We had a great 3-day weekend in mid-July at Monique's place in Piha.
The views of the beach and the surf are mesmerizing. One can prop one's self up in a chair and gaze at the view as it forever changes with the wind and the lighting.
The house is well equipped with amenities and WIFI - we particularly loved the wood burner in the cold evenings. Unfortunately, the weather was not conducive to enjoying the extensive deck for extended periods. We did walk a couple of the nearby bush tracks though - Whites Beach and Anawhata are not far if you're open to a good hill climb. Very glad we stayed - a very memorable experience.