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Waitakere Natural Park

1 review of Waitakere Natural Park

Something for everyone

Located 30 kilometres west of Auckland, Waitakere Natural Park includes over 16,000 hectares of native forest and coast. It has over 250km of forest tracks, and includes fantastic beaches, stunning views, spectacular rivers and waterfalls, cliffs, and lush flora and fauna. The most popular parts are the black sand beaches like Whatipu, Karekare, Piha and Te Henge / Bethells, which offer great waves for surfers. Running, walking, boating, fishing, hiking, camping, relaxing, surfing, cycling ... you're sure to find something to suit you here, and ARC's Operation ForestSave, the regulator of the natural parks of the Auckland region since 1998, has done a great job offering information to visitors.


The information centre is a must. The arrival of Europeans in 1830 led to major changes in the area. The forest industry and subsequently the implementation of farms resulted in massive logging, which even today has not been completely reset. But the Maori maintained their strong spirital ties to the land, inheriting the role of kaitiaki ('gatekeepers') from their ancestors. The history of the area is represented through "whenua pu" wood carvings scattered throughout the park. For movie lovers, some scenes of "The Piano" were shot here.
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