The rugged beaches of the West Coast are a favourite escape for busy Aucklanders. Karekare (www.karekare.org.nz) is fringed by steep, dramatic cliffs, and was where the opening scenes of Jane Campion’s The Piano were filmed. Further north, popular Piha (www.piha.co.nz) is punctuated by the distinctive Lion Rock, and is a year-round magnet for keen and hardy surfers. Te Henga or Bethell’s Beach (www.bethells beach.com) is reached after a brisk stroll through undulating dunes, and when you’ve tired of romantic walks along its windswept expanse, there’s a hidden lake to discover. Afterwards, treat yourself to coffee and freshly baked carrot cake at the tiny caravan that doubles as a perfect little cafe. Continue north to Muriwai (www.muriwai.com), perennially popular with surfers and kiteboarders, and busy with swimming and picnicking families in summer. At the beach’s southern end, more than 4,000 gannets nest from August to March. Note that all of the west coast beaches are surf beaches and care should be taken to swim between the lifeguards’ flags. Bordering the rugged coast is the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park which conceals 250km of walking tracks amid its valleys and waterfalls. See www.arc.govt.nz for more information.