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PIHA, NEW ZEALAND
#TRAVELTHURSDAY
Since I have a passion for travelling and recently went on an exchange semester to New Zealand for 5 months, I thought I'd share about one of my favorite spots.
A winding road through the Waitakere Ranges is the only route that takes you to this small, isolated town on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. This quiet, cosy spot is a popular gateway for many locals as its only a 40-minute drive from Auckland, the most populated urban city in the country. Piha offers many opportunities to explore gorgeous nature without having to travel too far from the city.
Piha is the perfect destination for surfers. Known for having the biggest waves, it’s ideal conditions for experts who are up for the challenge. For beginners, there are loads of surfing schools around this area, so if you want to learn how to surf, this is the place to be. If surfing isn’t for you, you’ll enjoy the smooth black-sand beach or climb up the Lion’s Rock (shaped like a lion) on the beach to get a view from above.
If you’re looking for more nature, hike through the subtropical temperate rain forest of the Waitakere Ranges. It contains unique animals and plants that are native to New Zealand such as the Keruru bird, the Silver Fern, and the large Kauri trees. Many of the bush-walks lead to hidden waterfalls such as the popular Kitekite Falls. This 40-meter high waterfall ends in a large swimming pool perfect for cooling off. If you still have room for one more adventure, hike to the top of the waterfall for a birds-eye view of the rain forest.
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