Piha black sand beach lies on Piha's rugged west coast, in the Waitakere village of Piha, and holds a 4.7 Google rating.
Black sand beaches line this coast, and the iron in that sand soaks up the summer sun until it's almost too hot to cross barefoot — jandals are the local essential. The surf comes straight off the Tasman, bigger and colder than at the city's eastern beaches. Rips are the real hazard, so the rule is to swim between the flags when the lifeguards are on duty and stay ashore when they're not. Shops along this stretch of coast are few, so bring food, water and sunblock, and check the surf forecast before leaving town. An early start makes the most of the water before the afternoon sea breeze sets in.
Few Piha days out beat the trip over the ranges to Piha, and that 4.7 rating suggests plenty of visitors agree.