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Piha
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== Features and geology == [[Image:Lion Rock, Piha.jpg|thumb|right|Looking north over South Piha beach to [[Lion Rock (New Zealand)|Lion Rock]]. North Piha beach is visible beyond.]] As well as two surf beaches there are also a sheltered lagoon and several streams in the area. The coastline and forested Waitākere Ranges offer a number of walks, or tramps, ranging from easy to very difficult. Due to the spread of the incurable [[kauri dieback]] disease large parts of the Waitākere Ranges were closed from 2018 until further notice.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/environment/plants-animals/pests-weeds/Pages/protect-our-kauri-trees.aspx|title=Protect our kauri trees|last=Council|first=Auckland|website=Auckland Council|language=en|access-date=2018-09-04}}</ref> Piha is a well known black sand beach, due to the high iron content, which originated from [[Mount Taranaki]] and earlier volcanoes in the area.<ref name="EvolvingAuckland12.1">{{Cite book| editor-first=John| editor-last=La Roche |editor-link=John La Roche |title=Evolving Auckland: The City's Engineering Heritage |year=2011 |publisher=Wily Publications |chapter=Steel from Ironsand |first1=John |last1=Ingram |author-link1=John Ingram (engineer) |pages=245–261 |isbn=9781927167038}}</ref> [[Lion Rock (New Zealand)|Lion Rock]] is a natural formation dividing North and South Piha beaches. It is an eroded 16-million-year-old <ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.waitakereranges.org.nz/geology.html| title= Geology of Waitākere Ranges}}</ref> [[Volcanic plug|volcanic neck]],<ref>Ewen Cameron; Bruce Hayward; and Graeme Murdoch (1997). ''A Field Guide to Auckland: Exploring the Region's Natural and Historic Heritage'', p. 168. Godwit Publishing Ltd, Auckland. {{ISBN|1-86962-014-3}}.</ref> named for its similarity to a lying male lion when viewed from the rear (shore side), Lion Rock is immediately visible to visitors as they descend along the only access road. Lion Rock has become iconic not only of Piha, but of Auckland's West Coast in general. Lion Rock was featured on stamps as well as an Auckland phone book, and in December 1919 a memorial to local sawmillers who served in World War One was unveiled on Lion Rock.<ref>'[http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=NZH19191208.2.119 Roll of Honour Unveiled]', New Zealand Herald, 8 December 1919, Page 10.</ref> [[File:Kitekite from track.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Kitekite Falls]]]] About 2 km inland, on the Glen Esk stream, are the [[Kitekite Falls]] which while not very large are picturesque. Swimming is possible all seasons (though only for the cold hardened outside of summer) in a pool just above the falls. At the bottom of the falls is a sheltered picnic area popular with families in the summer time. There is another pool between the top falls and the bottom falls, but is closed due to Kauri dieback. About 2 km inland, on the [[Piha Stream]], is a small canyon.<ref name ="nzcom">{{Cite web |url=http://www.newzealand.com/travel/destinations/regions/auckland/towns.cfm/nodeid/483.html |title=www.newzealand.com |access-date=2011-05-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100522165124/http://www.newzealand.com/travel/destinations/regions/auckland/towns.cfm/nodeid/483.html |archive-date=2010-05-22 |url-status=dead }}</ref> About 1 km south of the South Beach is 'The Gap', which at low tide provides another lagoon and a [[Blowhole (geo)|blowhole]].
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