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PIHA

When you stay at Te Wahi Ora Women’s Retreat you may be interested in exploring the local Piha area. When you enter Piha and look down across the beach you will notice one of the areas most iconic landmarks, Lion Rock. Piha is named after one of the names Lion Rock is known by – Te Piha. Te Piha referred to the patterns of waves separating and breaking on the front of the rock, as on the prow of a canoe.

COFFEE / PIHA CAFE / PIHA STORE

Just a 10-minute wander from Te Wahi Ora, two neighboring gems await:

  • The Piha Store, pouring Organic Allpress and baking their legendary Piha Pies fresh onsite.
  • The Piha Cafe, serving Kokako Organic Coffee and a pizza menu that locals rave about.

Both offer gluten-free options and a warm welcome. Perfect for a post-beach refuel or a morning meander.

PIHA BEACH / SURF / SWIM / WALK / LION ROCK / THE GAP

  • The distinctive tunnel through Camel Rock is called the Keyhole
  • The Gap is a low point between Taitomo Island and cliffs where waves come crashing through

Te Wahi Ora Women’s Retreat is located on the Piha beachfront and only a couple of strides from our front door before your toes are in the sand. If you are interested in something a bit longer there are walks with stunning coastal views up onto the headlands at either end of the beach. Piha is a surf destination and swimming can be great fun ‘between the flags’.  At mid-low tide you could also walk round the South Piha rocks and float in the pool that forms at ‘The Gap’. Piha is known for it’s sunsets over the Tasman sea. Walking Piha Beach at sunset is a magical experience. And for a true local ritual: grab hand-cut hot chips and panko-crumbed fish from Adey’s Place, then picnic on the dunes. It’s a Piha institution.

ART GALLERY / WEST COAST ART GALLERY / PIHA

The West Coast Gallery is a dynamic community arts venue, which exhibits and sells the artworks of over 200 artists all residing in the West Coast Waitakere Ranges of Auckland. The gallery is approximately 15min walk from Te Wahi Ora. They sell a wide range of artwork, ceramics and jewellery and their featured artist exhibition changes monthly. The gallery is open Wed-Sun 10am-4pm.

WALKING / DAY WALKS / TRAMPING / WATERFALL / BUSH

  • Looking south down the coast from Te Ahua Pa
  • Hinerangi gazing out to sea from Te Ahua Pa
  • A rich opportunity to enjoy indepth conversation and companionship.
  • Whites Beach north of Piha

Piha is situated on the west coast of Auckland surrounded by Waitakere Regional National Park and there are a variety of great day walks that range from a couple of hours to all day. KiteKite Falls is a gentle walk and you can swim in rock pools in the summer. The walk to Mercer Bay and the Te Ahua Pa site offers stunning cliff top views up and down the coast. You can walk over the headland at north Piha to Whites Beach and often you will be the only person there. For the more ambitious, keep walking up the coast to Anawhata Beach. Te Wahi Ora is happy to make you a packed lunch to take on your walk. Piha is also on the Hillary Trail (A four-day /three night 75 km trek across rugged country reaching from Titirangi to Muriwai) and you could hike the trail and make Te Wahi Ora your mid-way stopover point.

LOCAL COLOUR / MARKETS / SURF CLUBS / SURF SCHOOL / PROTESTS

Surf Competitions, Market Days, and Thundercat Racing – over the annual calendar there are a number of seasonal events that are held at Piha. Grabbing some hot fish and chips or a Little Island Nice Block (gluten, dairy & soy free ice-cream) from Adey’s Place next to the Piha South Surf Club and watching the ‘goings-on’ can be a pleasant lively activity. Or if you’re feeling energetic you could hire a surf board or even join a surf lesson or two. In the summer months there are a number of market days. The Piha Labour Day Market is a popular weekend.