Arataki Visitor Centre
Arataki Visitor Centre is renowned for its rainforest and native wildlife, but also for its wealth of recreational opportunities.
- Want to know where to go and what to do in the Waitakere Ranges? Arataki Visitor Centre is your gateway to all that the park has to offer
- Talk to the expert park staff and get their recommendations on track conditions, weather or tides
- Pick up an information brochure or track map to help you find your way around the park
- Book a campsite or lodge accommodation
- Find out how you can become a volunteer and have fun while you help to protect and enhance the Waitakere Ranges
- Pick up information on any of Auckland's 25 regional parks managed by the ARC
- Phone the Arataki Visitor Centre on 09 817 0077.
Park facilities
- Campervan access
Self contained campervans are able to stay up to 2 nights in the Arataki Visitor Centre carpark
History
The Waitakere Ranges are rich in history. Te Kawerau a Maki occupied land from Whatipu to Muriwai, and have close ties with the land today. Ngati Whatua occupied land at Muriwai and also have close ties today.
The arrival of Europeans from the 1830s onwards meant huge changes. Thousands of native trees were logged and land was cleared for farming.
Several books outlining the history of the Waitakere Ranges are available at the Arataki Visitor Centre.
Carvings
Carvings created by local Iwi (tribe) Te Kawerau a Maki are a main feature of Arataki.
An 11m high Pou (guardian post) at the entrance, represents ancestors of Te Kawerau a Maki and is one of the largest of its kind in New Zealand. Inside are five other ancestral guardian carvings. For more information about the carvings the booklet titled 'Nga Tohu a Nga Tupuna' is available at Arataki.
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