West Coast Wanderings
The west coast of Auckland, in and around the Waitakere Ranges, is a wild and rugged place quite unlike any … Continue reading West Coast Wanderings
The west coast of Auckland, in and around the Waitakere Ranges, is a wild and rugged place quite unlike any … Continue reading West Coast Wanderings
We returned to Bethells with some Trinidadians last weekend to show them the raw beauty of Auckland’s west coast. The … Continue reading Bethells Surfer
Whatipu is the most remote of Auckland’s beaches, situated on the southernmost point of the Waitakere Ranges on the West … Continue reading Whatipu the Wild
At Muriwai, on Auckland’s west coast, you can visit the world’s most accessible gannet colony. We’ve been there many times … Continue reading Photo Essay — The Gannets’ Domain
All Images © 2012 Mark Meredith I used to enjoy rock fishing once upon a time, but found I spent most … Continue reading Photo(s) of the Day — On The Rocks
One of the great things about living in Auckland is the diversity of the coastline. You can drive from the Tasman Sea to the Pacific Ocean in less than an hour. On the eastern side, the Pacific, the beaches are characterised by calm, blue seas — though there are surf beaches to be found — and sheltered bays of golden sand fringed by hills and cliffs of pohutukawa trees. The west coast, on the other hand, is a totally different story. Here, in the Waitakere region, shaped eons ago by violent volcanic activity, the coastline is rugged and forested, the sea wild and dangerous. It is an area of outstanding natural beauty and endowed with a unique ambiance, where nature is truly, and fully, in charge. Bethells Beach is typical of west coast beaches: wild, atmospheric, with an expanse of volcanic sand backed by weathered, eroded, bush-clad cliffs.
All Images © 2012 Mark Meredith
The only people with any sense who would want to brave the treacherous currents at Bethells are surfers. Continue reading “Bethells Beach”