FROM MY TRAVELS
Piha and Kitekite Falls
Last updated: September 2026
Forever chasing waterfalls was a fairly accurate description of me at Kitekite. Piha makes sense as that kind of day: a walk through the trees, a waterfall stop and then some time on the black sand. Keep the route simple and sort the practical stuff before leaving Auckland. Then the afternoon feels like a beach break, not a rush home.
Route overview
Stops are approximate. Dashed lines show the order, not the roads. Optional stops are swaps, not extras.
Select a stop below to locate it. Drag to pan; use the controls or arrow keys to explore.
Before you go
- Cards work almost everywhere. Carry a little cash and watch for surcharges at smaller places.
- Auckland and Wellington use different transport cards, so check each one. Book intercity trips separately from city transport.
- Uber or a local taxi can work in larger towns. For trailheads and rural accommodation, arrange your pickup and return before setting out.
- English is spoken everywhere. ‘Kia ora’ is a friendly Māori greeting. Save Māori place names exactly as written.
- Choose a local SIM or compatible eSIM with coverage suited to the island and region. Download maps before you leave town. Coverage in the mountains and on the West Coast is patchy.
- Keep road and track information handy. Weather can change the route, so don’t let a flight depend on a long last drive or an outdoor booking finishing on time.
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A route for your visit
Adjust the pace to suit you.
Check access before leaving Auckland
Read current road and track information, then pack water, lunch and footwear suitable for the forest. Keep the return in daylight as part of the plan. If the conditions call for a shorter outing, cut back the beach time or the walk. Don’t rush the roads.
Kitekite before the beach
Check the current permitted approach, then allow around two hours with stops for the signed Kitekite route when open. The forest walk and waterfall are enough; an upper pool or swim is not required. Use the kauri-cleaning facilities and stay on the marked path. If the track is closed, don’t look for an informal alternative through the forest.
Kitekite Falls brings a forest setting to the coastal day, with the water dropping through several tiers. Show the contrast between forest and open beach in your photos, and only use tracks that are open.
Lunch · Piha village or picnic
Return for a picnic or a confirmed open café. Give yourself an hour to eat and rest before the coast. Small local venues may have limited hours, so carrying food prevents a late lunch from becoming a long drive back to town.
After the walk, change out of anything wet and eat before moving on to the beach. Bring a picnic as the safe bet, then grab something at a local café if one’s open. Eat somewhere comfortable. Balancing food at the waterfall isn’t fun. This is also a good moment to check the weather again: a darkening sky can turn a planned long beach stop into a short look and an earlier drive.
Black sand and time to stop
After lunch, take a short walk on the accessible public beach and pause where you can comfortably watch the surf. Keep clear of rock platforms and follow local patrol advice if considering a swim. You can enjoy the coastline entirely from shore. Leave while there’s still a comfortable daylight window for the road back to Auckland, especially after the longer forest outing.
Give yourself time to sit on the beach after lunch. The dark sand and open water are a good contrast to the close green setting around the falls.
Finish · Return in daylight
Leave time for the drive back to Auckland while you’re still alert. If the forest walk took longer, cut the beach visit short. Don’t rush the drive.
Choose your departure time before settling into the last stop. Leave extra time for changing shoes, packing the car and the slow parts of the drive, then have dinner back in Auckland. If you’ve started late, cut the beach time. Don’t try to make it up on the road. Kitekite and a proper look at Piha already give you a satisfying day out.
Piha’s dark sand and rugged headlands show a very different coast from Auckland’s harbour. Spend time on the beach itself. Not every minute has to be about reaching a viewpoint.
What to budget
Prices checked September 2026. These are for the named ticket or service. Check your date and what’s included before you pay.
- Bush and Beach Wilderness Experience: NZD 200–210 — Adult guided half-day benchmark: 200, rising to 210 from 1 October. Includes central Auckland pickup and afternoon tea, not lunch; its stops differ from a self-drive Kitekite route. Price source
Budget NZD 20–40 per person for a simple meal. That’s a rough guide. Drinks and nicer restaurants cost more. Price transfers separately, especially private drivers, boats and airport trips.
A few photo tips
- On Piha beach, stand well back from the water and use the headlands as scale; late light can bring out texture in the dark sand.
- At Kitekite, photograph from the permitted viewing area in soft cloud; a wide frame with forest often tells more than a tight waterfall crop.
If the weather changes
Skip exposed beach walks and any closed or slippery forest route. Make this an Auckland gallery day if rain is persistent.
The final day and your flight
Morning flight: stay within reach of Auckland Airport the night before, then keep the morning for checkout and the transfer. Allow for the airline’s check-in time as well as the trip.
Afternoon flight: Piha is a separate outing with a substantial road transfer; keep an afternoon flight day central unless the complete route leaves a comfortable margin. Work out the transfer and bag pickup time before deciding when to finish.
Booking checks
Check current council and track alerts, use kauri-cleaning facilities and keep to the marked route. Follow local surf-lifesaving advice; swimming is optional. Allowances include time to stop; check conditions separately before setting out.
Visitor information and official links
Useful booking links (optional)
Trip extras
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