Auckland West Coast - Private

Enjoy an amazing day visiting some of the most beautiful places on Auckland’s justifiably famous West Coast. Visit the Arataki Visitor Centre at the gateway to Te Wao Nui o Tiriwa, the great forest of the Maori Ancestor Tiriwa, also known as the Waitakere Ranges. Witness spectacular ocean vistas of both the Manukau Harbour and along Auckland’s wild West Coast. Get up close to some of New Zealand’s unique indigenous flora and fauna.

View soaring cliffs, roaring surf and spectacular volcanic black sand beaches. Discover ancient native rainforest including our New Zealand Christmas Trees (Pohutukawa), Nikau Palms and our national icon the Silver Fern. Stand in front of a huge, 1000 year-old Kauri tree, a giant of the forest, before travelling on to the wine-growing region of Kumeu with its 65 wineries plus fruit stalls and restaurants. Here you can choose to have lunch at one of the superb wineries and of course also taste the wine!

Continue to Muriwai Beach, one of Auckland’s most famous black sand beaches, also volcanic in origin. Our guide can show you the cliff-side road with amazing views of Muriwai Beach, Woodhill Forest and the famous Gannet colony.

Walk along the easy clifftop path to one of only 3 mainland colonies of Australasian Gannets in New Zealand, which nest on the rocky coastline below you. Learn about what makes these birds so special from your knowledgeable guide, who will be able to explain how they live, including their annual migration to the East Coast of Australia.

Be amazed as you walk along the cliff top path and past various great vantage points to see both the rugged cliffs and vast expanse of Muriwai Beach with its black sand before returning to Auckland City.