Whether you’re getting ready for your next holiday or deciding where you’re going to spend your gap year, New Zealand should be on your short list. From its picturesque countryside to its nature preserves, New Zealand is a land of contrasts. If you explore the country’s beaches long enough, you’ll find rocky shorelines and cool, crisp waters, and in some places, you can see snow-capped mountains while you’re lounging on the beach. Below is a list of some of the best beaches in New Zealand.    Ninety Mile Beach: OK, this one’s really only 55 miles long, and there are quite a few explanations as to how the beach got its name. Spend part of your gap year in New Zealand snapper fishing, pipi packing and walking or driving the shoreline at low tide.    Bay of Plenty: This area is popular with the locals, and for good reason. It’s steeped in the Maori culture, and studded with kiwi fruit plantations; there are activities for everyone in your group—skydiving, swimming with dolphins, horseback riding, and of course basking in the sun on the pristine beaches.    Long Beach: Located on Waiheke Island, Long Beach has become a suburb for locals […]