Discovering Whites Beach
Whites Beach is a hidden gem located on the west coast of Auckland in the Waitakere Ranges, just north of Piha. This secluded black sand surf beach, just 300 metres long, offers stunning views and a sense of adventure for those willing to make the trek. The beach is separated from Piha by Te Waha Point, and to the north is Fisherman's Rock Point. It is one of two notable more remote beaches accessible from Anawhata Road, the other being Anawhata, further north.
Swimming at Whites Beach
While Whites Beach is a beautiful spot to visit, swimming is not recommended as the beach is unpatrolled. If you do choose to swim there, be careful and stick to an incoming tide.
Accessing Whites Beach
Reaching Whites Beach requires a bit of effort, as there is no direct road access. From Anawhata Road, you will find a steep gated access road just before a group of houses that overlook the beach. It is a total drop of 200 metres from the road to the beach. It takes about 10 minutes of steep downhill to reach the track to the north side of the beach, with great views, and another 10 minutes to the beach. You can also walk from North Piha Road on the Marawhara Track, then White Track to Anawhata Road, a 200-metre climb. This track's exit is close to the access road. Allow about 90 minutes each way.
On the way down the access road, you will also spot the side track onto Te Waha Point. For those seeking a bit more excitement, there is a less obvious rough track across the face of the point down to the south end of Whites Beach. This path includes a guide chain down to the beach's edge. Although more thrilling, this route can be a bit daunting and may not be accessible during high tide. You also used to be able to access Te Waha Point and Whites Beach on the Laid Thomson Track, but unfortunately, this is now a pile of rubble below the North Piha cliffs.
How to Get There
To reach Whites Beach by road, take the gravel Anawahata Road from Piha Road. There is room to park near the access road at the top of the ridge above the beach.
