Arataki
This weekend we made the short trek to the Arataki Visitor Center in the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park. This stop was just over half an hour for us coming from the opposite side of town, but it felt like a world away. I was primarily focused on getting out on one of the trails in the Waitakere Range, and I was wonderfully surprised by the amazingly kid friendly center.
Though small, it has a well curated selection of educational and interactive material. The kids got to learn about the different bird calls and the history of the area before going tramping. There are several different trails to choose from this location. I found the most kid friendly to be the Nature Trail. The path was wide and very easy going. Although the guides said it would take 45 minutes, it took closer to 25 with kids in tow. I especially liked how there were labels on many of the trees so we could identify things surrounding us.
We also spent time exploring the Arataki Lookout Track, which was a short, five minute walk to a stunning view of the surrounding area and a climbable stone carving. It connected with the Slip Track which we explored for a few minutes before turning around and heading back to the center as the track was steep and narrow. There was no way the kids were going to be able to make it back up the incline without a lot of complaining.
One more bonus of all of these trails? They’re all dog-on-leash friendly. Yes, there are shoe cleaning stations at all the entrances, but if you don’t mind cleaning your furry friends’ paws, they’re welcome to come, too. And there are lots and lots of good smells around here!
One final note - be prepared for the Danish Delight Ice Cream stand right outside of the center. It is unmissable, and naturally the kids couldn’t wait for a huge waffle cone filled with ice cream and a topping. The choices are very limited (vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry for the ice cream and chocolate, caramel, or strawberry for the toppings) and everything costs $8. No kids size here! The adults weren’t thrilled, but the kids couldn’t have been happier.
