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Offered languages
- English
Discover Auckland’s west coast on a private tour with a local guide who knows the coastline, the viewpoints, and the stories behind the landscape. Your experience begins at the Arataki Visitor Centre, the gateway to the Waitākere Ranges, where you’ll have time to enjoy the panoramic lookouts and explore the centre’s cultural and environmental displays.
From Arataki, your guide will take you out to Piha Beach — one of Auckland’s most iconic west coast locations. Here you’ll have up to an hour to walk the volcanic black-sand beach, take in the surf and the wide coastal views, and learn about the volcanic history that shaped Lion Rock and the surrounding cliffs. It’s a chance to slow down, take photos, and fully appreciate what makes this coastline unique.
We’ll travel in a modern, air-conditioned SUV, keeping the journey comfortable as we explore the west coast.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
Please be ready at your confirmed pickup location and clearly visible to your guide at least 5 minutes before departure.
Hotel pickups:
Wait inside the main hotel lobby, near the entrance, so your guide can easily locate you.
Cruise/Port pickups:
Please wait at the designated passenger pickup zone and keep an eye out for your guide.
Your guide will arrive in a “Your Kiwi Tour” vehicle and may contact you by phone if needed.
What to bring:
Comfortable walking shoes, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and a light rain jacket.
Itinerary
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1
At Arataki Visitor Centre, guests step into the entranceway of the Waitākere Ranges, surrounded by sweeping views of native forest, reservoirs, and the Tasman coastline. During our 30-minute stop, there’s time to walk out onto the viewing decks, take photographs from the iconic carved frame overlooking the ranges, and enjoy the sense of space and calm that this landscape creates. Inside the centre, visitors can explore displays that share the geology, ecology, and cultural significance of the area, including artworks and stories connected to mana whenua. It’s a gentle introduction to the region, helping guests understand the environment they’ll be travelling through on the rest of the tour. The centre also has clean bathroom facilities, making it a comfortable and convenient stop before we continue toward the coastline and Piha.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2
At Piha Beach, guests will have up to an hour to explore a coastline that feels completely different from anything in central Auckland. Your guide will take you out onto the black-sand beach, explaining what makes it so distinctive — how the colour comes from the volcanic rock of the Waitākere Ranges and why it can feel warm underfoot even on cooler days. You’ll have time to walk the shoreline, feel the texture of the sand, and take in the sweeping views of the west coast. Your guide will also point out the surrounding cliffs and Lion Rock, explaining how these features were formed and why Piha has such a strong, rugged character. There’s plenty of time to take photos, get closer to Lion Rock, and enjoy the open space and fresh sea air. This stop gives you the chance to slow down, explore freely, and really experience what makes Piha unique — its black sand, its wild surf, and the dramatic landscape that wraps around it.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children are welcome on tour. New Zealand law requires an approved child restraint for all children under. Parents/guardians must bring their own child seat. We do not carry spare seats.
- Travellers must be able to safely enter and exit a standard vehicle without assistance.
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Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Rating
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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