Clothes-optional Locations

Whites Beach, just north of Piha, is an isolated west coast gem that sees very little patronage and so is ideal for naturism – it just takes a bit of getting there.

Now that Piha is open again following the devastation back in January, I decided that it was time to revisit Whites again, but it proved to not be straightforward....

First problem encountered was finding the Scenic Drive some distance north of Titirangi was still closed to non-residents, requiring a back track to West Coast Rd and rejoining the Scenic Drive just before the Piha Rd. 

Arriving at the Piha North road end, I walked to the end of the beach and to the Laird Thomson Track which passes over the headland separating Whites from Piha. It was gutting to find a very large slip had wiped out the track with absolutely no way of circumventing the missing section. Because the track cuts across very steep terrain which has been wiped clean, I cannot see it being reinstated in the foreseeable future, if ever, which is a great loss.

However, Whites Beach is still accessible from the Anawhata road via the Rose track, so I was determined to get there if at all possible.
The Anawhata road, while open, is in a terrible condition, with countless potholes along its long, winding and narrow gravel way, with a repair crew in operation to further slow progress.

I was beginning to wonder if all the hassle was going to be worth it!

Eventually the lay-by was reached from where the Rose track starts. The track is actually a private long concrete driveway which the owners grant public walking access, and it drops down consistently to a few baches overlooking the beach far below.

Just before then, the signposted Rose track leads down to the beach, traversing to the north end to finish on the sand. Even this track bears the scars of the storm and has a few knarly bits to scramble over.

Finally!!! it was time to shed the clothes and stroll to the southern end of the beach, not having seen a soul on the whole trip. I spent a very pleasant hour or more paddling in the shallows, sunning and exploring this fabulous spot, nestled between serious cliffs at both ends. Not recommended for swimming however, it’s a surf beach with no-one to rescue you.

Sad to report that the track starting at the north end of the beach leading to Fishermans Rock has suffered a similar fate to the Laird Thomson and has been wiped out by a slip. I did that naked last year - dramatic terrain with spectacular views, so another great loss.

At the south end of the beach a scramble around the rocks (not at high tide) leads to a very rough and steep track up the cliff (complete with wire rope assistance) and thence to the Te Waha Point lookout. From what I could see, it appeared to still be do-able, even naked as I did last year. A track from there connects back up to the Rose track, passing the junction to the doomed Laird Thomson track, so that’s another way back. 

Now that the sun was getting low it was time to head back to the car on Anawhata road. I stayed naked for the return, which was the perfect getup for the 200m climb as any perspiration was taken care of by the breeze. The trip as recorded on the attached Google Earth view took less than half an hour and again, there was no sign of anyone the whole way.

So, was it all worth it? 
YOU BET!!!!