Waitakere Ranges

This regional park is less than an hour's drive from central Auckland, but its astounding beauty will make you feel much farther from the cosmopolitan city. Plus, your options for what to do when you get here are just about endless: fishing, hiking, surfing, swimming, bird watching, and more. Some of the Waitakere Ranges' highlights include its black sand shores, like Whatipu, and its waterfalls, like Cascade Kauri and Fairy Falls.

One TripAdvisor user describes the Waitakere Ranges quite succinctly: "This is what New Zealand is all about."

From central Auckland, you can drive to the Waitakere Ranges. The park is open 24 hours a day, and you don't have to pay to explore. For more information, visit the park's website.