NZ Family Walking Vacation

Highlights on a family walk like rock climbing, splashing in water, sliding or rolling down sand dunes or watching animals are fun activities. In children’s eyes West Auckland can be a huge playground.

The book Untamed Coast is written by the mayor of Waitakere City. Filled with love and respect for the land and innumerable personal experiences at the coast.

A beach walk becomes more interesting for Mariam and Karim with rocks to climb on.

The volcanic formations at Auckland’s West Coast beaches invite for hours of climbing fun. Round off a family walk with a picnic.

• South end at Bethells Beach
• Karekare at the south end and in the middle area at the Watchman
• Anawhata
• Piha south and Lion Rock

Gannets at AllPosters

Muriwai is well known for its coastal walk to the Australasian gannet colony. Watch the gannets and their living on the edge.

It is a windy spot to choose for nesting. Their nesting and breeding season lasts from August to March. Beautiful birds to watch.

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Water fun on a family walk

Swimming in waterholes or lakes and splashing with water is too a high walking motivator for children. So bring your togs to these wonderful destinations.

• Fairy Falls Track is a well maintained graveled track through bush with some nice views towards Auckland. Park your car in the Mountain Road and start with the Old Coach Road Track. Then follow Goodfellow Track that meets at its end the Fairy Falls Track. Allow about 2 hours walking time for this loop.
• The Karamatura Loop Walk is another excellent place for whole family entertainment. The Track encounters more challenges. Clearly recognizable it follows steep uphill. Before the Loop enters the second half a junction is found of Loop Walk, Karamatura Track and Tom Thumb Bypass Track. The Track leads to a kind of cascade very idyllic with lots of climbing fun for children.

  A waterhole lies down the Tom Thumb Track. Further down aside of the campsite the Karamatura stream introduces a fantastic area for stream activities.

• Start a beach walk with outgoing tide at North Piha to Piha Gap. This is a beach only accessible at low tide that has plenty of play opportunities in and at the water.
• Lake Wainamu is one of nature’s surprises. After the bridge before Bethells beach is the car park. A stroll along a riverbed bordered by a huge sand dune leads to the lake. A great place for swimming and sand dune sliding best with a card board or body board.

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