Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Piha

 
Piha is located about 45 minute drive from Auckland. It is known for it's black sand (which companies want to mine and locals keep fighting against since the 30's) and the only place in the country where there are grade 5 rip currents.
Apparently there is a TV show called Piha Rescue where usually some foreigner who is not used to the aggressive currents is swept away and then rescued by the long suffering local lifeguards.
It is also a pretty bad-ass surfing spot, or so I was told by one guy who actually DID surf the crazy waves. 
The black sand (which at first looks like normal sand with some black deposit on top, unless you dig a little and it becomes darker) gets REALLY hot. I felt like I was walking on coals for the brief time I managed to walk before breaking into a run to jump on top of some kind soul's beach towel.










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