Piha is located on the edge of the Waitākere Ranges on the west coast of Auckland and is only a one-hour drive from Downtown. But it is still a small beach town with just 1,000 people, two cafes and shops, and a motor camp.
Few of Auckland's gems pack as much scenic punch as Piha. It starts with a drive through the Waitākere Ranges along Scenic Drive and Piha Road, surrounded by native forest. On Piha Road, take time out to check the waterfalls on the walk to the Upper Nihotupu Reservoir or the abandoned dam on the nearby Ian Wells Track. Then, crest the final hill for the iconic view of Lion Rock and the black sand surf beach. Drive down the hill through the small town to the beach. It can be crowded in summer at the south end. But the beach is almost four km long, and there is easy access to North Piha on Marine Parade and North Piha Road.
The beach offers some of the best surfing in the North Island. If you want to swim, there are two surf patrol areas: one south of Lion Rock at the south end of the beach and a second one north of Lion Rock. Like all the Auckland west coast beaches, swimming outside the flagged areas is unsafe. Take the warnings seriously.
High hills, cliffs, and forests surround the town and beach. This provides some of the best coastal and forest tracks in the North Island. These include Kitekite Falls, White Track to Anawhata Road and to remote Whites Beach. Another option is to walk past Taitomo Island to the Gap from the south end of the beach. From the Gap, see if you can find the Blowhole. Walking through it at low tide and exploring the other side is a blast! From Te Ahuahu Road, you can also access the superb Mercer Bay Loop.
Piha sits within the rohe of Te Kawerau ā Maki, who established several pā and kāinga along this coastal stretch of the Waitākere Ranges. Lion Rock was originally called Te Piha and was the site of a pā, with terracing and midden still visible today despite significant erosion. To the south, Taitomo Island also held a smaller pā at its south end, overlooking the Gap. The name Piha is believed to come from the pattern of waves breaking on the coast, or from the piha, the spray-like bow wave formed at the front of a waka.
With the arrival of Europeans in the 19th century, Piha’s dense kauri forests were logged, and the area gradually evolved into a remote beach settlement. By the early 20th century, it had become known for surf lifesaving, walking tracks that had both Māori and forestry origins, and baches. Today, the forests are over 100 years into recovery, with kauri stands increasingly prominent.
For something a bit different, you can spend up to three days hiking and camping to Piha and Anawahta from Little Huia. These connected tracks were described as Te Ara Tūhura Hillary Trail by Auckland City. Although you will see trail tags, this description has fallen into abeyance, but the walk is superb!
