Helen Bissett
PO Box 12-1007, Henderson, Auckland
Tel: 64 (09) 837 4130
Fax: 64 (09) 837 4193
www.bushandbeach.co.nz
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Qualmark endorsed visitor activity
Available all year round, every day except Christmas Day.
Within 30 minutes from Downtown Auckland, the region's premier eco-tourism adventure takes you to the heart of unique rainforest. Our full and half day tours visit the Arataki Centre perched on top of the Waitakere Ranges where you enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of two oceans. Enter the lush rainforest where you stroll the easy bush tracks amongst our famous kauri trees and giant tree ferns and waterfalls. Walk on the soft black sand of the west coast’s awe-inspiring beaches.
Or fly to Untamed, untouched Great Barrier Island for an unforgettable day with unique and endangered flora and fauna.
Restrictions
No smoking, no pets, no wheelchairs
Payment method for customers
cash and credit card
Tariff
Wilderness Experience – Half Day Tour
Runs daily 12.30pm – 5.30pm
No minimum numbers. $125 per person, valid until 30 September 2008.
Travel west to the Arataki Centre, doorway to the Waitakere Ranges and from its sweeping decks take in the breathtaking panoramic views extending from the Tasman Sea to the Pacific Ocean. Absorb the area’s history and admire the magnificent traditional Maori carvings that stand guard there. Continue further west with our knowledgeable and highly experienced guides to the wild and rugged West Coast where you get to experience the power of nature. Feel the black sand beneath your feet as you stroll along one of the most awe-inspiring beaches the world has to offer. Unwind by a spectacular cascading waterfall or swim beneath it. A short journey brings you to the lush rainforest where you can walk the easy bush tracks amongst New Zealand’s giant tree ferns and hear native birds. Visit a magnificent specimen of New Zealand’s famous Kauri trees.
• Tailored to suit all abilities, our tours are perfect for all ages.
• Free pick up from inner city accommodation. Refreshments provided.
Best of Both Worlds – Full Day Tour
Auckland Highlights combined with Wilderness Experience
Runs daily 9.00am-5.30pm
No minimum numbers. NZ $175 per person, valid until 30 September 2008.
A morning tour of Auckland’s most spectacular sights combined with an afternoon Wilderness Experience – a journey of contrasts.
Auckland sits upon 48 dormant volcanoes situated on a narrow isthmus between two harbours, the sparkling Waitemata to the east and the brooding Manukau to the west. Known as the City of Sails, it is New Zealand’s largest city. Your morning tour takes in Queen Street, Auckland’s ‘Golden Mile’, stunning views of the harbour and yacht marina from the Harbour Bridge and a visit to the Auckland Domain with time to explore the Auckland War Memorial Museum. Travel to the summit of Mt Eden, the city’s most prominent volcanic cone with its 360_ views of the city and harbour.
Join our Wilderness Experience in the afternoon to continue your tour.
Just 30 kilometres from downtown Auckland is the city’s largest Regional Park - the Waitakere Ranges. Visit the Arataki Centre where you can enjoy spectacular views back to the city and of both harbours. Admire the magnificent Maori carvings that stand guard there. Continue on to the wild and rugged west coast where you get the opportunity to stroll on an unspoiled beach. Here you learn about the fascinating local history and flora and fauna of the region from your guide. A short journey brings you to the lush rainforest where you get to walk among giant tree ferns and hear native birds. This gives a true insight and feel for our unspoiled native forest – a classic Kiwi experience. Visit a magnificent specimen of New Zealand’s famous Kauri trees.
• Includes inner city pickup and refreshments.
• Lunch can be purchased on the tour.
• Tour in association with Scenic Tours.
Coast and Rainforest Walk - Full Day Tour
Runs daily 10.00am – 5.00pm
Minimum 2 pax. NZ$ $185, valid until 30 September 2008
Our full day excursion goes firstly to the Arataki Visitor Information Centre situated within Auckland’s largest Regional Park, Waitakere Ranges Regional Park. The breathtaking panoramic views from the sweeping decks extend from the Tasman Sea to the Pacific Ocean. Absorb the area’s history and admire the magnificent traditional Maori carvings that stand guard there.
Continue further west with our knowledgeable and highly experienced guides to the wild and rugged West Coast where you get to experience the isolation of the area. Our guides walk you through an area of Auckland’s coastal rainforest where they explain the local flora and fauna of the area with its giant tree ferns growing alongside picturesque streams in regenerating rainforest. You then get the opportunity to visit a magnificent rugged West Coast beach where you can stroll along and experience the uniqueness of the black sand and the clear ocean breeze.
A kiwi style picnic lunch at a scenic location.
Your journey then takes you to an area of untouched original rainforest with mature 1000 year old kauri trees. New Zealand has existed for millions of years separate from the rest of the world so has evolved in isolation to produce its own unique flora and fauna – 70% of our native plants are found nowhere else in the world. Our guides explain about our native species as you walk amongst New Zealand’s famous kauri trees and native birds.
• Moderate level of walking ability required.
• Free pick up from inner city accommodation. Refreshments and picnic lunch included.
Auckland’s Untamed Island Tour
Departs every day at 7.15am from Auckland Domestic Airport
Minimum 2 pax. NZ$545 per person, valid until 30 September 2008.
A thirty minute flight by light plane over the sparkling waters of the Hauraki Gulf brings you to majestic Great Barrier Island. After breakfast at a local café take an easy half hour walk on gravelled tracks and boardwalks past giant Nikau palms and rare native flora and fauna over unique wetlands to the Kaitoke natural thermal springs.
The adventure continues as we drive past native bush and rugged peaks to the secluded natural harbour at Port Fitzroy where we have a relaxed kiwi style picnic lunch. A short drive takes us to a sweeping, often deserted stretch of pristine white sand. There is time here for a swim or a meander along the beach to visit the graves of those drowned in one of New Zealand’s worst shipwrecks. Visit the only working cattle and sheep farm on the island where relics of the past remain. Here the world’s largest population of Brown Teal can be found, a friendly little duck on the verge of extinction. At a nearby stream, monster eels come when called and can be fed – if you dare!
This unforgettable day is rounded off with a climb to the top of Windy Canyon, a spectacular short walk. The path winds around rocky outcrops and past sheer cliffs coated with rata vines and takes in breathtaking views of the island and beyond.
The flight back returns you to Auckland Airport at 5.30pm.
• Moderate level of walking ability required
• Flights, breakfast and picnic lunch included
• Transfers to the airport available starting from NZ$60 return for 2 passengers
• Comfortable walking shoes and suitable outdoor clothing required.
• Subject to weather conditions for flight
• Tour in conjunction with Mountain Air
Private Tours
These tours can be arranged for any number of passengers. There is a minimum cost for up to 5 pax with a per person cost applying after that.
Half Day Muriwai Gannet Colony Tour
(Operates from September to Mid-April – the Gannet Breeding Season)
NZ $625 for up to 5 passengers, $125 per extra passenger after that, valid until 30 September 2008
A visit to the one of the region’s special places, the chance to see one of the world’s largest seabirds in their natural environment. Your journey takes you to one of only two mainland gannet nesting sites in the world situated on the cliff-tops overlooking the Tasman Sea. Here you get a close-up of gannet behaviour without disturbing their environment. This ocean dwelling bird will have, at maturity, a wingspan of between 1.4 and 2 metres and can reach speeds of around 140km/h when diving for food.
This tour runs during the gannet’s breeding season (September – April).
• Free pick up from inner city accommodation. Refreshments provided.
Half Day Winery Tour
$625 for up to 5 passengers, $125 per extra passenger
after that, valid until 30 September 2008.
This tour goes to one of New Zealand’s premier wine producing regions during which we visit the most prestigious West Auckland vineyards. The customer has the opportunity to sample a variety of wines, many of which are not available in the shops. The Dalmatian people who settled this area planted vines and began producing wine in the west of Auckland at the turn of the 20th century. Today, strung out along the main roads of Henderson and nestled in the surrounding hills, is one of the largest clusters of wineries in the country or perhaps visit the Kumeu winegrowing region.
The Southern Hemisphere climate is admirably suited to the production of premium white varieties and Auckland produces world class Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc wines. Most West Auckland wineries also draw fruit from other grape growing regions, so the customer can taste the various wines from the Hawkes Bay, Gisborne and Marlborough regions.
• Platters of nibbles available (varies from vineyard to vineyard) at an additional cost.
• Free pick up from inner city accommodation.
Other private Tours Options Include:
• Any combination of the above
• Inclusion of visits to local artists, jewellers, potters and galleries – as available.
• City orientation and highlights available
Directions
We pick up and drop off from Central Auckland hotels.
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