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Story: Beach culture

On the beach, 1840s

Image
On the beach, 1840s

This watercolour of the coast, by Samuel Charles Brees, is probably of Paekākāriki, looking south. The beach was an important route for travellers. The route along the west coast of the lower North Island was especially well used.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: B-031-004

by Samuel Charles Brees

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Jock Phillips, Beach culture – Travellers on the beach, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/9098/on-the-beach-1840s (accessed 10 June 2026).

Story by Jock Phillips, published 2 March 2009.