Dramatic black sand beaches meet hills of lush native rainforest to the west of Auckland, while stunning coastlines give way to a wine country of rolling hills to the north of Auckland. To give you a taste of what to expect from your visit to North + West Auckland, here's an overview of great itinerary ideas I've collated for you.
Discover Auckland's north during your visit to New Zealand, and enjoy the ultimate laid-back lifestyle, where great food and wine is always close at hand and the sea is your constant companion. Or journey to Auckland's west to walk through untouched native rainforest, experience the rugged beauty of the wild west coast beaches and visit Auckland's oldest wine region. Highlights can include:
the remote, wild, untamed beauty of Auckland’s West Coast Beaches is where the Tasman Sea’s mighty surf crashes onto vast black-sand beaches. Whatipu, Karekare, Piha, Bethells and Muriwai beaches are all renowned for their rugged beauty and are good for the soul 🌊
providing a unique insight into how we farm sheep in New Zealand, SheepWorld showcases our wool industry in an entertaining way 🐑
quaint Titirangi Village is irresistible to those who want to be inspired by the untamed beauty of the rainforest and the Waitakere Ranges
Brick Bay Sculpture Trail is home to an ever-changing exhibition of contemporary sculptures by leading New Zealand artists
Matakana Village Farmers' Market, fresh country air, artisanal food, award-winning wine, stylish boutiques, arthouse galleries and cinema 👩🌾
unlock the imagination, fuel creativity and ignite the mind at The Sculptureum Experience featuring colourful gardens and six galleries, which display art works from around the world 🎨🌼🌱
meander along the stunning sparkling black sand beach in Muriwai or ride along beautiful Pakiri with magnificent sea views on a Horse Beach Trek 🐴
displaying a unique collection of both native and exotic species The Reptile Park is the only zoo in New Zealand that specialises in reptiles 🦎
paddle down the Puhoi River through native bush, farmland and down into the mangrove forest to the Wenderholm Park 🛶
popular for mountain biking, tree climbing, horse riding and paintball Woodhill Forest provides plenty of scope for family fun 👨👩👧👦
known for its lovely beaches, the Hibiscus Coast in particular Orewa and Whangaparaoa Peninsula are perfect for swimming, kayaking and fishing, or kick back at one of the numerous eateries 🐚
a stunning wildlife sanctuary for New Zealand’s native birds, enjoy spectacular views of the Hauraki Gulf, and take a walk amongst the regenerating bush on Tiritiri Matangi Island (see video) 🐦
offering great snorkelling opportunities Goat Island Marine Reserve teems with fish and other sea life 🐟
The Pah Homestead is a historic home currently used as an art gallery, housing the James Wallace Art Trust’s collection of New Zealand art 🎨
some of the most beautiful beaches in New Zealand, Omaha Beach offers pristine white sand as does nearby Tawharanui Regional Park along with shingled bays, native coastal forest and wetlands 🐚
take the opportunity to learn surfing on either the West Coasts black sand beaches, or the East Coast’s pristine white sand beaches 🏄
experience skiing and snowboarding all year round at Snowplanet, New Zealand's first and only indoor snow dome 🏂❄️⛷️
Devonport is a place where time slows down, with boutique shops filling the spaces of Victorian-era buildings, and some of the best beaches in the city
known for their sweeping views over the harbour and the Hauraki Gulf the twin peaks of North Head and Mount Victoria are popular walks 👟
the Torpedo Bay Navy Museum showcases the rich history of the Royal New Zealand Navy - self explore the stunning exhibitions ⚓
the North Shore Coastal Walk which forms part of the Te Araroa Trail, is easily accessible and provides paths over cliffs, along the water, across sandy beaches, all the while offering views of Rangitoto Island 👟
AWOL Canyoning Adventures will take you rainforest canyoning - abseiling under showering waterfalls, underground streams into caves, jumps, water slides into hidden pools and mysterious water sculptured gorges
taste the flavours out west in Kumeu Wine Country, an area steeped in history with wineries in the area dating back to the 1930’s; or visit the very small premium wine region of Matakana to the north of the city 🍷
NORTH + WEST AUCKLAND AT A GLANCE 🛏️ minimum 2 night stay recommended 📅 visit any time of year
📍 5.5 out of 10 visitors include North + West Auckland in their New Zealand itinerary
🌦️ there is a chance of rain 4 days each week on average each year
👨👩👦👦 Family fun scores high here with plenty to keep children entertained 🍽️ Food + Wine experiences in this region were sometimes mentioned as a highlight 🏳️🌈 LGBTQI+ friendly 👍
This part of New Zealand is home to:
Largest cities: Takapuna (North) and Henderson (West)
Other popular places: Devonport, Birkenhead, Titirangi, Massey, New Lynn, Coatesville, Riverhead, Matakana, Warkworth, Piha, Whangaparaoa, Orewa, Kawau Island, Bethells Beach (Te Henga), Muriwai, Tawharanui Peninsula, Omaha, Albany, Silverdale, Puhoi, Wellsford, Helensville, Kumeu and more...
Accessible by:
🚗 self-drive on a road trip
✈️ board a plane from almost any major place in New Zealand to Auckland's Airport (AKL)
🚌 take a bus from Northland and Auckland City
⛴️ take a ferry from Waiheke Island and Auckland City
