Muriwai
West Auckland
Hobsonville
West Auckland beach © Auckland Unlimited Inc. BELOW: Gannet, Muriwai © Chris McLennan
Surfing at Piha Beach © Getty Images
Te Henga
Kumeū
hill forest wood
hill forest wood
Piha avondale Piha Black Sand Beach Popular
Piha Karekare Rainforest Wine Tour Where tropical beauty
Titirangi meets world-class wine. Enjoy guided illwine e tastings with stops at Helensv Piha Beach, Karekare Waterfalls and
Piha Beach boasts some of the best surf in Auckland. Take a surf lesson under the guidance of professionals from the Piha Surf School or explore the rocky edges and, if you’re okay with heights, climb Lion Rock. Refuel at Piha Café afterwards. Waves can be wild and daunting but in summer the beach is patrolled by lifeguards.
the Arataki Visitor Centre.
avondale
Muriwai
Helensville
Te Henga
Hobsonville
n Henderbsso nville o o AWOL CanyoningH Set in a volcanic rock valley in Piha Canyon, a 50-minute drive from central Auckland, join AWOL Canyoning Adventures for a day of daring jumps, exploration and waterfall abseils, the biggest of which is 50m.
new lynn Kumeū
riverhead
Muriwai Muriwai Black Sand Beach
Muriwai’s Gannets A major
A seemingly endless strip of wavethrashed black sand beach, surfers flood to these shores. A walk along the sand will dust off the cobwebs in winter and makes a great day out in summer.
drawcard of Muriwai is the gannet colony at Ōtakamiro Point. Take an easy walk along a well-formed path that leads to perfect vantage points. The best time to visit is between August and March each year.
Te Henga
Horse Trekking on Muriwai Beach If it’s good enough for Billy
Muriwai Surf School Teaching
Pihafor over 20 years, these veteran
Eilish, it’s good enough for you. Trot along the dark and brooding sands of Muriwai Beach on a guided horse trek. Suitable for every age, experience – and globally-renowned songstresses, too.
surfers will get you up and on the board. Take a lesson or rent your gear, their surf shack is located less than one-minute walk from the beach.
Titirangi
PKiuhmaeū Muriwai
Gannet, Muriwai © Chris McLennan
Titirangi Te Henga
Henderson
Te Henga/Bethells Black Sand Beach Wild and remote, the beach stretches for almost 2km and is seldom busy. If you get peckish or thirsty, there’s an occasionally-open beach café in the car park.
Piha
Secret sand dunes at Lake Wainamu Less than 1km from
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Bethells Beach, towering swathes of sand guard a picturesque lake. A 90-minute walk skims the water’s edge, or you can scale the dunes and stride across a dramatic, desert-like landscape.
Titirangi
riverhead Riverhead Town The small
flanked by outdoor seating and a
town of Riverhead straddles the Waitematā Harbour and is just a 25-minute drive north-west of central Auckland.
won’t regret nibbling on a winematched platter, alfresco-style.
giant chess so n set, and you certainly Hender
The Riverhead This is New nn oldest riverside tavern. new lyZealand’s
Riverhead Forest Hikes range
from 40 minutes to four hours, delving into thick forest. Many of the trails are shared with mountain bikers.
For something extra special, arrive by ferry from downtown Auckland.
PYO Raspberries Most berry ad riverhe
Henderson Muriwai Beach © Adobe Images
54
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Westbrook Winery The wine tastings, views and food (and cheese!) are all to die for. The large, immaculate grounds feature a pond
farms are roughly 30 minutes by car from central Auckland and open for PYO between December and February. Check out the familyfriendly Zaberri in Riverhead. PAGE 9 - REGIONAL MAP
