was built at Whatipu in 1867 to service the kauri trade. The Whatipu Stream was dammed during the establishment of the mill. A tramline was built to a second timber mill three kilometers north in 1870, and eventually extended up to Piha and Anawhata. The mills closed in 1886 when the kauri ran out. While the timbermill was open, mill workers used the larger caves in the area were as a popular venue for meetings, and in the early 20th century the largest cave was used for dances, but sand has since drifted into the cave and the dance floor is now covered by five metres of sand. In the latter 19th century, Whatipu was used as black market port, where perfume, spirits and tobacco were smuggled into New Zealand. A road connecting Whatipu to Auckland was constructed in the 1920s. Modern history and in the media In 2005, the remains of a man who had been missing for four years were found by police at Whatipu's Destruction Gully. It was speculated that the man was the victim of an accident during fishing on the Manukau Harbour. In 2006, the location was featured on Ghost Hunt, a New Zealand paranormal television show. In the 21st century, Whatipu has been used for the Wild Turkey Off-Road Half Marathon/15 km. The Whatipu Beach Beacon is a lighthouse of the area. Recreation The Whatipu beach does not have a surf patrol. Swimming may not be safe due to rips, in common with all beaches west of Auckland. Whatipu is the starting point for the Whatipu-Gibbons Track & Kura-Omanawanui Tracks, a six-hour return walking track. It leads up the hill to the right of the carpark and is clearly marked. It follows the top of the cliffs to the Pararaha Valley where it descends to the beach at Pararaha point. It then follows the beach back to Whatipu. Paratutae Rock at the harbour entrance is difficult and particularly dangerous to climb down. The Kura-Omanawanui Tracks are the other notable walk out of Whatipu. Follows Kura Track eastwards alongside the stream through bush, then climbs steeply to Puriri Ridge and the Whatipu Road. Back via Omanawanui Track, a switchback ridge in open bush with views across the Manukau Harbour and the Whatipu valley to the west coast. Time 4 hours. References External links Photographs of Whatipu held in Auckland Libraries' heritage collections. Beaches of the