Waiatarua: Rainforest, views and local history

Waiatarua combines a distinctive forest landscape with sweeping views and a tangible local history. The town is in the heart of the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area. Large, continuous areas of original and regenerating native rainforest lie along its western and southern boundaries; the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park also borders Waiatarua on these sides. Nature and conservation therefore shape the character of the town.

Rainforest, water and views

Waiatarua’s ecosystems are of national importance and support a wide variety of native flora and fauna. The naturally functioning Oratia Stream has intrinsic value and provides habitat for native flora and fauna. For families, the distinction between original and regenerating forest can itself prompt a conversation: the terms draw attention to the different ways a native landscape can be described.

Waiatarua’s elevated position offers excellent views of Auckland’s urban area, Waitemata Harbour and the Waitakere Ranges. A small lookout near the corner of Scenic Drive and West Coast Road also offers a good view over the former Bendall land, which is now completely forested. The different vantage points connect the town with the city, harbour and ranges, without reducing Waiatarua to just one landscape perspective.

The main ridge runs along Scenic Drive in Waiatarua and is designated a “sensitive ridgeline” in the Waitakere District Plan. Waiatarua also lies on a route to the beaches on the west coast. If you include these beaches in your travel plans, the town’s location is a useful reference point. Scenic Drive and West Coast Road are also names that recur in the town’s history.

Local history and the Bendall family

The Bendall family home still stands on West Coast Road in Waiatarua. It was remodelled around 1920 and is set among oak trees attributed to Mary Bendall. Mary Bendall ran a boarding house in Waiatarua for tourists and travellers. Around 1887, a bridle path was opened from her property to Henderson railway station. These historical details tell the story of a place where landscape and the history of travel are closely intertwined; the bridle path is a historic route.

Rose Hellaby House is another of Waiatarua’s notable houses. It is located at 515 Scenic Drive. A lookout from the back garden offers sweeping panoramic views of the Waitākere Ranges and Auckland’s skyline. The house is currently being restored as an arts, crafts and souvenir shop. Together with the Bendall family home, it shows how local history is connected to both specific buildings and the landscape.

Discover the Waitakere Ranges

Near Waiatarua, the Arataki Visitor Centre provides information about numerous hiking and walking trails. Interactive exhibits, informative signs and stories offer insights into Māori heritage and the significance of the Waitakere Ranges. The centre complements impressions of rainforest and views with a cultural perspective on the region.

Choose a hotel in Waiatarua as your base

When looking for a hotel in Waiatarua, you can start by considering which side of the town you want to shape your stay: its native forest landscapes, views of Auckland and the harbour, local history, or its location on a route to the west coast beaches. Check the specific location of an accommodation against your plans. That way, you can choose your base according to the experiences you want to discover in Waiatarua.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Sandspit, Clarks Beach, Half Moon Bay, Epsom, Newmarket, Whangaparaoa, Glen Murray, Waiwera.

For the main travel overview: Auckland.