Whenever we have friends visiting from overseas, we take them to the Waitakere Regional Park. A short drive from the inner city and you’re in the middle of nature. The views from the visitor center are gorgeous, and it’s an interesting place for kids of all ages!
This is the view from the lookout at the rear of the visitor center. On a clear day, you can see for miles.
It was a little hazy on the day I took this photo, but you can make out the Sky Tower and the other highrise buildings in the central city.
These are some of the native trees. The punga ferns were striking and pretty this day.
A young kauri tree. This native tree is in danger from kauri dieback. It’s incurable, and currently, many of our tracks in the park are closed in an attempt to stop the spread of the disease.
Another view of the bush and the river.
These are some of the Maori carvings at the visitor center.
And finally, this is me hamming it up with a view of the bush and sea behind me.
I’ve used the Waitakere area in my book Black Moon Dragon, and the heroine lives on the coast at Piha, which is not far away.
I highly recommend a visit to the Waitakere Ranges if you’re a visitor to Auckland. You won’t be disappointed!
The view is really nice. I love the pictures. I just don’t see that much green around here. I love it.
No, Mary. There isn’t much green in Las Vegas. I bet that’s why they have all the colored lights. :-)