Afternoon Piha Beach and Rainforest Tour from Auckland
Recommended by 99% of travellers
Badge of Excellence
Auckland, New Zealand
- 5 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Explore the Waitakere Ranges and Auckland’s rugged west coast, including Piha Beach, during an afternoon tour with a guide knowledgeable about New Zealand flora and fauna. From the Arataki Centre, admire sweeping views of the ocean and distant city. Learn about Māori history, stroll on the black-sand beach, and take a nature walk through a lush rainforest while you experience one of Auckland's largest regional parks.
- The afternoon tour leaves time in your schedule for other activities
- Spend time at the Arataki Center, gateway to the Waitakere Ranges
- Hotel pickup and drop off from centrally located Auckland hotels
- Explore beyond Auckland city without the risk of getting lost
What's Included
- Inner city Auckland hotel pick up and drop off
- Guided rainforest walk
- Visit a black sand beach
- Coffee and/or TeaEnjoy afternoon tea refreshments - tea, coffee, juice and cookies
- Enjoy stunning coastal views
- GST (Goods and Services Tax)
- Gratuities
- Food
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Start time.12:30 pm
Itinerary
After pickup from your centrally located hotel, depart Auckland on the drive west to the Arataki Centre—the gateway to the breathtaking Waitakere Ranges. Snap photos of traditional Māori carvings that stand sentinel as you soak up breathtaking views, from the Tasman Sea to the Pacific Ocean.
Learn about the region’s history from your guide during your visit to one of Auckland's largest regional parks, followed by a drive to the wild coastline of the west coast. Here, walk along the shores of Piha Beach and marvel at the black sand beneath your feet.
Continue to experience the awe-inspiring power of New Zealand’s nature with a short trip to a lush rainforest setting. Enjoy an easy bushwalk along a path through giant tree ferns as you listen for the calls of local birds. Your expert guide identifies native flora and fauna before returning you to Auckland with a drop-off at your hotel.
Learn about the region’s history from your guide during your visit to one of Auckland's largest regional parks, followed by a drive to the wild coastline of the west coast. Here, walk along the shores of Piha Beach and marvel at the black sand beneath your feet.
Continue to experience the awe-inspiring power of New Zealand’s nature with a short trip to a lush rainforest setting. Enjoy an easy bushwalk along a path through giant tree ferns as you listen for the calls of local birds. Your expert guide identifies native flora and fauna before returning you to Auckland with a drop-off at your hotel.
1
Arataki Visitor Centre - Waitakere Ranges
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Waitakere Ranges
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Piha Beach
40 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Bush and Beach (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Pushchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travellers can participate
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately with comfortable walking shoes
- The tour is suitable for all ages and abilities
- Although lunch is not included, the tour does stop at a local bakery if you wished to purchase something at your own cost.
- This tour is not walker/wheelchair accessible, due to the paths taken on the walks.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travellers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveller Photos
Featured review
Excellent half day trip from Auckland to the west side of island. Fantastic stops, views, walk thru forest and visit to Piha Beach. Even tea service at beach! Our guide and driver Warren was a delight. Full of kiwi info and guiding thru our visit. Nice coach, comfortable and safe. It was great to leave the city for a bit, highly recommended.
Reviews
4.9
based on 930 reviews
Sort by: Most recent
Leon and Annie were wonderful and very knowledgeable guides. Absolutely beautiful sites that I highly recommend.
A worthy afternoon trip down the west coast.Iren was so knowledgeable ,I learned a lot and she is very friendly and welcoming too
A day not to be missed! Piha Beach was breathtaking, the rainforest was interesting, and our guide (Mairi) was exceptional.
Leon and Alexander were excellent. Very knowledgeable and facilitated a really impressive tour. This was the highlight of our trip to Auckland. Must do.
Informative well paced tour. Great to see the forest and black sand beach. Steve was knowledgeable. Was cold and breezy down the beach but we soon warmed. Up with a hot drink.
Very good, and a pleasant guide , who told us a lot about the specific region, gave enough time in the various places to enjoy. I enjoyed in particular the bush walk
Response from Host, Sept 2026
Thank you for taking the time to drop a review and for your lovely comments! Much appreciated.
Guides were fabulous, very knowledgeable and enthusiastic, views are spectacular, rain forest/birds... amazing
Staff was awesome, a lot of great information from Mairie, gave me great context on my second day in Auckland. Also it may be tour dependent, but we stopped at a place near the start of the tour where we could buy a grab and go lunch (with our own money)- I had just ate because I didn’t think we’d be eating, but just an FYI if you’re planning on going. Highly recommend the tour!
Full day dress accordingly. Proper footwear, you will be at the beach!
Trails and uneven surfaces will be present.
Knowledgeable guides, great walk in the rainforest, and a lovely time on the beach. It was an unforgettable experience!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
We are so pleased you had an "unforgettable experience" with Bush and Beach and that you appreciated the local knowledge of our tour guides! Thank you for joining us on the Afternoon Piha Beach and Rainforest Tour!
Tour Guide Chris was very engaging ,knowledgable, and amusing
Beautiful scenery and allowed us to witness the black sand and rainforest
Response from Host, Aug 2026
We are thrilled to see that you enjoyed your trip out to the west coast beach - Piha! Thank you for your comments relating to your tour guide Chris - we are lucky to have him as he does offer a great knowledgeable experience with a good sense of humour :)!
Our tour was truly wonderful and exceeded our expectations. Destination was well planned, and the entire trip was smooth, enjoyable, and memorable.
A special thank you to our tour guide for being knowledgeable, friendly, patient, and always ready to help.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
We are so pleased you enjoyed your "Wilderness Experience" tour - we are thrilled the experience exceeded your expectations! Thank you also for the lovely comments made about your tour guide on the day - they are very much appreciated! :)!
The tour was great. The guild was wonderful and very knowledgeable. The views was amazing and the transport was clean and very comfortable.
Response from Host, July 2026
Thank you for posting a review following your tour to the West Coast of Auckland to experience the black sand beach - Piha and the rainforest. We are so pleased you enjoyed this experience !
Beautiful tour! We had the best time and Ayla was an excellent guide. She gave us plenty of opportunities for pictures, she explained everything in great detail, and she was just super nice to boot! I highly recommend the tour. Also, the company notified me that they found my inhaler in their van (I hadn’t even noticed it was missing) and dropped it off at my hotel. What a great company!
Response from Host, July 2026
Great to hear you had an enjoyable tour to Piha Beach and the Rainforest. Thank you for your lovely comments about your tour guide Ayla too! We very much appreciate you posting a lovely review - thank you :) !
Highly recommend this tour for bush and beach life. Our guide Ayla was fantastic at explaining views, trees, plants and the beautiful biodiversity. There were spectacular views and walks through the bush and on the beach. Snacks and tea are also provided. Don’t hesitate to take this tour - it’s a special day.
Response from Host, July 2026
Thank you so much for your lovely review. Great to hear your guide provided you with good overview of the rainforest and surrounding areas :)!
Lovely experience! Great tour guides! I enjoyed the walk through the tropical forest and the beach..
Response from Host, July 2026
Thank you so much for posting a review - much appreciated!
Incredible experience with very experienced and knowledgeable guides (Kevin and Ian). My whole family thoroughly enjoyed the tour.
Response from Host, July 2026
We are so pleased you enjoyed this tour to the west coast beach and rainforest. We really appreciate your comments about our tour guides - thank you :)!
Great afternoon trip. Beautiful scenery, easy walking. Extra fun was seeing the large eels under the bridge after our rain forest hike!
Response from Host, June 2026
We are so pleased you enjoyed your trip out to the west coast of Auckland,! Thank you for your review.
This is a good way to spend an afternoon. Beautiful forest walk and a grand finale at the black sands of Piha Beach. Don't miss this.
Great tour guide provided a couple of bonus stops.
Response from Host, June 2026
Thank you for your review, we are pleased you enjoyed the scenery and had a pleasant afternoon.
Definitely bring decent walking/hiking shoes and a good camera.
Mary was amazing! So nice, informative and very sweet. The tour guide makes the biggest impact on the tourist(s).
Response from Host, June 2026
Thank you for dropping a review and we appreciate the comments made on behalf of Mairi - your Tour Guide!
Traveled from auckland walked through rainforest guide was very knowledgeable in explaining different birds in rainforest. Traveled along coast ending at piha beach an absolutely stunning coastline where we enjoyed tea with honey highly recommend guide was excellent.
Response from Host, June 2026
We are delighted you enjoyed this "Wilderness Experience", and we very much appreciate your comments on our Tour Guides - thank you!
What a great day! Learned so much! Had no idea about kiwis not being reared by their parents once hatched!
Response from Host, June 2026
Thank you for taking the time to post a review - much appreciated!
It is a great trip with a friendly and knowledgeable guide in a comfortable Mercedes mini bus called Bush and Beach.
Response from Host, June 2026
Thank you for your comment and review.
It gives you a great overview of New Zealand including a little bit about the Maori and early settlers and their fervor for environmental preservation. Bush and Beach does not skimp on the experience with new, nice buses and both a driver and guide who were both native New Zealanders. The driver was even an environmental science teacher who helped with the rain forest walk.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for your comments, these are much appreciated we are thrilled you enjoyed the experience :) !
Ayla our tour guide is one of the most knowledgeable guides I have encountered. Great tour, I enjoyed the commentary, outdoors and beautiful scenery.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for your lovely comments, they are very much appreciated :) !
The most beautiful beach! We did this tour our first day and such a good way to see around immediately. Our guides were Kevin and Annie and they were so nice and gave lots of time to explore.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for your comments, we are so pleased you enjoyed the experience! :)
Everything about this tour was amazing. Our guide was knowledgeable and entertaining. The rainforest is beautiful and the black sand beach was peaceful and amazing.
Response from Host, May 2026
We really appreciate receiving your feedback, thank you! We are so pleased you enjoyed the experience ! :)
Kevin was the most amazing tour guide I've ever had. He gave a true local perspective that made our tour unforgettable. Thank you Kevin!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for posting a review, we will pass this feedback to Kevin. We are so pleased you enjoyed the tour!
Excellent guide! Beach was the highlight but bush trail was close second. Our daughter also enjoyed a lot.
Response from Host, May 2026
We are so pleased you enjoyed your tour, thank you for the review.
Unique black sands beach. Knowledgeable guides. Walks in rainforest and on beach. Small group. Great scenic stops. Included Māori perspective and history in commentary.
Response from Host, May 2026
We appreciated you taking the time to post a review - thank you!
Member Pricing
From
USD 114.51
per personWas USD 120.54(-5%)
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Afternoon Piha Beach and Rainforest Tour from Auckland
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