OMG what a discovery. I was excited to see that we were going on a tramp to a waterfall when I was…read morerecently at camp with my daughter and what an amazing place it turned out to be. I know there's a lot of secret little places in the Piha/Karekare area and this is one of them. Although I've since discovered that most people I've talked to already know about it. Oh well. If you drive to the end of Glenesk Road in Piha the tramp is clearly signposted. The walk is fairly steep in places and takes about 45 minutes (many more with many many children in tow) each way. I thought I was fairly fit and coped really well at the time but my legs felt like jelly at the end and I literally couldn't walk properly for several days - something to do with the steps coming down and the way they affect your calf muscles. Anyway, whatever, it's SO worth it. Remember this though: go right at the fork and come back on the other side (doing an anticlockwise loop). Trust me if we had done the reverse I'm not sure I would have made it out. If you go in the morning as we did the water in the pool will be freezing cold - I truly thought I was having a heart attack. Later in the day the sun comes over the cliff-face which I imagine would warm it up a bit. There's also an amazing rock canyon just down from the swimming hole that can be abseiled into. Just having a peek down there blows your mind, it's very cool. This is one of those idyllic Auckland spots that just has to be seen to be believed and the walk through the bush is so peaceful, even as you are killing your legs.

Very nice & sweet trail. Felt like I was at Rain Forest Cafe in America! :) would definitely come…read moreback for this hike again. Walking through nice green scenery while listening the the streams made my mine clear up a bit from stressful life back at home. Much needed vacation and throughly enjoyed my time at the Kitekite Trail & Falls!

The Waitakere ranges was one of the biggest draw cards for my husband and I to settling out West…read morewhen we moved here last year from Australia. The West of Auckland has a hit and miss reputation, but that is ok, so does Tasmania in Aus where we were living for the last five years. We have managed to go camping out in Whatipu, Waitakere Ranges, once so far, visited most of the beaches, and done a couple of tramps around the bush a bit closer to the city side. No major, hard-core tramps/camps for days on end, but more leisurely 'park the car day trips' kind of thing. I would highly recommend going with the kids if you are interested too, there is a variety of walks set out that would suit many levels of fitness. It is also well maintained with conservation awareness well set up, so taking the kids would be educational as well as the many other blessings you get when you go.

This past Easter weekend, my family and I spent two of the four days travelling across the…read moreWaitakere ranges. First visit was to the amazing Bethells Beach to get through the ranges, we had to start our journey at scenic drive, merging with Te Henga road, and then Bethells road which travels up the northern ridge of the ranges. We travelled through the beautiful cascade Kauri zone (where if you're keen for stretching the legs walk the 8 km track to see the biggest Kauri trees in Auckland) and finally arrived at the west coast- Bethells Beach. The drive is purely scenic as its name describes, and nature at its finest. The other journey I took was to Huia and Whatipu Beach, We started at Titirangi, and following signs headed towards the southern part of the ranges, first you past turn off's for Cornwallis, Huia and once in Little Huia, follow the Whatipu road which climbs up into the forest before plunging down towards Whatipu and the beach- this road is gravel and very twisty so be prepared for the drive. I really enjoyed my adventures through the ranges and loved the scenery and beaches I found.

I came here recently for the first time with my daughter's school camp. It's in a lovely spot in a…read morevalley but I guess if I was choosing to stay in Piha I would want to see the water. I was more than happy to have the kids far away from it though and for a school camp this place was fine. I say fine because it just didn't feel very homely. I don't know if that's because of the makeshift nature of what the school was trying to achieve (kids in tents, no dining area just a big room to store their food and makeshift cooking facilities) or the camp itself. True the camp kitchen is the most well equipped I've ever seen and fairly clean as well. But maybe this was because the school staff had the run of the place? I'm not sure. I only have Camp Adair to compare it to and they are totally different beasts but are obviously used for the same things with school trips being one of them. The activities the kids took part in here were a little on the lame side and there's not much in the way of adventure infrastructure (i.e. nothing at all). In terms of accommodation there is one large dormitory and several smaller rooms with male and female bathrooms. I don't know, maybe I'm just not a camper but for a big group booking like a school I would choose Camp Adair any day. Probably it comes down to complicated school funding but interestingly the fees for this camp were more than those for the far superior Camp Adair (which included food where this one did not). This place is more for adults I think.

I remember this place from when I was a kid, and in primary school we came here for school camps. I…read morehave really great memories from the camp. It has a great location, set around the trees and not too far from the beach. We'd go for bush walks, we had a night time burma trail where all the adults through water and mud all over us and we made our way through the bush using peanut butter covered ropes. There's heaps of field area for tents, as well as the big dormitory that was split level. Perfect for boys on one level and girls on the other. From memory the top floor was all one room, with bunks lining the walls, and downstairs was separate rooms with two or three bunks in each room. The only thing is, there's not actually anything at the camp. All our activities were done elsewhere.

I was truly excited to visit Whatipu Beach because I have been to so many of our West Auckland…read morebeach favourites, but I had not experienced this wonder. Upon arrival I was off with my family to walk the 20 minute/1.5km track to the Whatipu Caves. On the walk to the biggest cave you pass smaller old sea caves along the track, they are really fun to walk into for some exploring. The big cave was very impressive; I really enjoyed walking around and hearing my voice bounce around its walls. I made sure I listened to the department of conservation- and sprayed a disinfectant on the bottoms of my shoes before and after entering the walk; this would help prevent the deadly Kauri collar rot which is easily passed from soiled footwear to trees. After the cave walk, I headed to the beach for a bite of lunch and a chance to soak in the scenery, hardly a sole to see. Picturesque waves rolled in to the shore, while in the distance the Manukau bar dramatically splashed up almost to say check me out I'm dangerous. I will be back Whatipu I promised as I departed this afternoon- you are a mysterious beauty.

Over Christmas my husband and I knew we wanted to go camping but also wanted some quietude, so we…read morelooked somewhere close to home, the Waitakere ranges were it, and Whatipu Lodge camp grounds looked quite remote but interesting. It took quite a windy drive to get to, passing very close to the oceans edge and down some narrow curly passes but with just a mild case of nausea (for me) we eventually got there. The space was very open and had one other camper nearby, a family tenting. We have a van decked out, which was ideal as the place was very windy and wet. It rained the whole time, but I liked it none the less, it wasn't cold and a bit of rain is no drama in my world. The hike up the big hill was easy and gave amazing views of the coast that we had walked along earlier in the day. The wind up on the cliffs did mean we had to keep our wits about us, and no rock climbing. We tried to get to the caves but it wasn't really possible without more serious wet weather gear, we got soggy shoes and socks even through the mere attempt to get at them. I recently read about all the ghost sightings in this place, we saw, nor felt, none, but it did give off a rather haunting feel. But that could also be because it felt like such an isolated environment and was so wet and windy. We did, however, see a lot of bird life. Bird watching is not a hobby of mine but it was kind of cool to see so many and all their antics. The lodge caretakers came over to the car and collected the $15 (per night, per car) and had a brief chat soon after we had arrived. Bookings are essential before you arrive.

It's a bit of a drive but Huia National Park is well worth it. Basically a series of bush walks…read morefrom a carpark, there is also a few large spaces for just hanging out if you aren't feeling energetic. This part of the Waitakere Regional Park is also home to parts of the Hillary Trail multi-day bushwalk. For me though the real beauty of this place is the flowing stream with its many swimming holes and small waterfalls. The fresh water is cold (ok frickin freezing - even on a summer's day) but such a different swimming experience to anywhere else. The carpark is rudimentary(and can get pretty full), there's a sprawling picnic area and you can even abseil here with the right permits (and skills!). There's a couple of campgrounds to choose from too if you want to make more than a day of it, but for a day trip it's around a 40 minute drive from central Auckland. The kids absolutely love all the rock jumping and although I wouldn't let my kids do it, there were several large groups of teenagers walking down the streambed rather than using the bush tracks. Fun but a bit scary!

Growing up, I used to walk everywhere, to the zoo, shopping mall or to visit family. People in the…read moretown knew I was an explorer, so nobody called the police when they saw a 6 year old boy walking all over the place. This didn't really change as I grew older, and only really came to an end when I got my first car. Then it stopped, big time; causing the pounds to add to my already comfy midriff. These days I don't mind walking, but it is a mission if you live in a busy suburban area, so I've started to take scenic walks. The Huia Regional Park is a great place to go for a hike, and yes, this is a hike, not to be confused with a walk. The golden oldies in my walking group quickly showed me the way, and I soon realized that I'll have to get my fitness improved if I wanted to avoid being embarrassed by octagerians. The views are awesome, trees majestic and you get excited by even the littlest of things. Plus, the fresh air allows you to recharge and power up.

Stunning black sand beach on the West Coast of the North Island - and fun fact: the sand is…read moremagnetic!! The deeply rich sand has a very high iron content and came from the eruption of Taupo eons ago - it makes for quite a beautiful contrast against the vibrant green jungles and minty blue waters of the Tasman Sea. Piha is one of the most famous beaches in NZ - with tourists, locals, and surfers alike. It was the birthplace of board riding in NZ back in the 50s and continues to be packed with surfers daily - catching waves as they bounce off Lion Rock - the giant volcanic monolith that looms over the beach. Apparently the currents can be strong and dangerous though - I think there are certain times of year where swimming is more appropriate and lifeguards more available on site (summer I think?). But there's still plenty to do outside of the water. There are nice hiking trails all through the surrounding jungle where the bird watching is fantastic and the beach was full of lovely colorful shells. It's a day trip from Auckland which has you passing through the amazing Waitakere Ranges - so definitely a heaven for hikers and nature enthusiasts. The beach had quite a few sunbathers laying on their towels but that sand gets super hot in the sun - I dunno how they could stand it lol. The beach has toilets and changing rooms and plenty of parking. The roads are winding, narrow and steep on the way in - I'm sure they're no problem for the locals but being from the US I was too scared to drive them since they drive on the left here - we came on a day tour with Bush & Beach and it was perfect (highly recommend)!

I've been to Piha a few times and it's always stunning. It does tend to get windy so make sure to…read morecheck the weather before heading out there. Also make sure to get gas before heading out as there are no gas stations anywhere in Piha The beach is great, the black sand is soft and fine and fabulous. My favourite thing to do is bring a big cozy towel, a picnic full of wraps and veggies, and relax on the beach for a few hours with my boyfriend and have a good chat or just read a good book. The best thing to do is stay for the sunset (see photos). There are bathrooms on the beach but no shower (that I saw). The waves are big and great for surfing, but not so great for swimming. If you're a surfer you'd love this beach - or you can sign up for surfing lessons!

On the first day of our trip, we had just flown into Auckland the night before, and wanted to check…read moresomething off our bucket list right away. Going to a black sand beach ended up being super simple as this beach is located in Waitakere Ranges Regional Park and is only a 45 minutes drive from Auckland. What could be easier? The drive is beautiful and it was a straightforward find with the assistance of google maps.They have a nice visitor's parking area with well maintained toilets, information on hiking and local activities, and even a picnic area. The walk out to the beach was short and we enjoyed a rewarding coastline and soft smooth sand. We were there during the end of winter, so it was still pretty cold and windy but no less beautiful. It is a dog friendly spot and a lot of people were out flying kites and walking their furry buddies. It's a great location to spend a few hours or the better part of a day; and if you're traveling from a country where black sand beaches don't exist, it's an easy check off that must see list.

Beautiful rugged beach out West. I had my first visit here today; plenty of other people were also…read moreenjoying the sunny, summer public holiday. Families with their kites, pet dogs, a few surfers and one handful of people (adults and children) were having a model boat race down the water inlet - great idea! Looked like lots of fun! There were lifeguards on duty and they had flags set up to swim in between. Although I didn't see many people out in the water. All the West coast beaches are infamous for their tough swimming conditions. The beach has a nice long stretch of sand, gorgeous views and fresh, beautiful air. What more could you want?

This is another of the Waitakere's beautiful bush walks but has a few surprises up its sleeve. It…read moreleads from the carpark through the trees past a few lovely wee waterfalls and over bridges, along little weir walls, eventually coming out along the top of the Nihotupu Dam. From here you can climb straight up the side of the dam wall, using the ladder/stairway (it's dam near vertical, sorry more puns) and there's also an old disused mini-rail line complete with tunnel that you can walk through if you're really keen. The views are incredible and unfortunately it will be some time before we can do anything other than imagine what it must look like when the dam is full enough to be discharged through the gates. The track is a proper track, not a rugged bushwalk which makes it good for most fitness levels, kiddies included. There are further tracks that branch off into the bush but we didn't attack those. The Waitaks are full of Auckland's engineering and logging history and these places and their odd artefacts add a really interesting insight into its early days. The dam too plays an important role and it's worth reading all the info that's available on the walk. And best of all (for me anyway) is that it's a lovely cool shady walk full of those wonderful damp rich bush smells without the scorching sun killing you every step of the way. A lovely way to spend an afternoon.

We went here during the summer in order to relive my husband's golden memories of his youth but…read morefound it somewhat lacking. Only in New Zealand could you say that about a beach that looks this good but hey, we can't help it, we're spoilt for choice. It's roomy but busy and the shade provided by the overhanging pohutakawas is in hot (literally) demand. Like most of the beaches in this west coast chain, there's a large grassed area as well if you don't want to get down on the sand. We squished in under a spot of shade, a little too close to another family but that was the only protected spot that was left. The kids climbed the tree a bit but the swimming was muddy, slimy and sludgy which was ok but didn't engender repeated dips. I'd say try one of the more quiet ones further down the road.

Cornwallis seems to be the beach you go to when you cant really be bothered driving all the way out…read moreto Piha or one of the other West Coast beaches. This seems kind of silly, as by the time you have driven out this far, you may as well keep on going. However, Cornwallis has its own charms. If you walk down past the rocks you can get to Cornwallis wharf and do some bombs (try do these at full tide,) or if you bring a rod do a bit of fishing - this seems to be a pretty hot spot for catching the occasional kahawai. There are also heaps of walks around, including one that goes up to the memorial on the hill which is so important it has trees cut out just so you can see it from the beach.

Hey they must be right when they claim to probably be the closest surf shop to the surf! You'll…read morefind them just up from Lion Rock and next to the Piha Store. We eyed up the rack of wetsuits outside just in case we found our size. We'll go back to have a good look at their surfboards because they have quite a range of new and second handy. All your label brands for t-shirts, boardies, dresses, sunglasses an essential beach gear. Owner "Ratso" Buchanan is also your contact for the surf school at Piha which my teenagers checked out this summer. Ratso knows a thing or two about this because he's many time national NZ surfing champion & 2011 ASP World Grandmaster Champion.

Owned by 'Ratso' (Ian) he's the grand master of surfing - best over 50 in the world. So you know…read morethis guy knows what he's doing and selling for that matter. Its right next to the local Piha store. This place is great for all things surf. They rent and sell surfboards and wetsuits so great for purchases or travellers stopping in for a visit and wanting to try it out (be weary of the Piha waves). They also sell all the wax and grips - classic surf store gear downgraded to a local scale shop. There's a little chalk board outside which gives you the surf and weather report for that day to which is handy and shows how generous the store owners are. There's a little seating outside too. It's a pretty good little surf shop.