Whatipu

Story

Whatipu is a remote beach on the west coast of the Auckland Region in the North Island of New Zealand. The Whatipu area has been managed as a scientific reserve by the Auckland Regional Council since 2002. The road to it is unsealed, and beach access is poorly signposted from the end of the road. To the south of Whatipu is Manukau Harbour. To the north is Karekare. Whatipu is located at the southern end of the Waitakere Ranges. Shifting sands have substantially changed the beach since the 1940s. Over 6 square kilometres has been added to the beach since then.WaterWhatipu has no surf patrol, and as with all the beaches west of Auckland, swimming may not be safe due to rips. HMS Orpheus ran aground just inside the Manukau Harbour entrance south of Whatipu in 1863 with the loss of 189 lives. It was the biggest shipping disaster in New Zealand history.CavesThere are spectacular caves about 20 minutes walk from the carpark, but there is no access from the caves to the beach. In pre-European times, the caves were used as shelter by travellers. In the early 20th century, the largest cave was used for dances, but sand has since drifted into the cave and the dance floor is now covered by five metres of sand. During the timber mill era, the larger caves were also a popular venue for meetings for mill workers.Historic IndustryThere was a timber mill built at Whatipu in 1867 to service the kauri trade. A tramline was built to a second timber mill three kilometers north in 1870, and eventually extended up to Piha and Anawhata. The mills closed in 1886 when the kauri ran out.