09 WALK BAREFOOT ON BLACK SAND

You needn’t travel to Iceland to take in dramatic black-sand beaches, steel-grey oceans and rugged cliffs – just make your way to Auckland’s iconic Piha Beach, about 50 minutes west of the CBD. If you don’t want sandy feet, head to nearby Muriwai instead, where you can explore some of the 60 kilometres of volcanic coastline on the back of a purebred Clydesdale with Muriwai Beach Horse Treks (muriwaibeachhorsetreks.co.nz).