Jess is a Wanderer ventured to Auckland's outskirts in search of the infamous Muriwai Beach - a beach where the black sand contains iron ore and is actually magnetic! There's also a gannet colony (which absolutely stinks) and some great rock formations.
It's worth waiting for the tide to come in so you can see the waves smashing through a naturally formed blow-hole. There's also a cave you can go inside - but that's only for low tide! It's all about the tide at this beach so get the timing right and you'll have a blast! Here are my favourite pics (can't show you the magnetic sand as I didn't have a magnet!)