Whatipu

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.[1] The road to it is unsealed. To the south of Whatipu is Manukau Harbour. To the north is Karekare. Whatipu is located at the southern end of the Waitākere Ranges. Shifting sands have substantially changed the beach since the 1940s. Over 6 square kilometres has been added to the beach since then.

Whatipu beach.
Looking south toward Whatipu.
Looking South over Karekare to the Manukau Heads.
Whatipu from the air, looking east.

Water

Whatipu does not have a surf patrol. Swimming may not be safe due to rips, in common with all beaches west of Auckland. 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.[2]

Pre-European history

In pre-European times the area was actively used by Māori, living along the coastline and river valleys.[3] There are caves about 20 minutes walk from the carpark, but there is no access from the caves to the beach. These caves and rock shelters were used as refuges during times of war between the 16th and 18th centuries.[3] Textile remains such as fishing nets, baskets, cloak fragments were collected from four archeological sites in the area in the early 1900s: one at Whatipu and three on Paratutae Island to the south east.[4]

Historic Industry

A timber mill was 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. While the timbermill was open, mill workers used the larger caves in the area were as a popular venue for meetings,[5] and 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.[6]

Whatipu-Gibbons Track & Kura-Omanawanui Tracks

At 6-hours return, the route for this 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 Pararaha Valley where it descends to the beach at Pararaha point. It then follows the beach back to Whatipu. Paratutae Rock at the harbour entrance is difficult and particularly dangerous to climb down.[7] 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 views across the Manukau Harbour and the Whatipu valley to the west coast. Time 4 hours.[8]

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.[9] In 2006, the location was featured on Ghost Hunt, a New Zealand paranormal television show.[10] In the 21st century, Whatipu has been used for the Wild Turkey Off-Road Half Marathon/15 km.[11] The Whatipu Beach Beacon is a lighthouse of the area.[12]

References
  1. "Whatipu Scientific Reserve". Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  2. Julie Miller; Grant Osborn (October 2005). Ghost Hunt: True New Zealand Ghost Stories. Penguin Group New Zealand, Limited. ISBN 978-0-7900-1012-0. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
  3. McKendry, Lisa (2017). "Māori Cordage from Te Wao Nui a Tiriwa, Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand". Journal of Pacific Archaeology. 8.2.
  4. McKendry, Lisa (2017). "Māori Kākahu (Cloak) Fragments from Piha: Whakaari Pā". Records of the Auckland Museum. 52: 59–70.
  5. 7 super Auckland parks to visit this summer Retrieved January 2012
  6. "Auckland Beaches". Jasons Travel Media.
  7. Day Walks of Greater Auckland, Marios Gavalas and Peter Jansson, Page 68. Reed Publishing 2003
  8. Walking the Waitākere Ranges, Alison Dench & Lee-Ann Parore, p.150
  9. Whatipu remains end four-year search for missing man Retrieved January 2012
  10. TV.com. "Ghost Hunt (NZ): Abandoned Psychiatric Hospital". CBS Entertainment. Retrieved 2011-12-15.
  11. Auckland - stuff.co.nz Wild Turkey Off-Road Half Marathon/15km – Auckland – stuff.co.nz Retrieved January 2012
  12. Leading lights in New Zealand – Life & Style – NZ Herald News Retrieved January 2012
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