auckland's west coast beaches
Well-known for its wineries, gannets, black sands and dramatic scenery, the West
Coast of Auckland offers visitors the opportunity to see another side of the City
of Sails. The Waitakere Ranges dominate this region and were formed by a series
of volcanic eruptions. Today the ranges are covered in dense rainforest, which receives
around forty percent more rain than Auckland City. Many of its rivers are dammed
to form large reservoirs that hold the water consumed by the city below. Its wild,
rugged coastline has a raw natural beauty, which tends to attract artistic types
and those who endorse strong environmental principles, while its scenery has provided
a backdrop for many award-winning movies -including The Piano -and popular TV series.
We head west to soak up the atmosphere, surf its breakers, ride horses on the beach,
taste wine, admire gannets and meet the locals.
day two: piha to muriwai and waimauku
Key
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- Apex Locations
The next morning, fired up from his successful fishing expedition, Bob announces
that it’s a good day to surf. Because Auckland’s West Coast beaches are notoriously
dangerous I suggest that perhaps he’s a little rusty and may benefit from a quick
refresher at Muriwai’s acclaimed surf school. Besides, I say, cementing the deal,
I want to go horseriding on Muriwai beach.
We set off and complete the final leg of Scenic Drive, then drive through pretty
countryside to Muriwai village. A sign outside the surf shop states there’s a 3-5ft
swell and an onshore breeze. “It’s all good,” says Bob (an expression picked up
from yesterday’s redhead), as I leave and drive along to the horse park to meet
up with the crew at Muriwai Beach Horseriding. Here, as a beginner, I’m carefully
matched with my mount: a gentle yet tough station-bred horse named Sherman, who
plods sedately along the long black beach and back through the iron-rich dunes.
The sand is the result of eroded rock, rich in iron ore spewed from Mt Taranaki
and washed north by strong currents. Light as dust, it sticks like glue to your
skin and can sometimes be found for days after a visit to the beach. Brushing it
off as best I can I return to collect Bob from the Surf School...
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Auckland's West Coast Beaches scenic drive, courtesy of apex car rentals
new zealand... the kiwi way
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