Piha & Muriwai black-sand beaches — west coast day drive

Best as a self-drive loop: Arataki for rainforest context; Piha and Muriwai are plausible same-day but winding and slick when wet. Surf hazards—not Instagram counts—should cap what you attempt.

Pick Waitakere-west, day trip, driving, and nature/photo/light-hike vibes. Wet-day alternates skew to visitor centres and shorter walks instead of long swims.

DOC links surface on the results page—read surf flags and seasonal closures. We don’t stream lifeguard feeds; obey on-site signage.