WAITAKERE RANGES

The Waitakere Ranges are located west of Auckland and offer a stunning array of native bush, rainforest, waterfalls and beaches. The area is also home to the Arataki Visitor Centre, which provides local history and ecology information.

One of the top tourist places in Auckland, lush in indigenous flora and fauna, is the Waitakere Ranges area, habitat to the jungle giants and the mighty kauri tree. Teetering the Waitakere Ranges are the beautiful black-sand beaches of the west coast that are still open to the general public, where you can find several of the most famous surf spots in Auckland, great fishing, spectacular scenery, even a large community of clifftop gannets.

Go on a walk through the village of Titirangi on the rim of the ranges for great local cafes and Kiwi art, and explore one of the neighboring boutique wineries of Kumeu.

Highlights

• Popular activities in the Waitakere Ranges include walking, mountain biking, picnicking, and swimming making it one of the popular Auckland tourist attractions.
• There are also a number of shorter walks suitable for families with young children. For those wanting a challenge, the ranges provide plenty of opportunity for bush-bashing and tramping.
• Partake in the many adventurous activities in the ranges such as mountain biking, canyoning and quad biking.
• The area is filled with lush vegetation, native bush, and beautiful waterfalls. There are also many trails to explore, ranging from easy walks to more challenging hikes.