Piha the Black Sand Beach of Auckland

Piha Black Sand Beach is a well-known black sand beach located a couple of hours west of Auckland. Despite being a popular tourist destination, the area is refreshingly free of commercialism. It’s unclear whether this is due to local government restrictions or a lack of investors, but it’s a welcome change from the consumer-driven culture that often surrounds tourism.

During my time in New Zealand, I didn’t get to hike as much as I would have liked. However, I did manage to take a brisk and memorable walk along Piha Black Sand Beach. It only took about 30 minutes to get from the car park to the tip of the cliff where you can see the beach below. Another 20-minute walk down to the beach was necessary.

The sand on Piha Beach is extremely dark and appears black to some. This is due to tiny basalt fragments from a volcano, which is typical of interesting natural occurrences. The sand is surprisingly soft underfoot, but there are plenty of stray rocks from the cliffs, so it’s essential to watch your step. The entire hike took just under two hours, providing ample time to build an appetite for the fish and chip shop on the side of the road on the way back to Auckland.

Landscape Photography

When taking landscape photos, it’s always advisable to use a lens designed for that purpose. Unfortunately, I only had my portrait lens with me, which meant that instead of taking the broad, beautiful scenery shots that this New Zealand landmark demands, I had to take closed-in, more intimate photos. Although these images won’t be hung on a wall, they feel like something a family would take during a day out, between the usual bickering.

The colour finish of the photos is reminiscent of old Kodak colour film, and I’m pleased with the nostalgic feel they give off. Each picture gives the impression that it could have been taken at any time in the past five decades.