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Auckland City & Native Forest Experience - Fully Guided Day Tour

Offered by ExperienceKart

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$375.00 per person

5.0 (10 reviews)

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Booking handled by our partner, Viator

8 hours (approx.)Pickup Available Mobile or paper ticket accepted Offered in: English

Full-day small-group tour: Auckland city highlights, Bastion Point, Mount Eden, Arataki Visitor Centre, rainforest walk, and Piha black-sand beach. CBD pickup, Wi-Fi included.

Tour Overview

See Auckland’s signature city sights and the wild West Coast on this fully guided small-group day tour. With complimentary CBD pickup, travel by temperature-controlled minibus with high-speed Wi-Fi and refreshments, stopping often for photos and short walks.

Begin along the waterfront and Harbour Bridge, with views of Watchman Island and Westhaven Marina. Follow Tāmaki Drive past Kohimarama and Mission Bay to Bastion Point for sweeping harbour vistas, then visit the Parnell Rose Gardens. Continue through the Auckland Domain and up Maungawhau / Mount Eden for a panoramic summit view.

In the afternoon, head to the Waitākere Ranges. Explore the Arataki Visitor Centre and take easy rainforest tracks among giant tree ferns, kauri, and native bush. Finish at Piha with a lookout over Lion Rock and time to feel the black sand beneath your feet before returning to the city.

Included: fully guided return transfers, complimentary onboard Wi-Fi and water, and an English-speaking escort. Meals are not included. Duration is approximately 8 hours; the order of stops may vary with conditions.

What's Included

  • Complimentary refreshments and water on board
  • Fully guided return transfers from Auckland
  • Complimentary High Speed Internet on-board the minibus
  • Luxurious temperature controlled transportation in a minibus
  • Visit to Auckland city highlight spots; Auckland Harbour Bridge, Parnell Village & Waterfront views
  • Admire panoramic views from Mt Eden Summit.
  • Admission to Arataki Visitor Centre & rainforest walk
  • Walk on the soft, black sand on an awe-inspiring beach.
  • Take in great views of the Hauraki Gulf, the Harbour Bridge, spectacular ocean vistas.
  • Soak up spectacular ocean vistas along Auckland’s wild West Coast.
  • Wander in a native rainforest and see the amazing Kauri Trees.
  • Visit to lookouts over Lion Rock at Piha beach
  • Discover Auckland's highlights including the wild west coast native forest and black sand beach.
  • Cruise through the city to Tamaki Drive, Auckland Domain, the suburb of Parnell.
  • Visit to Auckland city highlight spots; West Haven Marina, Bastion Point, Mt. Eden Summit
  • Drive past Westhaven Marina, one of the largest marinas in the Southern Hemisphere.
  • Visit and admire magnificent views from The Arataki Visitor Centre.
  • Escape the city and relax in the peace of the rainforest, mountain, and Piha Beach.
  • A local English-speaking tour escort throughout the tour
  • Complimentary pick up and drop off from Auckland CBD
  • Enjoy the picturesque and historic suburb of Parnell and the beautiful oasis of Parnell Rose Garden.
  • Visit to black sand beach at Piha
  • Take in stunning views at Auckland's iconic vistas at Bastion Point.

Not Included:

  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

What To Expect

  1. 1

    Auckland Central

    We pickup travellers from most locations in the Auckland CBD location. If your pickup location is not available on the list, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will do our very best to accommodate your request.

    15 minutes

  2. 2

    Auckland Harbour Bridge

    We stop to view the Auckland Harbour Bridge & the Watchman Island from Curran Street along the waterfront where there is plenty of photo opportunities.

    10 minutes

  3. 3

    Westhaven Marina

    Westhaven Marina in Auckland, is the largest yacht marina in the Southern Hemisphere. The marina has nearly two thousand berths and swing moorings, and tends to be continually booked. Auckland, known as 'City of Sails', is generally known for its maritime passions.

    15 minutes

  4. 4

    Tamaki Drive

    Coastal Drive through Kohimarama, Mission Bay and Tamaki Drive before proceeding to Auckland Museum.

    Pass by without stopping

  5. 5

    Bastion Point

    Bastion Point offers magnificent views out over the Hauraki Gulf and Waitematā Harbour, as well as back to central Auckland. It’s one of the best places in Auckland to take photos of the skyline and harbour. As the name suggests, its position overlooking the harbour makes it an ideal defence point for the city. The Māori name for this area is Takaparawhā. This scenic area includes the Savage Memorial, which commemorates Michael Joseph Savage, one of New Zealand’s most beloved prime ministers.

    30 minutes

  6. 6

    Parnell Rose Gardens

    We stop at Dove-Myer Robinson Park, more commonly known as the Parnell Rose Garden, is a park in Parnell, Auckland The park is named after Dove-Myer Robinson, the longest-serving mayor of Auckland, who served for 18 years. There are over 5,000 roses in the garden. Some of the plants in the garden have been bred by internationally celebrated rose breeders.

    20 minutes

  7. 7

    Auckland Museum

    The Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira (or simply the Auckland Museum) is one of New Zealand's most important museums and war memorials. Its collections concentrate on New Zealand history. You'll find out about one of New Zealand’s finest heritage buildings, the Museum itself! The Auckland Domain is Auckland's oldest park, and at 75 hectares one of the largest in the city. Developed around an extinct volcano, it features tropical gardens, duck ponds and public art and is also home to Auckland’s war memorial museum.

    Pass by without stopping

  8. 8

    Maungawhau / Mount Eden

    The Mt. Eden walk is an easy 2k walk that will take you around 1 hour to complete. Just 5 km from down town Auckland it's the highest volcano in Auckland on Mt Eden. The last eruption was about 15,000 years ago, leaving a crater 50 metres deep. Walk to the top of Mt Eden Volcano, there you'll get a 360° view of Auckland so long as the rain stays away.

    30 minutes

  9. 9

    Arataki Visitor Centre - Waitakere Ranges

    Spend the day walking and relaxing in New Zealand's Wild West coast while hearing the stories of our region. Leave behind the bustle of the city and step into the tranquillity of the rain forest. The hills of the Waitakere’s are remnants of ancient volcanoes. Travel to the Arataki visitor centre, an information centre built high on the ridge of the Waitakere Ranges. From here you get breath-taking panoramic views across the rain forest to Auckland’s two harbours and home to some traditional Māori carvings and your guide will talk about them and explain their significance for the area. There are excellent pathways for you to walk around the Arataki centre which gets you close to flora. The Waitakere Ranges is also where one of Auckland’s major water supplies is located and is a perfect start to exploring the west coast. Continue to the lush rain forest where you walk the easy tracks among giant tree ferns and view New Zealand’s famous kauri trees and silver ferns.

    1 hour

  10. 10

    Piha Beach

    We stop at a stunning viewpoint overlooking Piha beach and the Tasman Sea before going down to the black sand beach. Marvel at the Lion Rock, Piha’s most iconic landmark, and see the Māori carving. Lion Rock stands watching over the waves, sitting majestically between Piha and Little Piha Beaches. Feel the black sand beneath your feet as you stroll along Piha beach - one of the most awe-inspiring beaches the world has to offer and watch the surf waves rolling in. Piha is popular with experienced surfers, but it’s also a wonderful spot for picnics, relaxing walks, and swims, under the watchful eye of the famous Piha Surf Club. The west is wild and have a remote, untamed beauty that's good for the soul. Although you’ll feel a world away, many of the beautiful beaches are less than an hour from the city centre, making them ideal day trip destinations.

    30 minutes

  11. 11

    Auckland Central

    After an enchanting fun-filled experience exploring Auckland City Highlights, it is now time to head back to Auckland CBD to conclude your evening and drop-off at your hotel in Auckland.

    15 minutes

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup available

If requesting pickup, please select your preferred location when booking through Viator.

Pickup details

We pick up passengers from selected hotels in Auckland CBD. If your hotel is not in this list, please choose the closest alternative pickup location. If you require assistance in choosing the closest alternative pickup location, please contact the operator in advance so that we can assist you. Please see below timings of your pickup based on your selected pickup location. Please make sure you are present at the pickup location 10 minutes prior to your scheduled pickup time. We cannot hold the bus if you are late, and no refunds will be provided to late or no-show passengers....

Or Meet At Meeting point

Mövenpick Hotel Auckland

8 Customs Street East, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010, New Zealand

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Our central meeting point in Auckland City is in front of Movenpick Hotel (8 Customs Street East, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010). This meeting point is well connected with Auckland's public transport network. Kindly advise us if you will be meeting us at this location.

End Point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Additional Info

  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Specialized infant seats are available
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
  • Please wear comfortable clothing suitable for the conditions, walking shoes, , Sun protection, jacket/warm layer & essential personal items.
  • Bring a camera or a phone with camera capability as this is the perfect place to get some great experiences photos.
  • Children below 8 years old are required to travel in a child safety car seat.
  • Children between 5-7 years old are also recommended to be in a booster seat for their safety.
  • You must be able to climb and descend stairs and walk on unpaved or uneven terrain.
  • Good and moderate fitness level required and must have the ability to walk for at least 1 hour.
  • Not suitable for travellers with any kind of mobility issues.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.