Rose Track

Rose Track provides a walking route from Anawhata Road to Whites Beach. Jim Rose was a mountaineer and foundation member of the Alpine Sports Club. Both the Roses and the Hillaries had baches nearby, and later Jim Rose would become the father-in-law of Sir Edmund Hillary. In 1961, Jim and Phyllis Rose gave land to provide access to Whites Beach. 

The most straightforward route to Whites Beach is simply to walk up the beach from North Piha, take the Laird Thompson Track up onto Te Waha Point, then join onto Rose Track down to the beach. You can also take White Track from North Piha to Anawhata Road and make a circuit, returning along the beach. 

From Anawhata Road end, the track drops down a steep concrete driveway through handsome coastal scrub. There are good views of the coastline on the way down. After 10 minutes, the track leaves the driveway, bending off to the right to Whites Beach. The Laird Thompson Track connects further along the road.

Whites Beach is a beautiful blacksand cove backed by steep cliffs. The track zigzags down to the beach easily while skinks bask in the sun. 

Connecting tracks

• White Track is a high route back from Anawhata Road to North Piha. 
• Laird Thomson Track leads down from Te Waha Point to Kohunui Bay. Walk along the beach from here back to North Piha.