Orpheus Bay is a beach in Auckland, Auckland City, holding a 4.5 rating on Google. Like most of the city's north coast, the beaches here look into the sheltered Hauraki Gulf, so the water is typically calm and good for easy swimming rather than surf. Regulars plan around the tide: at high water the smaller bays can shrink to a strip, while the falling tide opens up sand and rock pools to explore. After heavy rain it is worth checking Auckland Council's Safeswim site, which flags water quality at gulf beaches. As with most of Auckland's quieter bays, bring everything with you, since shops and facilities are thin on the ground away from the main settlements. Tucked along the Auckland shoreline, Orpheus Bay is the sort of spot that rewards those willing to venture past the city's better-known sands.