Beaches, Walks and Waterfalls - Have you really explored Piha?

When people are asked to think of a west coast beach in Auckland, the first place a lot of people think of is Piha, with its raw coastline and iconic Lion Rock, its great surf and black iron sand. It is a fantastic beach, but there is more to the NorthWest than just Piha and more to Piha than just the beach.

Heading out of Auckland on State Highway 16, you take a left at Te Atatu and head towards Piha beach. It is very easy to spend the day just enjoying the beach, the surf and the Piha Café. Building sandcastles on the beach and watching the waves roll in makes for a very relaxing and fun family day out. But if you want to do a little more exploring, why not head up to Kitekite Falls. This is a spectacular 40 metre waterfall that cascades down over rock ledges and is an easy walk from Piha. There are excellent views from the track and the rewards when you get to the base of the waterfall is a stunning swimming spot.

Once you have finished swimming, you can head back the way you came or cross the stream and follow Glen Esk stream back down. If you are feeling really adventurous, continue up the track to the top of the waterfall (good shoes required). At the top you will find another fabulous swimming hole and incredible views down over the valley.

The Northwest also features some incredible walks that follow the coast line, so if you have already been to Piha previously and want to explore nearby, how about considering the tracks at the north end of Piha. At North Piha Beach, you can take White Track which is the high route from North Piha to Anawhata Road. This track takes you up to Te Waha Point lookout which provides beautiful photo opportunities back towards Piha or further along to Whites Beach, and has a seat to provide a welcome rest.

Joining the Rose Track from here allows walkers to drop down into Whites Beach, and provides great views of the coastline on the way down through the coastal scrub. Whites Beach is remote and has beautiful sand dunes, and provides an opportunity for a spot of fishing off Te Waha Point. Once you have spent time exploring Whites Beach, take the Laird Thomson Track back which leads down from Te Waha Point to Kohunui Bay. From Kohunui Bay, the walk is along the beach so make sure you check the tides before you set off! A relatively easy loop track from Piha, with a few steepish climbs, it really offers a different and stunning view of the amazing coastline. So the next weekend you find yourself at a loss at what to do, how about popping out to the Northwest and exploring somewhere new.