A large waterspout resembling a tornado was spotted off the coast of West Auckland this morning.

Local Robert Waddell said he spotted the spout about 1km off the coast of Muriwai Beach, stretching around 400m in the air with a large base about 100m in diameter.

"It was this huge white column," he said.

"It was heading off towards the Helensville sort of area, but only over the sea obviously.

"And it just kept on going till it hit the beach."

He said he was not nervous about standing out and photographing it because it was headed in the opposite direction.

"I've never seen one before. It was quite spectacular."