Those that aren’t from around here might not realise that Auckland is located on a very narrow piece of land, with water on both sides, a so-called “isthmus”. One of the most common things that people ask when visiting NZ’s biggest city is: what’s the best beach around here? It’s a good question as Auckland is literally surrounded by them, and there is no right answer, since the East Coast ones are vastly different to the West Auckland Beaches.
The Eastern Bays are very mellow with hardly any waves, because of all the islands around the area sheltering them from the open ocean. This is not the case though on the wild west coast which is rugged and characterized by black volcanic sand. In short, if you wanna swim, go east, and if you’re keen on some wave jumping and surfing, west is where you want to be.
I have compiled a list of five of the best West Auckland beaches which are in no particular order. Here goes! Check out my Best East Ac
West Auckland Beaches
1. Piha Beach
Piha, the most famous of the West Auckland black sand beaches is one of Auckland’s favourite destinations in summer, and popular with surfers all year round. It takes about 45 minutes from the city to drive here from the city.
As well as two surf beaches, there is also a sheltered lagoon and several bush walks in the area. Splitting the beaches into North and South Piha is the iconic Lion Rock. It is an eroded 1 million year old volcanic neck named for its similarity to a sitting male lion when viewed from the side. Lion Rock was even home to some local Māori in Pre-European times. I recommend climbing up here and scoping out the incredible views from the top. One km south of South Piha you can find “The Gap”. A Lagoon and Blowhole.
Just before Piha is the turn off to Karekare Beach which you can quite easily check out on the same day.
For my ultimate travel guide to visiting Piha Beach, Click HERE
2. Muriwai Beach
The northern most West Auckland beach and by far the largest, Muriwai has a lot to offer.
One of the most unique things about a visit to Muriwai is the Gannet Colony. Australasian Gannets are a seabird native to the shores of Northern New Zealand and Southern Australia. They have a wingspan of 1.8 metres and congregate in large coastal colonies.
Between the rocks that host the Gannet colony and the lifeguard tower is the best and safest place to swim, but be careful, strong currents abound here. The beach itself is 42 km long and people often drive 4WD vehicles up the beach north of the lifeguard tower.
Woodhill Forest backs onto the beach and there are some neat bush walks to explore throughout the area. Just to the south of Muriwai is Māori Bay. A smaller beach popular with surfers. You can take a walk from Muriwai to Māori Bay via the Gannet Colony.
For a detailed guide on Muriwai Beach and how to get there, Click HERE
3. Bethells Beach
This beach is an absolute gem and should be on anyone’s New Zealand travel itinerary.
Bethells Beach is a great place to visit year round but comes alive in summer. As well as the main beach, there are caves, smaller bays and bush walks to explore. One such walk called the “Te Henga Walkway” takes you all the way to Muriwai Beach.
The whole area has a lost world vibe completely surrounded by the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park. Various TV shows and movies have used it as a filming location – including Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Xena: Warrior Princess and Hercules. Likewise, Taylor Swift and Shania Twain have both shot music videos here.
For more info on how to get there and on activities in the area, jump across to my comprehensive guide to Bethells Beach HERE
4. Anawhata Beach
Anawhata is the hidden gem of Auckland’s west Auckland beaches. Because you can only access it by foot, the beach is very quiet if not empty, even in mid-summer.
The beach is a great place to just chill on a towel and soak in the sun, waves, and nature. You can also explore rock pools or go for a walk following Anawhata stream. If you walk around the cliffs to the south, you can get great views of a rock formation called Keyhole Rock.
For my Ultimate guide to visiting Piha & Anawhata Beach, Click HERE
5. Point Chevalier Beach
Although technically one of the west coast beaches, Point Chevalier is only 10 minutes from Auckland City and does not feature black sand. In fact, most Aucklanders don’t think of Point Chev as a west coast beach at all.
Perfect for a dip on a summers day if you don’t want to travel too far from the city, Point Chev features a nice long strip of sandy beach for sunbathing and a couple platforms to swim out to. Be sure to check that the tide is in before heading there as the Point Chev is very tidal and you can’t swim at low tide.
Did I miss any?
Hope you all enjoyed my Best West Auckland Beaches list and found it informative. These are just five beaches among countless others around Auckland so there is a lot to explore. Please comment below and let me know what your favourite Auckland Beach is! For my list of Best East Auckland Beaches, click HERE
If the weather gods aren't being kind and it doesn't look like a day for the beach, be sure to check out my Top 45 Things To Do In Auckland post.