Whatipū
The bottom corner of the west coast, where the ranges run out into a mile of sand at the Manukau Heads.
An hour of gravel road gets you somewhere that feels a very long way from Auckland. Sand flats stretch out towards Paratutae and the harbour mouth, there are caves in the cliffs behind, and the wind does what it likes. The bar out there has wrecked a lot of ships. Dogs are banned throughout, and there is no shop, no signal and no lifeguard.
Photos
Gadfium · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons Prosperosity · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons Prosperosity · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons Gadfium · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Facilities checked 2026-08-13 againstaucklandcouncil.govt.nz
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