New Zealand … the land of the long white cloud!! What comes to your mind first, when ‘New Zealand’ is mentioned to you? Picturesque landscapes, volcanic plateaus, kiwis, Hollywood movie sets (LOTR) … its all there. New Zealand is a complete package for all nature lovers and even if you haven’t tried appreciating nature, I reckon you will be forced to, on seeing its vast beauty and gorgeous countryside. For those of you planning on a short trip to Auckland, you might wanna re-work your schedule, because there’s much more than meets the eye. So, eager to explore the vast wilderness, I thought of starting with a short weekend trip with my small family. From zillions of options for a quick drive down, couple of friends suggested Piha Beach… a 40km drive from Central Auckland via Titirangi. Few words kept repeating every time someone mentioned Piha Beach – Beautiful scenic drive!! True to what they said, I’m least disappointed, infact I’m so full.
Every moment of the drive you get so mesmerized and absorbed viewing the scenery outside that it takes couple of moments for you to focus on what you are actually supposed to do – drive … my friend!! As the road slowly unwinds itself and you know that the end is near, the last bit of the masterpiece appears in front of you, suddenly – out of the blue. You get the best view you can ever get of any beach, a few miles away and at a higher angle. You suddenly feel a sense of awe and at the same time admire the might of the vast sea that lies in front of you. Imagine bumping into the person whom you’ve admired all your life and wanted to meet, your expression – dumbstruck. That’s exactly what happened to me.
Piha beach is known for its vast stretch of black sand and uniquely calm beach, usually less crowded. On the way down there are a couple of spots for a click giving a bird’s eye view, which I’m sure you’ll wanna frame and treasure all your life – don’t miss it. The famous Lion Rock sits majestically on the beach and is Piha’s most iconic landmark with Maori carvings. The Lion Rock is the neck of a volcano that erupted millions of years ago.
While you gear up for a drive down to Piha beach, a word of caution on few safety precautions to be taken – the road is a bit tricky, especially the last leg of 10 km, with steep cliffs and narrow roadsides. Its also known for its rugged cliffs and strong currents. Don’t dare go deep into the waters as you can be taken fully by surprise. Even the stretch where you try to walk towards Lion Rock can be a bit tricky, so – be safe.
Rest assured, satisfaction guaranteed!! So what are you waiting for, there’s no pleasure in sitting and reading than experiencing it. As the sun shines high its time for you to pack your bags and fly.
… great suggestion on having a video upload