Far North beach Matai Bay is Northland's favourite beach and the country's third most loved stretch of sand.
The Automobile Association has been running a "most loved beach" competition, with around 200 beaches in the mix.
With more than 600,000 votes counted - Matai Bay, on the Karikari Peninsula in the Far North, came in as Northland's top beach, and third in the country, behind Ohope in the Eastern Bay of Plenty and Whangamata beach on the Coromandel Peninsula in second place.
Ohope claimed nearly 100,000 of the votes.
AA general manager membership and brand Dougal Swift said while Ohope Beach won out at the end of the four week Facebook campaign, what was clear throughout was how important sun, sand and surf is to New Zealand culture.