North Piha: The Beach Beyond the Lion
North Piha is the north end of Piha, in the Waitākere Ranges on the west coast of Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland, just a 45-minute drive from Downtown. On the northern side of iconic Lion Rock, this black-sand beach stretches 2,6 km to Te Waha Point. The point encloses a less-trodden bay with sea caves and mussel-covered rock platforms. It’s a quieter slice of Piha but has just as much drama in its landscape.
A surf break framed by cliffs and caves
North Piha Beach runs along the northern edge of the larger Piha coastline, bounded by Lion Rock to the south and the steep headland of Te Waha Point to the north. The beach is broad and straight, with black iron-sand that heats quickly underfoot and adds spectacle to the foamy surf rolling in from the Tasman Sea. This stretch of coast has its own Surf Club, patrolled in summer.
At the north end of the beach, a rock platform extends around Te Waha Point, obscuring the tucked-away Kohunui Bay. At low tide, you can access the bay, revealing two gorgeous sea caves, one big, that are only visible once you're inside the bay. It’s the kind of secret waiting for those who are willing to explore with a bit more patience. The mussel-covered rock shelves around Kohunui Bay are particularly rich with marine life and are also exposed only at low tide.
There are also smaller, older sea caves in the cliffs behind the dunes, located north of the car park at the end of the road.
Tracks, tides, and storm-shaped trails
North Piha was once the southern trailhead for the Laird Thomson Track, which climbed the steep bluffs to Te Waha Point for spectacular views of Piha and Whites Beach. Storms destroyed that track, and you can see the landslip debris piled below the cliffs where the track wound its way up.
However, you can still access Te Waha Point via a longer route. From North Piha Road, near the Surf Club building, take the Marawhara Track followed by the White Track to ANawhata Road. From there, you can walk to the top of Te Waha Point, Whites Beach and Anawhata.
How to get there
From the Scenic Drive, follow Piha Road to Piha. As you go down the hill into Piha, the road name changes to Seaview Road. You reach an intersection, with Beach Valley Road to the south end of Piha to the left, Glenesk Road to Kitekite Falls Track to the right, and North Piha straight ahead. The road changes name again to Marine Parade, then to North Piha Road. Stop anywhere or continue to the car park at the end. To access Kohunui Bay, walk north along the beach from the car park and time your visit with the outgoing tide.
The Maungaroa Track is another option near North Piha.
