New Zealand - Part 2: Piha’s Black Sands, KiteKite Falls & A Visit to Middle Earth

We headed west of Auckland to explore the rugged coast — and ended up having one of our favourite days in New Zealand.

🖤 Piha & The Power of Nature

It was June 7th, 13°C, sunny and just crisp enough to keep our hands cold but our hearts happy. Piha Beach is famous for its black sand, a gift from the Taupō eruption ages ago. It sparkled in the sun. We parked and walked toward Lion Rock, then veered left toward the natural keyhole. Some kids were sliding on dunes, others were surfing.

We ended up following a small group up a narrow trail that led to a stunning coastal viewpoint — an unexpected mini hike.

We even brought a frisbee and had a quick game on the beach. There was just a lightness to the day.

💦 KiteKite Falls: Multi-Tiered Magic

Before the beach, we had stopped at KiteKite Falls — and we’re so glad we did.The trail is lush and gentle, following the sound of water through the trees. We took our time, read the signs, felt grateful to be outside.We added a short, steep detour to reach the top of the falls, which gave us perspective on just how tall and layered they are. But nothing beats the view from the bottom — just stunning.

On the way back, we stood on the bridge and soaked it all in. Not many people around. Just us, nature, and time.

🌊 Mercer Bay Loop: Sunset Dreams

Still buzzing from Piha, we decided to squeeze in one more trail — Mercer Bay Loop. It was steep but well-maintained, with dramatic coastline views. Facing the sun made it tough for photos, but we imagined how spectacular sunset must be there.

We left tired and full, driving back to Auckland just before dark.

🧙 Hobbiton: More Than a Movie Set

On the way to Lake Taupō, we stopped at Hobbiton, nestled in the middle of 12,000 acres of farmland. We had booked the 2:40 pm tour, but being jetlagged early risers, we showed up at 1:30 pm and they let us switch. Win!

There are two EV chargers in the parking lot — easy to use, paid by card.

The tour itself was great, even if you're not a die-hard fan. We loved the details: the tree above Bilbo’s house is fake, built for The Hobbit with 250,000 silk leaves from Taiwan. The stories, the set design, the ginger beer at the Green Dragon — it’s all beautifully done.

We enjoyed it. We both left smiling.

Final thoughts

It’s rare to have some days where you hike, swim in sunbeams, wander movie sets, and still get back before dinner. But that’s New Zealand. It gives you so much, if you’re willing to follow a winding road and see where it leads.

🧠 Did You Know? The black sand at Piha comes from ancient volcanic eruptions — a reminder that even destruction can leave beauty behind.

The eastern rosella is a vividly colored parakeet with a broad tail, originally from south-eastern Australia. It was brought to New Zealand in the early 1900s.