Located in the coastal village of Piha on the west coast of New Zealand’s North Island, Piha Beach - also known as Piha Black Sand Beach - is a two-kilometer-long black sand beach with many rocky portions. This is one of the most photographed and popular surf beaches in New Zealand, known for its black sand, which is due to the presence of high iron content that comes from the volcanic activities in the region. This beach stretches from Taitomo Island to North Piha and has a spectacular backdrop of the Waitakere Ranges, lush forests, a cafe, a takeaway bar, a surf club, several oceanfront buildings, and rugged cliffs at either end of the beach, creating a picturesque setting along the Tasman Sea.
Piha Beach is home to the iconic Lion Rock, a prominent volcanic monolith with war memorials and Maori carvings that stands in the middle of the beach, which acts as a natural separator that divides this beach into two main sections: South Piha and North Piha. Also, this beach is named after Piha Stream, which flows into the sea near the southern end of the beach. Piha Beach, Auckland is part of the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park and is promoted as an ecotourism destination, encouraging sustainable tourism practices to preserve the natural beauty and diverse marine life of the region.