Auckland West Coast Beaches.

Information about Auckland West Coast Beaches.

Auckland West Coast beaches are commonly called the "Wild West" by locals. Due to the fact that New Zealand's wind is predominantly from the west and travels across the entire Tasman Ocean before reaching New Zealand, therefore having a large distance to build waves. Combined with less shelter when outside the harbours, it results in larger waves and stronger currents than are typical on the East Coast. Thus making west coast beaches more dangerous and less suitable for family swimming, but more likely to have surfable waves.
Many west Coast beaches have black sand that can get unbearably hot under bare feet, after prolonged sunny periods, so footwear is often required when traversing the dry sand.
Beware of currents if swimming at west coast beaches.

Starting from Auckland West Coast beach Kariotahi a few kilometres west of Waiuku. It has a wide, black-sand beach suited to a range of activities, including hang gliding, surf fishing, climbing sand hills, watching horses, wind sailing or walking along the shore.
Moving north to the south side of Manukau Heads about 90 minutes drive from central Ak, there's a lighthouse that has good views of the Manaukau Harbour entrance. It has a gate that is locked at between 5.00 p.m and 9.00a.m. Requiring a walk of about 1km along a gravel road to get to the best vantage point.
Then following the coast into the Manakau Harbour there is:

Wattle Bay. - Has a quiet beach with an adjacent grassed foreshore public park. Making it more suitable for picnicking and swimming than Orua Bay. Best time to swim would be near high tide.

Orua Bay.- Has a pleasant little beach sheltered in the Maunukau Harbour.Best for swimming at high tide. The beach front property owners have claimed the land as private up to the high tide mark, leaving little space for the public at high tide. The beach is also driveway for property owners, so you have to vigilant that you're not walking in front of a vehicle.

Big Bay. - Has a quiet sheltered Beach, with a small number of adjacent dwellings and a commercial motor camp with a boat ramp.

Hudsons Beach and Grahams Beach.- Are essentially one beach that has a quiet sheltered stretch of sand with a small number of adjacent dwellings with Hudsons Beach Road near one end and Grahams Beach Road at the other end for access.

Awhitu Regional Park.- Has two quiet beaches, Kauritutahi Beach and Brook Beach with safe swimming at both. (Beware of sharp shells). Theres a boat ramp at the end of Featon Avenue with water access two hours either side of high tide.There are two camping areas, one behind Brook Homestead and the other on a headland overlooking the Manukau Harbour.Self contained camper vans can stay up to 2 nights in the car park. Awhitu outdoor education centre is available for school or community groups with bunk style accommodation. Also has walking, mountain biking and horse riding areas with farmed animals.

Clarks Beach. - Is in the Manukau Harbour so it is sheltered from the ocean waves. Theres a pleasant drive through a rural area to reach the beach with residential dwelling adjacent to the beach. The beach is shallow and suitable for swimming at high tide, but at low tide the sand flats extend a considerable distance. If you want to swim at low tide you need to go to the western end where there is an etstuary.Beware of tidal currents passing in and out with the tide.Theres also beach access for boat launching here.

The inner Manukau Harbour, is a shallow estuarine environment with many muddy areas.
On the northern side of the Manukau Harbour there are beaches at:

Whatipu beach.- Is reached along a windy gravel road.It has a large expanse of sand dunes and swampy ponds with scenic walks. There is a surf beach for strong swimmers. Beware of strong tidal currents.

Click here for info on Laingholm to Whatipu beaches, ( northern side of Manukau Harbour).

Karekare -Is a beautiful isolated Auckland West Coast beach located 35 kilometres from downtown Auckland, with less visitors than Piha.
To get there turn second left along Piha Road into Karekare Road.I recommend going back out this road. You can go out along Lone Kauri Road, but it's not really worth the longer, windy drive.
Some beach scenes in 'The Piano' film were shot on Karekare beach.
There is a surf patrol here in summer, and there can be strong rip currents making swimming unsafe for children and weak swimmers. Although children can paddle in the stream.
Fisher people often fish from Farley Point.(Turn right at sea and travel north about 500 metres).Where there is a bouyancy ring attached to the rock in case someone falls in.

Piha. - One of Auckland West Coast beaches is located 28 kilometres west of downtown Auckland. The beach is divided into two beaches
(north and south ) by Lion Rock, a large picturesque natural rock, that resembles a lying male lion, when viewed from the beach.

The South Piha beach (left hand side when coming down the hill) is where the famous surf break is. The adjacent hills are becoming popular with yuppies building dominant houses. I would not recommend going there in summer afternoons, because it's crowded with parking problems, and if you like surfing you'll have to fight to get a wave to yourself. But it's good during the week (Monday to Friday).
There are some excellent walking tracks including the Tasman Lookout track at the southern end of the south beach with spectacular views down to the beaches and out to sea.
Some of the images above were taken from the Tasman Lookout. You can stay overnight at the campground in the domain.

Mercer Bay. - Is to the south of Piha, and is only accessible by foot on the Mercer Bay Loop track near Te Ahua Point.

The North Piha beach - is less crowded but also less patrolled by the surf club and therefore more dangerous to the swim in. Both beaches have strong changing rip currents that regularly drown swimmers.

At the far end of the north Piha Beach there is a track over the hill to Whites Beach where there are few people.

Anawhata Regional Park. - Has an Auckland west coast beach that can only be reached by a one hour return walk. Suitable for swimming. If you like to get away from the crowds of people and like walking this may suit you.
Park opening hours:Opens: 7:30am Closes: 7:30pm (winter), 9pm (summer).
It is 50 minutes drive from downtown Auckland.
To get there you take the first road right along Piha Road, into Anawhata Road. Although there is a 9 kilometre drive along a gravel windy road that is dusty in summer and muddy in winter. You're probably better to go to North Piha and Whites Beach, if you want to get away from people, because that road is tar sealed.

Bethells / Te Henga.-Is a typical Auckland west coast beach with black sand that can get unbearably hot for bare feet on a sunny day. It sometimes has surf life saving patrols.
This is the beach down which parts of Xena Warrior Princess an American television series was filmed.
North ( right when facing the ocean )of Bethells Beach about 500 metres along and over a sand dune is O'Neil Bay, popular for surfing.
About a kilometre back along the access road from the beach is a walkway that leads to Lake Wainamu, that has a surreal backdrop of barren sand dunes and lush native bush. You can swim in the lake.

Muriwai.- Auckland West Coast beach features a mainland gannet colony you can view from close proximate. Approximately 1,200 pairs of adult gannets nest at the Takapu Refuge each summer and can be seen between August and March.The chicks hatch in November and fly to Australia at 15 weeks old
This 60-kilometre stretch of beach is a public road ( 4 wheel drive required). Access is to the beach can be made along the Coast Road ( Second road left when leaving the gannet colony car park). There's about 100 metres of soft fine sand to traverse, second gear in low range four wheel drive, and keep the rev's up and don't stop! Beach driving is recommended two hours either side of low tide as large surging waves can pin your vehicle up against the sand dunes in places as the tide gets higher. A 30 kilometre per hour speed limit is in force on the southern part of the beach to just past the Coast Road beach access, while 60 kilometre per hour limit is in place from this access to the NZ Defense Force Bombing Range.
The beach is fished using surf casting rods or kite fishing. You can drive all the way to the south head of the Kaipara Harbour. Beware of flat looking areas on the sand as they are sometimes ponds of salt water of unknown depth.
You can also ride horses, swim and surf and beach yaughting.

South of Muriwai Beach ( left when facing the ocean ) is Moari Bay that is a popular for surfing, para sailing and hang gliding when the the westerly wind is favourable.
You need to be wary of submerged rocks, when in the water, particularly on the southern end (left when facing the ocean).

Go to Eastern beaches .

Go to North Shore beaches .

Go to Hibiscus Coast beaches ( north of North Shore ).

Go to Auckland beachesfrom Auckland west coast beaches.