{"id":1517,"date":"2026-03-11T21:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T03:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/?p=1517"},"modified":"2026-04-02T20:02:46","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T02:02:46","slug":"2026-day-48-piha","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/2026\/03\/11\/2026-day-48-piha\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 Day 48 Piha"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

March 11, 2026<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Map: Day 48<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

It was our last full day in New Zealand, and it started out cold and rainy. The weather system that was developing the previous night had moved into the area. The nice view from the deck of our cottage had disappeared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That was disappointing because I was really looking forward to exploring Piha in nice weather. Two times before this trip we had planned to go to Piha, and in both cases the trip got thwarted: in 2019 due to some logistics in our travel plans, and in 2023 due to the entire area being closed from cyclone damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, on that morning something else happened that kept me preoccupied. Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii started its high fountaining for episode 43. The night before, I had turned on the big screen TV to view the webcam due to reports that an eruption was close. When Heinrich got up that morning, he saw the North Vent was in heavy overflow, and less than an hour later I was receiving messages that the episode had started. Two hours later, lava fountains from the North and South Vents were reaching record heights. Since the weather was still miserable outside, that gave me an excuse to sit in front of the TV and watch the volcano while I packed for the trip home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Later that morning, the weather started to clear. It stopped raining. It was still very cloudy and gray outside, but decent enough to go out. Also by that time the best part of the Kilauea eruption was over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We decided to visit the Gap, an area south of Piha Beach that was accessible only within 2 hours of low tide. I checked the tide tables and it was about 1 hour past the low tide, so we had just enough time to go. It was only about a 15-minute drive down to the beach, and we headed out quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We walked through the sand and passed a lone sea lion on the shore. Ahead of us was Camel Rock which was part of Taitomo Island. It was still very windy from the weather, and the waves from the Tasman Sea were impressive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sea lion in front of Camel Rock at Piha Beach<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We walked further into Puaotetai Bay and saw the Keyhole, a sea arch on the side of Camel Rock. At very low tide it was possible to walk through the Keyhole, but when we arrived, water from the Tasman Sea was already surging through it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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