For most tourists arriving in Auckland, Piha Beach is the logical destination for a first glimpse of New Zealand's pristine North Island coastline.
For an even keener local look at the Kiwi surf lifestyle, make the half-hour drive west of Auckland to Muriwai Beach. The oceanfront here is beautifully rugged, with black sand beaches, pounding surf and rocky headlands where you can forage for New Zealand's famed green lip mussels at low tide.
Surfers love Maori Bay - just around the headland from the main beach - for its consistent beach break, and the fact that the horseshoe stretch of sand here is sheltered in a cove, making it a good place to toss down a towel for the day. A rocky outcropping between the bay and the beach is home to New Zealand's largest onshore gannet (sea birds) colony.
EAT: Kiwis get kudos for their great coffee, and latte lovers will adore the espresso drink called a 'flat white.' The weekend breakfast scene at Sand Dunz, near the main beach parking lot, sees locals mingling with city dwellers visiting from Auckland. Try the eggs benedict and ask about the local photography on display.
STAY: A short drive from the beach, the Muriwai Beach Farmstay is set in verdant surrounds, with New Zealand's iconic sheep dotting the hillsides.
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