Arataki Visitor Centre — Local services in Waitākere Ranges

Arataki Visitor Centre offers free admission to everyone.

Be a tidy Kiwi. The Waitakere Ranges is a trash-free park; take all your rubbish and recycling with you after visiting.

The hills of the Waitakere’s are actually remnants of ancient volcanoes.

So why is it called a “Rainforest”?

The height of these ranges (-400m above sea-level-) forces the prevailing westerly weather to “dump” the rainfall here, before the clouds pass over and down onto Auckland. This high amount of rain creates a rainforest micro climate, and the flora that grows there is very lush.

This lush green subtropical rainforest is just a 30-minute drive from Auckland’s city centre.

Each year around 165,000 people visit Arataki; around three-quarters of these are Aucklanders or from New Zealand.

Try it, your like it. Well worth visiting.

Kauri gum was used by the Maori for cooking and lighting because it burns very easily. They made torches with it to attract fish at night.

From the 1840s, kauri gum was exported to Britain and America to make varnish. Later, it was used in linoleum, a floor covering.

Some Kauri Gum found in the Otago in the South Island has been estimated by scientists to be over 175 million years old and is actually Amber.

Estimates suggest that there are approximately 40,000 mature kauri trees left in the country. This represents a significant decline from the millions of trees that once existed, with logging and kauri dieback disease being the primary causes of their loss.

Submerged for aeons in the peat bogs of New Zealand's north, swamp kauri is one of the world's most valuable and exquisite timbers.

At one time it was valued at over $10,000 per cubic metre, making it one of the most expensive timbers in the world.

Tāne Mahuta, the Māori God of the forests and birds, was said to be made of kauri making this taonga particularly precious to the...

We love Arataki Visitor Centre. It has the unique Maori design inside out. It's scenic, educational, informative and entertainment at the same time. Outside: Amble parking and spot for photo. Inside: The different areas with display show the history of Waitakere Range. Interactive Te Reo learning. Scientific and conservation info and display for the young minds. There are wooden board games available. There is a kids corner for younger children with educational toys. There are cushions and chairs. They even have a heater keeping the littlies warm. And that's so nice in the winter. There is an information counter with staff answering all your questions. The gift shop sells some arty crafty souvenirs. There is a vending machine selling drinks although the drinking fountain is available. Downstairs is the public toilets: male, female and disabled. You can go the the visitor centre using stairs or accessible pathway on the left. There is a telescope on the deck which has amazing views of the Lower...

Visited this place on a weekend around the evening. No tall buildings around, but if you get here, you are guaranteed for a majestic Arataki scenery. The beauty of such places in NZ is that you can go anywhere here without the fear of being bitten by the deadliest snakes, which you can find aplenty anywhere else on earth but not here. Nature at its best. This is actually the starting point for the Hilary Trail, which is a multi day walk through Waitakere Ranges to Muriwai. It is actually best for nature photography and is a tourist hub in Auckland. Ataraki visitor centre is also a tourism and education centre known as the gateway for Waitakere Ranges. So as you get here you there is this machine installed to clean your shoes and also spray them with water to make sure nature is preserved. It is also said that Sir Edmund Hilary started practising here before he actually conquered the giant Mount Everest. If you are a Nature lover, then this is...