With a campground and a café, Hampden Beach is a lively bay area to visit in close proximity to iconic Moeraki Boulders Beach. It has a fun play area for kids with its own artificial boulders to clamber all over. Set up a picnic on the sand and enjoy stunning views of the ocean.
Sunbathe with your family on the strand and cool off in the refreshing water of the Pacific Ocean. Bring your binoculars to spot New Zealand’s native Hector’s dolphins, the world’s smallest and rarest marine dolphins. In the distance, you’ll see the famous boulders of the Moeraki Boulders Beach. Walk out toward this neighboring strand at low tide, when it is accessible on foot from Hampden Beach.
Watch locals practicing in the Dillon Todd Memorial Skatepark at the back of the beach. Play tennis on the adjacent courts and join other sports and games on the grassy field. The southern end of the beach is more peaceful, with fewer amenities.
Make use of the bathroom facilities on the beach’s northern side. Hike up the surrounding green hills and enjoy the vistas of the ocean and the beach from the peaks. Head into the center of the town to try the famed fish and chips. Buy ice cream from a parlor and wander along the rugged coastline with your little ones.
Set up a tent or book one of the red barns at Hampden Camping Ground. Stay for the sunset in this gorgeous area and marvel at the starry sky at night.
Hampden Beach is at the eastern end of Hampden, in the southeastern corner of the South Island, New Zealand. Drive north from the city of Dunedin for 50 miles (80 kilometers) to arrive here in about 1 hour. Explore the surroundings to find nearby gems such as the Katiki Point Lighthouse, Hampden Presbyterian Church and Hampden Square.
