Awhitu Peninsula

From Nine to Noon 24 February 2014

Awhitu Peninsula, which forms the south head of the Manukau Harbour, was once a key supplier of milk for Auckland. Steamers visited jetties up the length of the Waiuku River to pick up the milk and cream from myriad small farmers. Now Glenbook Steel Mill is a dominant presence on that river, but the rest of the peninsula retains its rural character – rolling farmland with stands of native forest preserved in the many gullies of a splendid piece of country, bounded by white-sand beaches on the harbour side and fine black sand on the outer coast.

Pride is spelled A-W-H-I-T-U on the south side of the Manukau Harbour

Fine black sand makes great sculpture material at Hamiltons Gap

Rock formations at Hamiltons Gap

West Coast surf at Hamiltons Gap

Walking the dogs at Hamiltons Gap

The wreck of the Orpheus on the Manukau Harbour bar in 1863 is the country’s worst maritime disaster

The restored Manukau Heads lighthouse is open to the public

Rolling Awhitu farmland gives stunning vistas from the peninsula’s main road

The view towards Mangere

The images in this gallery are used with permission and are subject to copyright conditions.