Piha South

Site Information

On arriving at Piha turn left off Piha Road into Te Ahu Ahu Road and then into-Log Race Road at the top of Piha Hill, drive to the end of the road and loop car park.

Take the Mercer walking track (to the right as you arrive) on the northern side of the car park, proceed 150 metres or so until you reach a right-and turn and a wooden seat and a glimpse of the Tasman Sea.

Immediately to the left through the gap and the scrub is the launch site.

Launch height for the southern site is 800 feet A.S.L. For experienced pilots it is possible to fly South from Piha to the Manukau Heads and north to Muriwai.

Warning

Although this site appears deceptively safe, it gets rotor if the wind is more than about 15 degrees south of straight in. Symptoms are gust/calm cycles (instead of a steady wind flow).

DO NOT launch under such conditions.

The site is exposed, so is not recommended for wind speed exceeding 15 knots.

I recommend that you do not fly at this site alone, but go with another pilot/driver.

Site Type

Coastal.

Landing

On the beach

Weather and Wind Direction

West

The club operations a weather station at Muriwai

Mandatory Notices

Although this site appears deceptively safe, it gets rotor if the wind is more than about 15 degrees south of straight in. Symptoms are gust/calm cycles (instead of a steady wind flow).

DO NOT launch under such conditions.

The site is exposed, so is not recommended for wind speed exceeding 15 knots.