Tramping/ Hiking in Auckland, New Zealand, are you wanting to come down under to hike ?

Wild surf, Rugged bush- clad hills. Delicately beautiful waterfalls. Resonating bird sond. Primeval kauri forest. Gurling streams. Endless black-sand beaches. Swampy wetlands inhabited by rare wildlife. Bleak, towering cliffs. Placid pools and lakes. Historic sites. Rocky shores. Breathtaking views. And an extenssive network of walking and tramping tracks to enjoy from, is called the Waitakere Ranges...all within 50 minutes' drive of the airport or the central city, here in Auckland, in New Zealand.

Really,what more could you ask for?

And unlike many wilderness areas overseas, The Waitakere Ranges, have no charge for walkers usingthe Regional Park, and is a precious taonga treasured by locals and visitors alike.

The Waitakere Ranges have been shaped by raw nature as well as human forces and despite the destruction of most of the kauri forest over about 80 years, the regenerating and mature forests of the ridges, gullies, and coast are home to hundreds of plant species and many native creatures, some of them rare or endangered.

So yes, these are bush and back country wilderness areas that we like to walk in most weekends,all with less than a hours drive to get too.

There's more to the Waitakere Ranges than the forests, of course: many of the up to 2.5 million visits made to the park each year end up at the west coast beaches of Karekare (made famous here by the movie "The Piano" ) and Piha, our most famous surfing beach here in Auckland. But also other beaches, Bethells,Muriwai and my all time favorite Anawhata Beach where for the last ten years my family and I along with our numerous friends have enjoyed our summer holidays/ vacations.

However, I'll stop now and let you savour all of the above, get back to me if you want more information and I'll continue this another day..

Respect the land and leave only footprints...