Waitakere Ranges

The Waitakere Ranges are a chain of hills generally running approximately 25 km from North to South generally 25 km west of central Auckland, New Zealand. The maximum height is 474 m.

The Ranges form a western coastline with cliffs exceeding 300 m, interspersed infrequently with beaches. The rugged upstanding topography is a formed from erosion resistant ancient volcanic conglomerate and lava flows. The Ranges are covered in native bush, most of which is in the process of regeneration since extensive logging and farming in the mid-late 1800’s and early 1900’s.

In 1894 Sir Algernon Thomas, the first professor of geology and botany at University of Auckland, and a great advocate of preserving the Waitakere Ranges as a bush reserve, led a deputation to the Auckland City Council, asking it to persuade the Government to set aside 3,500 acres (14 km²) in the Nihotupu area. The Government heeded the request and in 1895 vested the land, and several smaller areas of Waitakere Ranges land, in the City Council as "reserves for the conservation of native flora and flora". The Waitakere Ranges Regional Parkland now contains over 6,880 acres (28 km²).

In 1900, the first of many resevoirs were developed for Aucklands' water needs. The ranges recieve an average of over 2000mm of rainfall while the corresponding rate in the city is less than half that[1]. As weather systems approach accross the Tasman Sea, the path is crossed by The Ranges causing a small uplift sufficient for the system to dump.

The area is now home to Kauri Snails, Glowworms and native Long-tailed Bats. Long-tailed and Short-tailed Bats are New Zealand’s only native land based mammals. At its Northern end, Otakamiro Point is the site of one of New Zealand’s few mainland Gannet breeding colonies.

The main attractions are; the four popular surf beaches, Muriwai, Te Henga (Bethells), Piha and Karekare, an extensive network of bush walks and tracks, panormaic views of the East and West coasts, and to the East, the city. A road, aptly named Scenic Drive, runs a good portion of the length of The Ranges from Titirangi to Swanson. The Auckland Regional Council operates a information centre near the Titirangi end.

The beaches are typical of West Coast beaches North of Taranaki in that they are all black sand beaches. They suffer from a reputation of being dangerous for swimmers due to rips and large swells.