What to see and do in Auckland - Part 4

THINGS TO DO continued

Potiki Adventures

This group offer a Maori Experience, with things like Flax Weaving, Native Bush Walking and a West Coast Beach trip where you venture out to the Waitakere Ranges on the West Coast of Auckland. You can take a brief bush walk and learn about Tane Mahuta, the God of the Forest. Also learn about the traditional uses of plants used for Rongoa which is Maori medicine. Depending on the time you can also go to the summit of one of the peaks to get a birds-eye view of the rainforest, the West Coast and views back to the city. The tour finishes in the realm of Tangaroa which is the God of the Sea. Here you take a barefoot walk on the desolate and often stormy Whatipu Beach which is Auckland’s wildest black sand beach.

Bush and Beach Wilderness Experience

Bush and Beach Ltd run specialised tours of the Waitakere Ranges, rainforest and west coast beaches of Piha and Karekare. The Waitakere Ranges are located just 40 minutes from downtown and is Auckland' s largest regional park. The tour includes a stop at the Arataki Centre, housing traditional Maori carvings and views of both coasts. You then continue on until you reach the black sand beaches where filming of ' The Piano' and ' Xena: Warrior Princess' took place. The guide will explain all about the local history, flora and fauna of the region as you walk along the beach and through some rain forest tracks.

Bungy jump from Auckland Harbour Bridge

Auckland is home to the world’s first harbour bridge bungy jump. Jumpers leap over the Waitemata Harbour and are offered the experience of a lifetime.

Auckland Bridge Climb

Auckland Bridge Climb is a 1½ hour climb under, in, through and over Auckland’s iconic harbour bridge. The group is controlled by an experienced climb leader and this activity offers unique 360 degree views of the Hauraki Gulf, Viaduct Harbour and cityscapes. The leader tells you all about the history, geology, geography and culture of Auckland, as well as some of its lesser known secrets.

Matakana Coast

Stretching from Puhoi to Pakiri, the Matakana Coast is dotted with deserted bays with small islands and recreational reserves and offers some of the finest wines, arts, crafts and visitor attractions in rural New Zealand. All this is within an hour drive to the north of Auckland. Matakana also aims to be the first ‘Slow Food’ town in New Zealand.

Tiritiri Matangi Island

A world renowned bird sanctuary, Tiritiri Matangi is one of only two Open Scientific Reserves in New Zealand. After a 120 years of farming this island had been stripped of 94 percent of its native bush. However between 1984 and 1994 volunteers planted almost 300, 000 trees. The island is now 60 percent forest, with the remaining 40 percent designated as grassland for rare species such as the takahe.

Continued in part 5