If you are looking forward to a trip to Auckland then don’t forget to visit the national as well as the regional parks in Auckland. Tongariro is amongst the oldest national parks in Auckland and is the best one to visit if you’re a nature lover. While there are a lot of places to see in the city, its parks are the best attractions to see on your holiday. The Auckland national parks have a good number of endangered species which you can spot.
So, if you’re excited to explore the wildlife in Auckland, take a look at these best national parks where you spend a thrilling day out.
10 Top National Parks In Auckland
Here’s a list of the 10 national parks in Auckland that offer everything from natural beauty to exotic wildlife. Scroll through to know why you ought to visit them.
1. Tiritiri Matangi Island
This is a protected sanctuary that is for the endangered and rare bird species of the Country. It is a 75 minute ride by ferry across Hauraki Gulf and brings you the preserve island, the ferry leaves from pier 4 and is a round trip ferry. A stroll at such a place give you trials and coastline views to enjoy and there is an optional hike as well that takes a little longer than an hour to complete. Total five hours will be availed on the island from the ferry round trip and these five hours will give you an insight on the 12 endangered bird species and 3 species of reptiles. The in depth island tours helps you learn a lot about wildlife like various kinds of birds calling and nature watching. Once done with the island trip the ferry will take you back to Auckland.
Location: Tiritiri Matangi Island, Army Bay, Whangaparaoa
Entry fee: Starts from $60
Timing: Ferry departs at 9am
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2. Waiheke Island Exploration
The fine beaches, beautiful vineyards, and dense rain forests of Waiheke Island are about a 40 minute ferry ride from Auckland. After the demonstration and safety briefing is done the groups of 12 will be ready to strap on the harness and head for the zipline. Three ziplines all of which are high speed takes you soaring high over the beautiful island and give you wonderful views of the forest valleys. Following which you take the mile long trail back to reach back at the start point. You will be provided a professional guide to explore the island further.
Location: Waiheke Island, Auckland
Entry fee: Starts from $85
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3. Waitakere Ranges
The natural attractions of the black sand beach in the Waitakere ranges and the North island tour from Auckland will give anyone a good dose of stunning natural beauty. The guided tour start with the pick up from respective hotels and then heads towards the first destination, the Arataki Visitor Center, The Waitakere ranges. The ancient Maori carvings give a great photo opportunity in the rainforest. Take some time to take a lovely stroll on the black beach. The rain forest has giant trees with a variety of birds all around and the flora and fauna of the place will be pointed out by the guide as you go through the tour. After five hours of non stop exploration the tour comes to and end.
Location: Waitakere Ranges, Central Auckland
Entry fee: Starts from $105
Timing: Departure at 12:30 pm
4. Auckland Zoo
This is a great option to enjoy a day out of the city, and is ideal for families with kids. It is a great value for money option and you can also save time as there are barely any long queues for admission. This is an informative animal world that provides a lot of entertainment for the family. This is one of the best wildlife attraction in southern hemisphere. The place has knowledgeable zoo keepers and there happily share the information about respective animals, birds or reptiles, The ticket can be purchased online as well.
Location: Motions Rd, Auckland 1022
Entry fee: Starts from $22
Timing: 9.30am-5.30pm
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5. Tawharanui Regional Park
The stunning Tawharanui regional park is close to Warkworth and Matakana and is just over an hour from Auckland. There are a number of amazing trails to discover and you can also the lovely beaches and snorkelling. The easy 4km walk through this ecology takes around an hour and has so much diversity in a short distance including coastal views, pasture and bust and beach view. Do take basic supplies with you if you plan to stay for an extended period of time.
Location: Tawharanui Peninsula 0986
Entry fee: Starts at $50
Timing: Open 24 hours
6. Tongariro National Park
This is the oldest national park in the Country and is located on the central part of North Island. Due to its mixed culture and magnificent natural values the park as been recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The park contains a number of religious Maori sites and Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro are the three active volcanoes present in the center of the park. The world famous Tongariro Alpine Crossing is a well known one day hike in this park. The place has lush flora and fauna with over 56 significant bird species present. Hiking and climbing are the most common summer activities and for winters people love snowboarding and skiing here.
Location: Manawatu Wanganui 4691
Entry fee: Starts at $30
Timing: 8:30am-4:30pm
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7. Cornwall Park
The Cornwall park is an extremely family friendly place situated in Epsom, Auckland. You can start with the Cornwall cafe with a coffee and then follow the walk round the base volcanic cones and you can walk to the top as well. The beautiful vistas of Auckland can be enjoyed by watching sheep, cows and other livestock grazing in the fields. There is a large playground and BBQ is also available to make the outing even more interesting.
Location: Green Ln W, Epsom
Entry fee: Free entry
Timing: 7am-8pm
8. Shakespear Regional Park
The Shakespear Regional Park is a good place to enjoy barbecue or a picnic. There is a pet friendly beach in the park that covers most of the park and the beach area has a lot of shade and a nice wide view and crystal clear water. There is a Historical Woolshed and a trail through the forest as well.
Location: Army Bay, Whangaparaoa 0930
Entry fee: Under $10
Timing: 6am-9pm
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9. Rotoroa Island
This island is a wildlife sanctuary and home to the native endangered species like Pateke, Kiwi, etc. This is about an hour long drive from Auckland and allows one to reconnect with nature. The award museum and the exhibition along with hiking swimming and other activities will make the visit worth your time.
Location: Hauraki Gulf
Entry fee: Starts from $35
Timing: 10am-5pm
10. Butterfly Creek
The Butterfly Creek give you a very unique mix of insects, critters, and animals. The Australian crocodile, alligators and the Tropical Aquaria and a petting zoo are among the main attractions. In 2014, Dinosaur Kingdom has been added o the park.
Location: Auckland Central, Auckland 2150
Entry fee: Starts at $8
Timing: 9:30am-5pm
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From bird watching to reptile spotting, Auckland has got it all for you. So, don’t just sit on it. Plan your trip to New Zealand with TravelTriangle right away and head out to explore nature like never before.
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Exploring new places and trying out new food cuisines are two things that bring Seema all the happiness. Travel freak and a die-hard foodie are the synonyms that define her the best. Popular on social media by the name of ‘PandaReviewz’, lazing around the beaches, exploiting the sunset points, visiting the farthermost villages, exploring the renowned cities, trying out new food cuisines, and blogging about them are few things that keep Seema occupied, and happy!
