Whatipu

Water

Whatipu 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.

Caves

There 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 Industry

There 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.

Whatipu-Gibbons Track & Kura-Omanawanui Tracks

6 hours return. The track begins at the carpark at Whatipu. It leads up the hill to the right of the carpark and is clearly marked. It follows the top of the cliffs to the picturesque Pararaha Valley where it descends to the beach at Pararaha point. It then follows the beach back to Whatipu. You need to be fit because the trudge back along the beach is quite hard going on soft sand (best at low tide when you can follow firm sand at the water's edge). Don't be tempted to take shortcuts through the swamp, because it is easy to get stuck in thick vegetation and knee deep water. Paratutae Rock at the harbour entrance looks easy to climb but be warned, it is difficult and particularly dangerous to climb down. The Kura-Omanawanui Tracks are the other notable walk out of Whatipu. Follows Kura Track eastwards alongside the stream through bush, then climbs steeply to Puriri Ridge and the Whatipu Road. Back via Omanawanui Track, a switchback ridge in open bush with spectacular views across the Manukau Harbour and the Whatipu valley to the west coast. Time 4 hours.

Modern history and in the media

In 2005, the remains of a man who had been missing for four years were found by police at Whatipu’s Destruction Gully. It was speculated that the man was the victim of an accident during fishing on the Manukau Harbour. In 2006, the location was featured on Ghost Hunt, a New Zealand paranormal television show. In the 21st century, Whatipu has been used for the Wild Turkey Off-Road Half Marathon/15km. The Whatipu Beach Beacon is a lighthouse of the area.