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Located on the west coast of New Zealand’s North Island about 40 km from Auckland, Piha is New Zealand’s most popular and best-known beach.
Piha Beach is famous for its fascinating black iron sand and fantastic surfing – New Zealand’s first surf boat race was at Piha in the 1930s.
The sea is often moody and mysterious and the dark beach looks wild and wind-swept.
Piha is known for dangerous rips and currents and swimming is recommended only in areas regularly patrolled by surf clubs.
If surfing is not your thing, then Piha is wonderful for hiking and exploring nature – it is backed by the scenic Waitakere Ranges, covered with lush sub-tropical forest and within a protected park.
There are many trails leading up the mountainside from the beach.
Piha, Auckland Region, New Zealand
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