After being picked up from central Auckland, you'll head west, passing through an artsy town called Titirangi, or 'Fringe of Heaven' in Maori.
Otherworldly sights abound once you enter the native rainforest of the Waitakere Ranges. Just 40 minutes from bustling Auckland, this enchanted world feels completely different with its lush vegetation and plunging waterfalls. If the dramatic scenery seems familiar, it's possible you caught a glimpse of it in The Piano, an Oscar-winning film by Jane Campion.
Learn more about the subtropical rainforest and the animals that live there during a visit to the Arataki Visitor Centre. From the visitor center, you can see amazing views that stretch from Auckland's cityscape to the west coast’s Manukau Harbour.
Take your new knowledge west to begin your exhilarating four- to five-hour guided walk. Wind your way through the forest of indigenous silver ferns and red-flowered pohutukawa trees (known overseas as New Zealand Christmas trees). As you go, learn how the plants were used for medicinal purposes by the Maori. Walk under rows of towering kauri trees as you make your way to coastal lookouts for breathtaking views of the Tasman Sea, which separates New Zealand from Australia.
Stop to enjoy a picnic lunch in a secluded bush glade, along a dramatic clifftop clearing, or in a sheltered sandy cove, depending on the weather.
After lunch, continue your walk through the greenery down to the west coast’s most beautiful black-sand beach. Stroll along the shimmering black sand to the soundtrack of a pounding surf. Dip your toes in the wild Tasman Sea if the weather is warm, or keep walking to reach stunning waterfalls.
Rest your feet on the return trip to downtown Auckland, where you will be dropped off.