If you’re looking for a secluded beach that also has incredible views along the Western coastline and Manukau Harbour, Whatipū has it all.
Located in the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park, this is a protected reserve in Auckland that holds many hidden gems. In this post we’ll reveal everything you need to know about Whatipū and why it deserves a mention on your list.
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THE JOURNEY TO WHATIPŪ
Due to its southern location in the Waitākere Ranges, Whatipū may take longer to reach than other Auckland beaches. From the CBD, it’s about 42km away, requiring approximately an hour and a quarter to get to.
Once you’re out of the city you’ll travel through Titirangi and then the stunning scenery starts, through scenic forests and many spots to stop, like my favourite, Huia Point Lookout. Most of the drive is on sealed roads, but the last 6km does turn to gravel. Due to its narrowness, be wary of oncoming traffic and drive with extra caution, especially if you’re not used to New Zealand roads.
WHATIPŪ BEACH
From the carpark, Whatipū beach is roughly a 10-minute walk, mostly through sand. On hot days, make sure to bring jandals or footwear otherwise you’ll find your feet might not last the journey.
Swimming at Whatipū beach isn’t advised due to rips and there being no surf patrol in the area. Some swim cautiously when tides are calm but it is quite risky. If you do decide to swim please be extremely cautious as the West Coast is well known for its disastrous rips.
In terms of what time to visit, as for all West Coast beaches, I would highly recommend to aim for golden hour or sunset. The sunsets along this coastline are incredibly beautiful and even moreso with the contrast against the black sand.
WHATIPŪ CAVES
Surprisingly, you can also find caves along Whatipū beach. I haven’t done this walk myself but heard great things.
Depending on the rainfall the conditions can be muddy and slippery so make sure to wear suitable footwear. According to AllTrails the walk is through bush and grass and the track is relatively brief with a mixture of both large and smaller caves to explore.
If you’d like to know more about this trail you can check out AllTrails here.
OMANAWANUI TRACK
One of my favorite day walks in Auckland is the Omanawanui Track. It’s an out-and-back trail with about 2400 stairs to climb. While challenging, it’s manageable with moderate fitness, although you’ll definitely break a sweat. At the peak, enjoy stunning 360-degree views of Manukau Harbour, Auckland, Omanawanui, and Whatipu Beach.
There are a couple of entrances to the track, which splits on AllTrails. For the full track, follow both Omanawanui Track to Signal House Track and Omanawanui Track to Omanawanui. The Signal House Track leads from the beach entrance to the highest point, while the Omanawanui Track heads from the other entrance, with a smaller carpark on Whatipū Road. Note that the small carpark has limited space, fitting only about four cars. From here, you can also access the Puriri Ridge walk and the entrance to Don McClean.
Alternatively, if you don’t want to do the track there and back you can park two cars, one at either end or walk the track one way and the road the other. However, I must caution against the latter option. As mentioned earlier, the road is narrow, and some drivers may not be cautious or expect to encounter hikers.
This is a great trail to tie in with visiting Whatipū Beach. Often I have hiked this trail in the afternoon (also much quieter than the middle of the day), leading into golden hour. Then afterwards, spending sunset at the beach. It’s a combo I’d highly recommend.
ACCOMODATION
If you are wanting to extend your stay past just visiting a day in Whatipū, there is a campground, bach and lodge that are all located close to the beach. In summer definitely book in advance as especially in weekends, it fills up fast.
For all the information you need for bookings click to go through to the Whatipū Lodge.
SUMMARY
In this post we have covered why you should discover Whatipū in the Waitākere Ranges. Despite its remote location I would highly suggest the journey as it offers scenic drives and at the end, a beautiful beach among many other charms. Omanawanui Track, stunning sunsets and intriguing caves being some of them. It’s pretty clear that Whatipū is a hidden gem and promises a great day adventure.
Looking for more epic NZ destinations? Explore my guides to New Zealand’s ultimate destinations or if you’re looking for even more adventures feel free to browse my comprehensive travel destination guides.
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