Bethells Beach (Te Henga)

Bethells Beach or Te Henga, as the Maori named the site due to the particular shape of the sand dunes, is a symbol of New Zealand’s culture and traditions.

Old Maori tales narrate that a woman named Egangi jumped from the edge of this site with her child, to swim after her lover. Though it is probably more renowned as a location for television series, such as Xena warrior princess.

Bethells is a preserved location, having won the battle against estate exploitation. It still remains a quaint and calm holiday location for all visitors seeking unpretentious and welcoming accommodation as well as unspoilt natural sites.

It is of great interest geologically speaking, for over the past thousands of years the accumulation of sand and volcanic rock has shaped particular looking dunes that shift continually in a dynamic coastal process.

There are also many historical sites and vestiges from Maori settlements, and from when the area was exploited later by the Europeans leaving it depleted in trees. Nowadays the area has recovered its natural beauty having been declared a national park when John Bethell bought the land from the Waitakere County Council.

The beach at Bethells is a pristine stretch of sand on the unspoilt West Coast landscape barely an hour from Auckland, via the North Scenic Drive. This spot is a favourite with surfers, bathers and those who enjoy fishing.

The area is also ideal for trekking, as right from the beach, the Lake Wainamu reserve can be reached by a track that lead in the cool shelter of the trees and on to other trails.