Kohunui Bay, Easter 2011

The name means the sea mist that hangs in this small, remote bay at the end of North Piha Beach.

Although only 5 minutes walk from the North Piha carpark, this is another world. It is a small bay, surrounded by tall cliffs, covered in pohutukawa. A small steep dune at the back of the beach is burying the trunks of these pohutukawa branches that hang low over the sand.

The cliffs around here are covered in a range of herb field and coastal plants such as native celery, celmisia major, astelia and flax.

It is also home to a range of birds such as oyster catchers, penguins, pippits, and on the Te Waha headland, grey-faced petrels.

Fishermen and surfers come to this spot, but it is not patrolled, so it is not a place for swimming. A track that leads off the back of the beach takes walkersinto the Waitakere Regional Park to Te Waha Point and White’s Beach. The backdrop to the beach, is largely private land, owned by folk who access their property from Anawhata Road.

Dogs are strictly not allowed, here, not even on leads, because of the birds. Please leave your dog at home and take it to the permitted exercise place south of North Piha surf club.