Sparkly Black Sand Beach

7/6/19 - A beautiful day trip to Titirangi and the much celebrated (a long standing surfing destination) Piha Beach for a day trip to view the black sand...ooooooohhhhhhh, super sparkly!  Despite taking a spill on . a few rocks and bruising every inch of my body. (Yes, my grace and lack there of let me down once again, Yosiell and Rusty were sufficiently kind and concerned!)

The pictures do not do justice to the unicorn like sparkly black sand on the beach.  

A long distance pic of me in paradise! 

I'm just imagining this beach with full summer sun...still, sweater weather on the beach during July is pretty awesome! 

A large volcanic rock jutting into the ocean.  If one is so inclined, one can take a trail to the top of this...we were not so inclined...perhaps next time! 

After this incredible view, we decided to make a quick trip to Karekare for a short hike to the falls.

The obligatory standing in front of the falls photo,  

Fighting the strong desire to swim under the falls on this chilly winter day. 

This pou is said to protect Karikari.  Cool carving! 

The scenery here is in some ways very similar to the California coastline.  Very beautiful indeed!