Piha
Encyclopedia
Piha is a northern New Zealand
coastal settlement with a population of about 600. It is one of the most popular beaches in the area and a major day-trip destination for Aucklanders throughout the year, although especially so in summer.
city centre, on the Tasman Sea
coast to the north of the Manukau Harbour
, amidst the Waitakere Ranges
. Immediately to the north of Piha is Whites Beach, accessible only by foot. Mercer Bay is immediately to the south but is also only accessible by foot. The nearest beaches accessible by road are Karekare
to the south, and Anawhata
to the north.
The area has retained much of its natural beauty and isolation. The rugged coastline and forested Waitakere Ranges offer a number of walks, or tramps, ranging from easy to very difficult. Close to the beach are the Kitekite Falls
which while not very large are picturesque. Swimming is possible all seasons (though only for the cold hardened outside of summer) in a pool just above the falls. At the bottom of the falls is a sheltered picnic area popular with families in the summer time.
, named for its similarity to a lying male lion when viewed from the rear (shore side), Lion Rock is immediately visible to visitors as they descend along the only access road. Lion Rock has become iconic not only of Piha, but of Auckland's West Coast in general. It was featured on stamps as well as an Auckland phone book. A canyon and a blowhole are also located at Piha. Piha is a well known black sand beach, due to the high iron content, which is of volcanic origin.
is responsible for the section of the beach north of Lion Rock and Piha Surf Life Saving Club
patrols the section of the beach to the south of Lion Rock. Both clubs provide patrolled areas designated by red and yellow flags as is the custom with Surf Lifesaving in New Zealand and many other countries.
reality television
show. Aptly named "Piha Rescue
", it has currently been running for 3 series on TV1 and features the lives of the surf life savers on Piha Beach. On both 9 and 10 January 2010, Piha Beach was also one of several beach venues around New Zealand for The Edge FM and Coca Cola's Band's on the Beach tour with performances from local artists Dane Rumble and Midnight Youth
.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
coastal settlement with a population of about 600. It is one of the most popular beaches in the area and a major day-trip destination for Aucklanders throughout the year, although especially so in summer.
Location
It is located 28 kilometres west of AucklandAuckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
city centre, on the Tasman Sea
Tasman Sea
The Tasman Sea is the large body of water between Australia and New Zealand, approximately across. It extends 2,800 km from north to south. It is a south-western segment of the South Pacific Ocean. The sea was named after the Dutch explorer Abel Janszoon Tasman, the first recorded European...
coast to the north of the Manukau Harbour
Manukau Harbour
Manukau Harbour is the second largest natural harbour in New Zealand by area. It is located to the southwest of the Auckland isthmus, and is an arm of the Tasman Sea.-Geography:...
, amidst the Waitakere Ranges
Waitakere Ranges
The Waitakere Ranges are a chain of hills in the Auckland metropolitan area, generally running approximately 25 km from north to south, 25 km west of central Auckland, New Zealand. The maximum elevation within the ranges is 474 m...
. Immediately to the north of Piha is Whites Beach, accessible only by foot. Mercer Bay is immediately to the south but is also only accessible by foot. The nearest beaches accessible by road are Karekare
Karekare, New Zealand
Karekare is a small coastal settlement in northern New Zealand, where the Waitakere Ranges descend into a large black sand surf beach.- Location :It is located 35 kilometres west of Auckland city centre, south of the larger beach of Piha....
to the south, and Anawhata
Anawhata
Anawhata is a beach on the coast of New Zealand west of Auckland.-Location:Distance from Auckland; 40km . To the south of Anawhata is Piha, Karekare and Whatipu...
to the north.
Kitekite Falls
Kitekite Falls is a scenic 3-tiered waterfall near Auckland, New Zealand. The falls drop a total of . From the lookout on Kitekite track the falls appear even higher because there is white water running over rocks into a small pool from the upper swimming hole, then falling down into a large pool,...
which while not very large are picturesque. Swimming is possible all seasons (though only for the cold hardened outside of summer) in a pool just above the falls. At the bottom of the falls is a sheltered picnic area popular with families in the summer time.
Features and geology
Lion Rock is a natural formation dividing North and South Piha beaches. It is an eroded 16 million year old volcanic neckVolcanic plug
A volcanic plug, also called a volcanic neck or lava neck, is a volcanic landform created when magma hardens within a vent on an active volcano. When forming, a plug can cause an extreme build-up of pressure if volatile-charged magma is trapped beneath it, and this can sometimes lead to an...
, named for its similarity to a lying male lion when viewed from the rear (shore side), Lion Rock is immediately visible to visitors as they descend along the only access road. Lion Rock has become iconic not only of Piha, but of Auckland's West Coast in general. It was featured on stamps as well as an Auckland phone book. A canyon and a blowhole are also located at Piha. Piha is a well known black sand beach, due to the high iron content, which is of volcanic origin.
Surfing and surf lifesaving
Piha was the birthplace of New Zealand board riding in 1958, and has been the scene of both New Zealand national and international surfing championship competitions. Two Surf Lifesaving clubs provide surf patrols in summer. United North Piha Lifeguard ServiceUnited North Piha Lifeguard Service
United North Piha Lifeguard Service is a New Zealand surf lifesaving club located on North Piha beach on the West Coast of Auckland, New Zealand. It is one of 17 such clubs in the Northern Region of New Zealand.- History :...
is responsible for the section of the beach north of Lion Rock and Piha Surf Life Saving Club
Piha Surf Life Saving Club
Piha Surf Life Saving Club is a surf lifesaving club for the southern section of Piha, on the west coast of Auckland, New Zealand, some 45 km from Auckland City centre...
patrols the section of the beach to the south of Lion Rock. Both clubs provide patrolled areas designated by red and yellow flags as is the custom with Surf Lifesaving in New Zealand and many other countries.
Safety information
The rip currents along this section of coast are very unpredictable and can shift with little warning. They claim many lives despite the efforts of surf life-savers. Most of these drownings, however, occur after lifeguards are off duty or after rock fisherman wearing heavy clothing are washed off rocks, out of sight of the lifeguards. Lifeguards advise swimming between the red and yellow flags, during patrol hours.Television show/events
Piha Beach is the setting for a popular New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
reality television
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
show. Aptly named "Piha Rescue
Piha Rescue
Piha Rescue is a New Zealand reality series following the daily actions of the Piha Surf Life Saving Club lifeguards on the famous Piha beach. Piha is one of the most rugged West Coast beaches near Auckland...
", it has currently been running for 3 series on TV1 and features the lives of the surf life savers on Piha Beach. On both 9 and 10 January 2010, Piha Beach was also one of several beach venues around New Zealand for The Edge FM and Coca Cola's Band's on the Beach tour with performances from local artists Dane Rumble and Midnight Youth
Midnight Youth
Midnight Youth are a New Zealand rock band formed in 2006. Their debut album, The Brave Don't Run, was released in 2009 in New Zealand and Australia. The band have subsequently toured and played festivals across Australasia, the United States and Asia...
.
External links
- Piha.co.nz - News, History, Environment and Information
- Pihanz.co.nz - Accommodation, Events and 'Village Voice'
- Surfers at Piha Beach - www.willig.net