I have already written of my fondness for one West Coast beach, Piha. While that is extremely well known, and often crowded during summer, a lesser known and arguably more beautiful beach is Whatipu. A true rugged West Coast beach, Whatipu is not the place to go for a leisurely dip on a Sunday afternoon. In fact large signs warning against swimming because dangerous currents abound. This, combined with the fact is is ‘off the beaten track’ mean it is rare to see more than a dozen or so hardy souls battling the ferocious winds on this rugged little piece of coast line, even in the height of summer. Usually you will spot them at a distance, bodies set at a 45 degree angle to the ground.
Whatipu is worth visiting for the drive there alone. To call it scenic would not do it justice. The last 10km or so are a windy mix of sealed and unsealed roads hugging the coast. Before you get to Whatipu you pass through the tiny picturesque communities of Huia and later Little Huia. I can thoroughly recommend stopping at the general store in Huia to pick up fish and chips for a picnic lunch or dinner on Whatipu beach – true Kiwi al fresco dining.
You should allow a good few hours at least, and maybe a whole day if you can spare it. There are no shortage of things to check out on the road out, and Whatipu itself covers a fairly large area. I am dying to stay one weekend out in the historic Whatipu Lodge, reputedly haunted by the ghosts of sailors whose ships wrecked on this treacherous stretch of coastline.
It is so easy as an Aucklander to forget these beautiful scenic reserves that sit right on our doorstep. It is well worth setting aside a lazy weekend day to explore somewhere like Whatipu, you wont regret it.
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