Exploring coastal geography: students conduct fieldwork at Muriwai Beach

Located on Auckland’s west coast, Muriwai Beach is a well-known black-sand surf beach. The area was uplifted from the seafloor between three and five million years ago. Much of the landscape is formed by remnants of the eastern side of the Waitākere Volcano.

Upon arrival, students gathered their equipment and followed a short bush track to the beach. They then dispersed along the shoreline to conduct various field measurements, including beach profiling, wave frequency calculations and wind speed assessments of the prevailing southwesterly winds.

Next, the students proceeded south along the beach to collect comparable data at an alternative site. They also observed Ōtakamiro Point and completed a walk to Fisherman’s Rock before pausing for lunch.

The group then travelled by bus to Māori Bay, where they conducted their final measurements despite light drizzle.

After a full day of field observations, the students returned to Macleans College with enhanced knowledge of Muriwai Beach’s coastal environment.