Auckland’s Magnificent Backyard

by Beate
(Auckland)

Auckland as the largest city of New Zealand has more than metropolitan qualities to offer. Embedded between the Huraki Gulf, Waitemata Harbour, Manukau Harbour, the West Coast, and with twenty one Regional Parks an immense attractive outdoor life is just round the corner.

With 16,000ha the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park, located in West Auckland, is the largest of them. There to protect the rich endemic fauna and wildlife the park encourages to an active outdoor life. An extensive net on walking, hiking, and tramping trails in varying level of difficulty and lengths are accessible.

Activities to excite are climbing in the Karamatura Valley, canyoning in Piha Valley, paragliding and blokarten at Muriwai, swimming, body boarding, and surfing along the west coast.

Surrounded by unspoiled nature, eyes are flooded with stunning views and astonishing New Zealand trees. There are ancient forest giants the kauri trees. Picturesque tree ferns strike with their beauty and support the name the land of fern that is often given to New Zealand. The blooming kowhai tree invites birds and to enjoy their song especially in early spring. Then there is the Christmas celebrating pohutukawa tree and many more.

Living up to New Zealand?s reputation being an outdoor paradise vacations here offer abundant nature experience and the closeness to cultural events in Auckland.