = 6 September 2010 | author = Michael Dickison | url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10671323 | title = Big guns join battle to save New Chums beach | accessdate = 2 March 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | publisher = Waikato Regional Council | date = 28 June 2012 | url = http://www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/Community/Whats-happening/News/Media-releases-archived/Council-backs-New-Chums-Beach-protection/ | title = Council backs New Chums Beach protection | accessdate = 2 March 2013 }}</ref>

There is a track that leads to the beach in [[Whangapoua]], that is only accessible at low tide. New Chums Beach is only accessible by the track or by boat.

==References== {{reflist}}

[[Category:Beaches of Waikato]] [[Category:Thames-Coromandel District]]