There has been a few storm events that have helped shape the Whiritoa coastline. These include:
Cyclone Bola (8/3/88) a storm that passed to the north of the North Island, creating some of the largest rainfall totals for a single storm in the history of New Zealand. Some locations received more than half their annual rainfall totals. At the Whiritoa surf club in the main corridor are images of damage caused by ths storm, with undercutting of the dunes and changes to the beach profile.
A wild weather event (9/3/17) caused flooding at Whiritoa (Mako Avenue) and to other parts of the Coromandel. With reports of mud slides, tree fall and power outages.
The damage is summarised in these two articles:
- Weather chaos captured in pictures - Day 2 (Bay of Plenty Times) click here
- Evacuated Whiritoa residents return home (RNZ) click here.
Cyclone Hale (10/1/23) reduced in intensity as it approached New Zealand, and was downgraded to a one in 20-year weather event.
On the Tuesday the MetService issued a Heavy Rain Warning which remained in place for the Coromandel Peninsula area till 2am Wednesday.
Auckland and eastern Northland was under a heavy rain watch with forecast wind gusts of 75-85km/h.
For those that were staying overnight at Whiritoa the Volunteer Fire Brigade siren sounded twice. They were called out to a tree down on the main highway at the lookout and another tree down on the way to Whangamata.
Raging seas generated by the storm battered the coast line, with storm surges and sea swell, a cauldron of white water took away some of the dune protection, and the beach closed as it was too dangerous for swimming.
See this article for more information about the storm:
- Cyclone Hale delivers more heavy rain for Coromandel (RNZ) click here.
Images below capture some of the storm intensity.
During the storm, whilst exploring, this cache was hidden. There is a picnic table and seat nearby, with views of the lagoon and estuary.
HINT: the cache is not hidden in the stump. See the hint and spoiler image. It is tucked under what appears to be a root, about 40cm to the left of the stump.