Virtual Tours

Lets head into the Arataki Centre

Lets go to the Beach

(check out inside the centre before we leave though

-scroll to the right with your mouse)

One of the reservoirs collecting water for Auckland City

Here is some more information about the reservoirs and the forest:

Auckland's southern harbour is called the Manukau (Māori for 'wading birds') and it empties to the west into the Tasman Sea

We visit the Arataki Centre at the start of our Wilderness Experience tour

as it has great views, great natural history as well as local Māori carvings

Head back outside to the viewing platform

The Arataki Centre is home to many Māori carvings including the

impressive 12metre carved pou outside as seen in this picture

The Arataki Centre always has local artists exhibitions

The Arataki Centre has a wide range of information and gifts throughout the building

Hanging from the ceiling at the back of the centre is a model of the

now extinct huge Haast Eagle which had a wingspan of up to 3m (10 ft)

Hear some further information about the eagle and its prey here:

Lion Rock (named as it looks like a crouched down lion in the right light). 

Hear more about Lion Rock here:

Go to the rainforest

Piha has a black sand beach which has a lot of iron in it.

If you put a magnet in the sand it will pick up the 'iron sand'.

See Lion Rock from the other side

Head back to the Arataki Visitors Centre

Piha is famous for its surf

Did you know that modern day surfing was introduced to NZ in Piha - hear more about it here:

Coastal NZ flax (Known as Harakeke by Māori) is very fibrous and was used by Māori for weaving and by both Europeans and Māori for making ropes.

They flower in summer and are a great source of food for our native Tui birds.

Go back up to the Piha Lookout

Hi - I'm Tony - one of our tour guides at Bush and Beach

We are looking due West over the Tasman Sea - 2,100km (1,300miles) away is Sydney in Australia

Go to the rainforest

Piha is a small coastal village only about 45 minutes from central Auckland

Find out a little more about Piha here:

Fresh water eels live in these streams - they travel from NZ to Tonga to breed and can live for up to 70 years

(If you haven't seen it yet - look up into the top of the canopy to find a native bird)

Go to the Kauri tree

The native Tui bird with a unique voice

You can listen to its voice here:

Bees collect the nectar from the Manuka tree flowers to make the famous Manuka honey

Hear more about Manuka honey here:

The Kauri tree is one of the giants of the 

forest and can live to be over 2,000 years old.

Go to the Rata tree

Go back to the bridge

or turn round to explore more.

The silver fern is an icon of New Zealand - seen on the famous All Blacks jerseys.

It has a very strong silver colour on the underneath of the frond.

Listen to commentary here:

The Rātā tree that starts off life as a vine and is one of New Zealand's tallest flowering trees

Go back the Kauri tree

and silver fern

The Nikau is the world's most southerly palm tree and its seeds are a favourite food of our native Keruru bird

Book this tour

Go back to Piha beach lookout