The Arataki Nature Trail is reached through a tunnel under Scenic Drive in the Waitakere Ranges, with access from the Arataki Visitor Centre car park. The walk is less than an hour at a slow meander, but it is a superb example of a native forest with a couple of pretty viewpoints over the forest canopy along the way.
At the end of the main trail is a nice group of relatively mature kauri trees, with many nearby rickers (young kauri). This group is the only publicly accessible stand of mature survivors from the destruction of the Waitakere kauri forests over 100 years ago. There are other older trees, but access is presently closed.
There is also a short loop walk where nametags help you to recognise native trees.
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