The sand is heating up in the Bay and this weekend it all comes down to Finals.

The GJ Gardner Homes New Zealand Beach Tour 2026 Open Tour Finals lands at Mount Maunganui Main Beach on 7–8 March, bringing together Aotearoa’s best beach volleyball athletes for a huge weekend on the sand.

Main Draw runs across Saturday and Sunday, with everything building toward Sunday’s medal matches. The Men’s Gold Medal Match hits centre court at 3pm, followed by the Women’s Gold Medal Match at 4pm. Expect top quality Beach Volleyball and an atmosphere only Main Beach can deliver.

All eyes will be on our Beach Ferns, Olivia MacDonald and Shaunna Polley, as they compete for the Open title. With international experience and strong momentum behind them, they bring a level of composure and intensity that always lifts Finals weekend.

Mount local and beach legend Sam O'Dea will also make his appearance across the weekend. A bronze medallist at the Commonwealth Games, Sam returning to compete on home sand adds another layer to an already stacked Tour Finals lineup.

Running alongside the Open division is the New Zealand Junior Beach Tour, showcasing the next generation coming through the pathway. From emerging talent to established internationals, it offers a full view of the sport’s future and present, with competing sides side by side.

Mount Maunganui Main Beach always delivers. The ocean backdrop, the crowd on the bank, the energy between points. If you want to see some of the best of beach volleyball in Aotearoa, this is the weekend.

See you on the sand! 

Article added: Wednesday 04 March 2026