February 11, 2021
One of our favorite spots in all of New Zealand is less than an hour’s drive from Auckland. Piha (pronounced pee-haa) is a scenic black-sand surf beach on the west coast. Many of the west coast beaches have dark sands because of their high iron content. It makes them hard to walk on in the sun as they get very hot. But they are also very beautiful as the sun sets. In fact, we don’t think that we’re exaggerating in saying that Piha has some of the most beautiful sunsets in the world.
Piha is a maori word meaning the wave that comes off the bow of a ship as it moves through the water. It may get its name from the way the waves break around Lion Rock that divides the southern and northern beaches.
We were visiting our two good friends John and Judi, brother and sister, who both have holiday homes there. They are the third generation of their family that have spent their holidays there. Judi’s home is on the more isolated north end of the beach and we had an enjoyable walk with her as her two dogs rushed around chasing seagulls.
We then headed to the south end of Piha where we went for another walk, this time accompanied by both Judi and John.
Around the south end of Piha is an isolated beach that used to be inaccessible except by boat. But recently, enough sand has washed in that it is possible to walk through a cave and onto the beach.
There were some beautiful green shellfish clinging onto one of the rocks.
Along the beach are numerous caves. One was so deep that by the time we reached its end we were in complete darkness and the entrance was no longer visible.
There were some beautiful patterns on the beach
Including the one that looked strikingly like a bird.
And this one that looked like a fish
There is always something interesting to see lying on the sand.
Mal and Lauren 