Home > Auckland > Full-Day Wild West Coast Photo and Discovery Tour including Lunch from Auckland
USD $179.00
Full-Day Wild West Coast Photo and Discovery Tour including Lunch from Auckland
Auckland, New Zealand
Explore Auckland's West Coast with a one day Auckland tour designed for photographers and nature lovers. Only 40 minutes from Auckland CBD lies another world of ancient rainforest and black sand beaches. We see famous beaches like Piha and Karekare and walk through pristine rainforest with massive Kauri trees over 1000 years old. Your guides are professional photographers with an interest in the local history and ecology of the area so your day will be full of interesting facts and their photographic advice is free.
The day starts at 9am with a free pickup from your central city accommodation . We head out approximately 40minutes from the ctiy towards the West Coast . Situated at the foothills of the Waitakere Ranges we drive through Titirangi, an area rich in culture and with many galleries and outdoor Cafes it is a favorite spot for artists of many kinds.
We then head up the aptly named Scenic Drive where our first stop is the Arataki Visitor Center. Perched high on the ridge there are some amazing views of both coasts from the lookouts. Inside there are many interactive displays showcasing animals, plant life and early settlers lives in the ranges.
From here we head out to see a pristine area of native rainforest with many trees over 1000 years old. We also walk through the bush which is a relatively flat 1.5 km loop. If you would rather you can just do a section of the walk.
After some morning tea we head over to see two of our more famous west coast beaches Piha and Karekare. Although right next to each other on the Coast they are worlds apart in nature and ambience. Piha has the epic views , the iconic Lion Rock and is famous for its surf , many people call Piha home. Karekare by contrast has a different character, it is more brooding and isolated in nature and very few people live there.
We walk on both beaches as well as seeing some beautiful waterfalls and walking through some enchanting Pohutakawa glades. Karekare is also the site of our barbecue and while the barbecue is cooking some people stroll along the beach while others are happy to sit and relax by the river, the choice is yours.
Feeling refreshed and invigorated from your day in the fresh air we drop you back at your central city accommodation around 4.30-5.00pm.
This was the best tour Ive ever been on and one that will linger in my heart forever. Brett gave me the experience of a lifetime as he transported me into another realm - a spiritual dimension of an awareness of feelings. The Karekare waterfalls and pool were a beautiful sight. The wild, wide beaches of Karekare and Piha were stunning, windswept geological wonders. Although Ive never seen beaches any prettier, this was more than just a feast for the eyes. It was an opportunity to soak in that beauty, the sounds of booming waves and a gushing waterfall, the taste of homemade muffins for morning tea, the smell of pure sea air and the feel of real New Zealand. Nothing else matters when youre out there held captive by nature at its best. The last stop of the day to visit an ancient Kauri tree was a quiet time to reflect and appreciate whats important in life.
Review by: Franz L, January 2018
The Tour was excellent as was Brett the Guide. Brett was very informative with regards to the history of the places we visited.
Review by: Brenda L, January 2018
Excellent excursion although it was quite rainy and opted out of the last stop.
Review by: Eva T, December 2017
What a great day! It was just me that day, but it could not have been any better. The weather was just awesome, Brett took me to see and experience beautiful places, we climbed cliffs and walked around magnificent beaches. Brett is a very kind and patient guy, he gave me a lot of photography advice, answered all my questions, we had a lot of fun. I could not have asked for a better tour guide. Lunch at a local cafe was great. Long story short - book this tour, you won't regret it!
Review by: kathy.j.groff, November 2017
This tour was truly amazing! We would never have found these locations on our own. Brett had great ideas for how to take better photos, also. He was a great guide and explained things along the way. We viewed huge waterfalls, black, never-ending beaches surrounded by wild flowers, and experienced gorgeous views from up above. Lunch at a local place was excellent. What a great day we had!!
Review by: Lawrence, November 2017
Brett knows all the best spots, hidden photographic gems, and location points to capture great images as well as an insight into the history and ecology of the Auckland area. Highly recommend this tour.
Review by: ldwill, November 2017
What an amazing day we had! A day when Brett took such care to see that we were able to see and do as much as was possible. Could not reccomend this tour enough. Thank you so much Brett.
Review by: gvak4, October 2017
Awesome! Many memories and it was great to have photos from the tour guide of our experiences. Amazing pictures.
Review by: tjcooper, September 2017
Brett has the most fantastic personality to make you feel at home and to really help out when your physical condition is not quite as good as you think it should be. He picked us up on time, took us to sites not normally on the tour because we had different interests, and got us back on time. His knowledge of the Auckland woods and beaches is second to none. We were able to climb all the cliffs and landscapes because he knew all the shortcuts. Was able to help us plan out the remainder of our trip to help us see the rest of New Zealand. 5 stars._br/_ ted cooper and family
Review by: JULIA T, July 2017
One of our favorite days on the north island was experiencing the wild west coast. Book this tour!
Review by: Jessica W, June 2017
This was a fantastic trip! Having been to 20 countries in 2 years, I can say that this is by far one of the best experiences I have had. The scenery is awe inspiring and Brett was a great at helping me get better shots. I loved the black sand beaches and the lush rainforest create inspirational photos. I couldn't have had a better day. The lunch was also delicious and from a local spot in Piha.
Review by: Jess, May 2017
Had a great day with Brett and the group! We're not photographers, we just went for the tour and long walks. That's exactly what we got. Brett was showing everyone the best angles and positions to make the best photo. We had a lot of fun learning from him and chatting up the rest of the group. Some of the stops are just amazing. It's worth the cost that you pay for a fun, easy day out.
Review by: Marjorie R, May 2017
Excellent way to spend the day in beautiful places! Interesting lunch place. Bret showed up even though I was his only passenger for the day! Unfortunately, later I somehow managed to lose my camera's memory card with all the North Island's pix, but Bret had sent me the shots he'd taken of me in the Wild West, so I have those at least plus good memories.
Review by: G F D, April 2017
A great tour, and a great way to learn about this area of New Zealand. See some out of the way places, tropical rain forest, black sand beaches, blow holes. Our guide was so helpful, a great tout for photographers and none photographers. No need to be super fit either. Would recommend this to everyone.
Review by: Karen H, April 2017
This was the first tour I took during a 35 day trip to New Zealand and Australia. This day long tour still stands out in my mind. Brett did a wonderful job of making the day enjoyable without making me feel like I was on a whirlwind excursion. The views were spectacular at each of our stops. I really got a good look at this beautiful part of New Zealand. I would highly recommend this full day adventure if you are up to walking and love the outdoors. I was also fortunate that this took place on a picture perfect day! Brett took pictures during the day and then took the time to e-mail some shots with me included, which was a nice touch, since I was traveling solo.
Review by: MJ, March 2017
It was awesome and the best!
Review by: Mark V, February 2017
Our tour guide Brett, was wonderful. This tour took us to places we would have never found on our own. Waterfalls, black sand breaches, and a great history were all part of this tour. Brett is also a professional photographer and took some great photos of the group an and each couple. This tour was worth every penny. Brett picked up and dropped off each group at their hotel. I highly recommend this tour.
Review by: Steven H, December 2016
What an amazing day. There were four of us on this tour and our guide Lissa. We were picked up a few minutes early and went to the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park. First stop was the Arataki visitor centre amazing views and photo's then on to Karekare, Piha, Lion Rock plus more and then finished with a 1 1/2 tour in the bush. Walks along the black sand beaches, over sand dunes, rock promontories, up hill and down dale - a lot of walking but not too strenuous. Lunch was in Piha at a small café and it was really nice. Rained a bit during the day but didn't dampen our spirits and luckily held off for lunch. Our guide Lissa took photo's of all of us during the day on her own camera and we received these by email. A really fantastic day with a great guide and company, photo's to die for. Not a day out to be forgotten.
Review by: Rick, October 2016
Brett is an outstanding guide, and I think anyone who enjoys seeing the natural beauty of an area will thoroughly enjoy this tour. Recommended without hesitation!
Review by: Stephanie G, August 2016
We were looking for a west coast tour that allowed us to walk the beaches instead of just drive by and snap a quick photo. This tour did just that! Brett knows the area well, and we enjoyed hearing about local culture. As another reviewer noted, it felt like an old friend was showing you around the area. According to my fitness tracker, we walked about 6.5 miles, and every step was beautiful. Brett noted several times that he can adjust the tour if someone doesn't want to walk as much. Brett even noticed that our light jackets might not be warm enough in the winter winds and stopped by his house to get us heavier ones. Now that's truly excellent service!
Review by: John A, July 2016
This was one of the best tours I've taken. Brett was an excellent tour guide and catered the entire tour to each individual person. We were able to see desolate Karekare Falls and Karekare Beach which were absolutely stunning and amazing. Brett would literally carry you on his back to make sure you didn't get your feet and camera equipment wet. We went to Piha Beach and saw the awesome power of water as it made surreal waves and immense splashes as it powers its way through The Gap. We were able to feel the local flavor throughout the tour from our guide who is a true local's local. We stayed as long as we wanted at sites we felt we had a connection to. Absolutely excellent tour and I wish Brett did more throughout the island. Cheers!
Review by: David D, May 2016
Brett was a great your guide. it felt like spending the day with an old friend not a tour guide. you can tell he loves the area and it shows.
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