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Afternoon Black Sand Beach and Rainforest Tour from Auckland

Badge of ExcellenceAuckland, New Zealand
Likely to Sell Out

From US$108.49

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Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance.
Auckland Tours
All Auckland Tours
Audio Guides
Likely To Sell Out
Private and Luxury
Unique Experiences
  • 5 hours (approx.)
  • Pickup offered
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Overview

Explore the Waitakere Ranges rain forest and Auckland’s rugged west coast, including Piha Beach, during an afternoon tour with a guide who is knowledgeable about New Zealand flora and fauna. From the Arataki Centre, admire sweeping views from the Tasman Sea to the Pacific Ocean. Learn about Maori history, stroll the beach, and take a nature walk through a lush rain forest while you experience Auckland's largest regional park.
  • Admire the amazing Waitakere Ranges on this afternoon tour from Auckland
  • Visit Arataki Center, gateway to the Waitakere Ranges
  • Breathtaking panoramic views of the Tasman Sea to the Pacific Ocean
  • Hotel pickup and drop off from centrally located Auckland hotels

What's Included

  • Inner city Auckland hotel pick up and drop off
  • Guided rainforest walk
  • Visit Arataki Visitor Centre - gateway to the Waitakere Ranges
  • Visit Piha Beach
  • Coffee and/or Tea
  • GST (Goods and Services Tax)
  • Gratuities
  • Food

Meeting And Pickup

You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup

Meeting point

  • SkyCity Auckland
    Corner Victoria and, Federal Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand

    If you have not confirmed an inner city hotel pick up with us then our central meeting point is the entrance to the SkyCity Hotel. However you must confirm with us that you are meeting us at this point before 10am on day of travel. Please call to confirm - freephone 0800 423 224

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Start time

12:30 PM

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Pickup details

The above list does not include all pick up hotel locations - Pick up is included from most inner city Auckland accommodation - please advise where you are staying and we can give you a pick up time or meeting location. Return point: Returns to original departure point at 5:30pm

What To Expect

After pickup from your centrally located hotel, depart Auckland on the drive west to the Arataki Centre—the gateway to the breathtaking Waitakere Ranges. Snap photos of traditional Maori carvings that stand sentinel as you soak up breathtaking views, from the Tasman Sea to the Pacific Ocean. Note: a brief stop is made at a local bakery for those who have not had lunch.

Learn about the region’s history from your guide during your visit to Auckland's largest regional park, followed by a drive to the North Island’s wild coastline. Here, walk along the shores of Piha Beach and marvel at the black sand beneath your feet.

Continue to experience the awe-inspiring power of New Zealand’s nature with a short trip to a lush rain forest setting. Enjoy an easy bushwalk along a path through giant tree ferns and as you listen for the calls of local birds. Your expert guide identifies native flora and fauna before returning you to Auckland with drop-off at your hotel.

This tour operator won the Tourism Export Council 2016 Operator of the Year Award.

Arataki Visitor Centre - Waitakere Ranges

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Waitakere Ranges

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Piha Beach

40 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Bush and Beach (Pass By)

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately with comfortable walking shoes
  • The tour is suitable for all ages and abilities
  • Although lunch is not included, the tour does stop at a local bakery if you wished to purchase some.
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Stroller accessible
  • Near public transportation
  • Infant seats available
  • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
  • Minimum TWO adults required for this tour to run.
  • Most travelers can participate
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • 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.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
  • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

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Featured review
Jeanette_P
Great tour with friendly, knowledgeable guide Morris. Saw many sights, including a black sand beach, a few marinas, a reservoir, numerous towns, and a rainforest. The black sand beach was quite beautiful. The walk through the rainforest was very interesting despite the lack of birds this time of year because of all the recent rain. We learned a lot about native trees and ferns. Had an afternoon tea break with local honey. Highly recommended this tour!

Reviews

5.0
316 reviews
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
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Reviews by Viator travelers.
Showing 1-10 of 316 reviews
Great tour!
Anne_W, Jun 2023
Our guide was very knowledgeable, charming, and considerate. Would recommend Warren to anyone. He was a fabulous tour guide and a real treat to be around. Thank you Warren! You made the places we visited come alive.
Great half day trip!
Frank_M, Jun 2023
Our tour guide, Erin and a driver (forgot his name), were very friendly and knowledgable. Hotel pick up/drop off was very convenient. They gave us a great overview of Auckland, NZ including black sand beach and a rainforest. Karamatura Loop walk through rainforest was very unique and interesting, expecially the cleaning station to protect Kauri trees. Even though we couldn't go to Piha beach due to a recent cyclone, the alternate black sand beach was amazing. The highlight of the tour was a little picnic in the rainforest with afternoon hot tea, coffee, cold drinks and cookies. We really enjoyed the New Zealand hospitality. I highly recommend this tour!
Fun and informative black sand beach and rainforest tour
Jeanette_P, Jun 2023
Great tour with friendly, knowledgeable guide Morris. Saw many sights, including a black sand beach, a few marinas, a reservoir, numerous towns, and a rainforest. The black sand beach was quite beautiful. The walk through the rainforest was very interesting despite the lack of birds this time of year because of all the recent rain. We learned a lot about native trees and ferns. Had an afternoon tea break with local honey. Highly recommended this tour!
Great trip
Patrick_C, May 2023
Really enjoyable trip with some stunning scenery and the host was excellent. Would definitely recommend to anyone.
Black sand and a rainforest
Dante_G, May 2023
Great tour guide and driver. Loved walking along the black sand of Piha beach. The demonstration with a magnet on the sand yielded an amazing result. Great to hike through the rainforest and see plants unique to this part of the world.
An unforgettable trip
Alexandra_O, May 2023
The tour guides were absolutely amazing and funny. The trip covered educational aspects as well as fun aspects. We went to sites on the trip that weren't specified outright which made thing all the better. Only would like to note that due to the recent cyclone we wouldn't be able to visit the beach advertised, but the one they took us to was equally as stunning and interesting as my pov. I would reccomend bringing waterproof shoes for this trip.
Great fo an afternoon!
Raul_H, May 2023
Great tour to see some of New Zealand without spending the whole day doing so. Our guides were awesome and knowledgeable of all things nature New Zealand. I highly recommend this tour.
Great day out of the city!
Sarah_F, May 2023
My friends and I had a lovely day escaping the city and exploring the Waitakere ranges. It’s a pity that the roads to Piha are still closed but the alternative arrangements exceeded our expectations - the views were absolutely stunning! We were lucky that the weather was good on the day of our tour. Jason and Tony were wonderful guides too - friendly, funny, informative, and happy to answer any questions we had. All in all it was an afternoon well spent :)
We really enjoyed the...
Bronwen_D, May 2023
We really enjoyed the commentary provided by the guide and the driver. The rainforest walk was very informative too.
Great excursion !!
JOAN_E, Apr 2023
Great day out with beautiful scenery and education on locations. Kevin the guide and Tommo the driver were excellent. Recommend this day tour to everyone !!
Excellent tour
Neil_G, Apr 2023
Murray and Wilt were excellent guides and spent a lot of time talking about the history, culture and what life in New Zealand was like. This is a great afternoon out.
Easy and fun day trip from the city!
Julie_C, Apr 2023
Jason was a great guide, super knowledgeable and fun. Great hike through the forest. And it was nice to get out of the city for a day and see the west coast.
Worth doing!
Sharon_C, Apr 2023
They picked us up and dropped us off at our hotel so it’s super convenient. Our guides Burkhart and Milton were fun and engaging. Our tour was modified due to the Cyclones earlier in the year and Piha beach is still closed to visitors, but they made up for that beautifully and I had a great day. Slight snafu getting us all back to our hotels but I would recommend these guys for sure!
Brilliant
Angie_S, Apr 2023
Really lovely afternoon out. We really enjoyed it. Learnt so much about New Zealands Flora and Fauna.
Waitakere rainforest hike
Yueh_C, Apr 2023
The outing to Cornwallis Beach, Huia, and Waitakere Regional Park was a welcome respite from the bustling Auckland CBD. Our lead guide, Alexander, is knowledgeable and gave us a great overview of NZ, Auckland, and the Waitakere. A must-do!
Our trip was re-designed...
JING_L, Apr 2023
Our trip was re-designed because the Piha beach was inaccessible due to the damages caused by cyclone. The communication with the tour operator was smooth and clear. We were a group of 12 with different levels of physical ability, the tour guide was considerate enough to offer two hiking options to engage everyone.
Amazing afternoon in the bush
Mira_A, Apr 2023
The tour was great and our guide Jason was very informative. He took us to where he grew up and it was so nice to hear him tell about the places he knew by heart. We weren't able to access Piha due to the damage done by the cyclone but this forest walk was equally beautiful! It was well organised and everything moved in a good pace. Jason also always made sure that everyone was keeping up with the group and not moving too quickly. Very excellent experience overall!
Great tour!
Irene_E, Apr 2023
Such a great tour! Alex & Murray, our guides, were so informative. The walks were perfect. The beauty of New Zealand is amazing!
Tour
Kasi_R, Feb 2023
I enjoyed the Guided city tour due to the cyclone.Appreciate the last minute change done since planned area was not accessible .
A great afternoon!
Cecily_C, Feb 2023
My daughter and I were on a three week bucket list trip to NZ and she wanted to visit one of NZ's famed black sand beaches so I booked this tour for us and it didn't disappoint. We were picked up at our hotel and the drive out to the Arataki Visitor Center was filled with great information concerning the area. For the rain forest walk we had a choice of "strolling" or "striding" so there was something for everyone and the guide, who was also the van driver, was very knowledgeable about all the plants and answered every question the group had. The visit to Piha Beach was by far the highlight of the afternoon. It is a gorgeous place and, although it was very windy, we had a blast. We took off our shoes and socks to walk on the sand and in the water, and took LOTS of photos and videos. Planning ahead, my daughter had brought travel towels so we could clean and dry our feet before putting our shoes back on. We enjoyed the provided cookies and beverages before heading back to Auckland. We were so glad I booked this tour.
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