Waitakere ... West Auckland's nature reserve:
Framed by the bush-covered Waitakere Ranges and the curling breakers of the Tasman Sea, Waitakere City in West Auckland has a completely independent character. Waitakere City regards itself as an 'eco-city', striving to combine business and environmental interests and to be at once productive, green and clean. The developed area extends into the Waitakere Ranges with houses perched on the slopes of the hills, hidden by native bush, and often with marvellous views of Auckland and the sea. Centennial Memorial Park, a nature reserve of over 10,000 hectares, is the showpiece of the Waitakeres. It includes native bush and many of the varied west coast beaches. Over 200 km of walking tracks and paths suitable for all age groups and abilities can be explored. The attractions include original native bush with waterfalls and streams.
The Waitakeres offer you a vast range of outdoor activities: bush- and beach walks, picnic, fishing and surfing, swimming and sunbathing, and many more.
The Beaches:
Within 40 minutes driving distance from Kingfisher´s Oasis Holiday Home, you will find some of the most beautiful beaches and bays of the region. Cliffs, dunes, black or white sand, small inlets, bizarre rock formations, bird colonies wait for you to be discovered. Whatipu is one of Aucklands best-kept secrets. A lonely beach where time, legend and history are interwoven and which changes its appearance from year to year. Whatipu guards the entrance to the Manukau Harbour. You can take long walks at the foot of the cliffs, watch rare birds or find out a lot about the old timber-milling-industry in the region. Piha is maybe the best-known Westcoast Beach because of its high surf, loved by all surfers the whole year round. The shallow creek flowing into the sea is perfectly suited for small children to splash about. In former times the prominent 'Lions Rock', was a Maori fortification. Muriwai, famous for its large gannet colony, is also one of the west coast’s most famous fishing spot
Auckland:
Auckland, the 'City of Sails', has a lot to offer! The buzzing Centre of this multi-cutural city may well be discovered on foot. Busy Queen Street und parallel to it quiet High Street with its Cafés and Galleries, the Dock area with its rough charme and 'freaky' Victoria Park Market, Auckland City Art Gallery and the sky-scraping Sky Tower (328 m) - all this you will come across on the area of one square kilometre. Parnell, Ponsonby and Devonport on the other side of the harbour are old suburbs, now incorporated in the city, that have been carefully restaurated to their ancient state, which now provide room for restaurants and pubs, boutiques and ats and crafts shops. Good to take a stroll! Museums und Parks, the Zoological Garden and Kelly Tarltons Underwater World, ‘californian beach´n surf’ atmosphere in Mission Bay, Open-Air-Concerts like 'Opera in the Park' or 'Symphony under the Stars', ferry-trips to the imposing volcano island of Rangitoto - in Auckland you can spend da