Waitakere Ranges Regional Park
300 Scenic Drive, Titirangi, Auckland
About
The Waitākere Ranges are a broad block of steep forested hill country between the city and the west coast, holding Piha, Karekare, Bethells and Whatipū along their seaward edge. Start at the Arataki Visitor Centre on Scenic Drive, where an eleven metre pou carved by Te Kawerau ā Maki stands at the entrance and the staff will tell you what is open. That last part matters. A rāhui placed by Te Kawerau ā Maki in 2017 and a controlled area notice for kauri dieback mean many forest tracks are closed or restricted, and the list changes as repairs finish. Use the hygiene stations at every track entrance and exit, and arrive with no soil on your boots. Check the current track status before you commit to a particular walk.