A roadside viewpoint on Piha Road, Piha, this lookout holds a 4.8 rating from 854 reviewers, drawn by the sweep of the Tasman Sea, the west coast and Lion Rock, with the black sand below.
Lookouts live by their light, and west-facing ones are at their best late in the day, when low sun puts gold across the water; the same scene can look flat at midday. Regulars also know that roadside pull-offs are often little more than a widened shoulder on a narrow rural road, so check the space before turning in, park clear of any driveway and keep the stop short when it's busy. Weather moves fast on this coast, and a hazy horizon can clear within the hour.
Set on the road out to Piha's surf beach, it's the sort of small stop that turns a beach day into a proper look at the west coast.