Piha is the birth place of New Zealand surfing and one of the worlds most famous surfing beaches. Boarding in Piha began in the 1930's and in 1958 Malibu board riding arrived. Piha is home to New Zealand's national and international surfing champions. The powerful rips that make it ideal for boarding makes it dangerous for swimmers and have been known to snap canoes in half. This area is patrolled by 2 life saving clubs and has a reality show "Piha Rescue". Please stay in the designated swimming area marked with red and yellow flags.

Lions Rock sits between North Piha Beach and South Piha Beach close to the public toilets and changing facilities. There is a picnic area close to the car park. The waves at North Piha Beach are a bit more friendly and hospitable to swimmers and new surfers. The area is home to blue penguins, pippits and oyster catchers. Because of this, dogs have been banned from the beach and grass lands. The black sands of Piha captures sun, heating the beach. The colour of the sand can be attributed to it's rich iron content. The surrounding area is perfect for exploring when the waves are too rough.

The description above was copied from or heavily based on Swim Guide, with permission.

More Information

• Swim Guide - Weather and water quality for Piha Beach South of the Lion Rock and 8,000 other beaches.