The Waitākere Ranges Are Reopening: Your Winter Road Trip West of Auckland
Zion Hill, Kuataika and Smyth Ridge tracks in the Waitākere Ranges have reopened. Where they are, the beaches to pair them with and why winter is a good time to go.
Three long closed tracks in the Waitākere Ranges have reopened: Zion Hill, Kuataika and Smyth Ridge, shut since 2017 to protect the forest from kauri dieback. If you have been meaning to get out west this winter, this is about as good a reason as any, and your car from Evolve Rentals gets you there straight from the central city.
Which Waitākere Ranges tracks have reopened?
Zion Hill Track, Kuataika Track and Smyth Ridge Track in the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park are all walkable again. Auckland Council closed them to stop the spread of kauri dieback, and they have reopened after track upgrades designed to protect kauri root systems.
Zion Hill and Kuataika sit near Karekare and Anawhata, and Smyth Ridge is in the northern ranges. Together they add real distance back onto a track network that has been steadily rebuilding since the original closures, and in winter they are far quieter than they will be in summer.
Do you need to clean your boots in the Waitākere Ranges?
Yes. The tracks are under active biosecurity management, and the cleaning stations at the track entrances are there to stop kauri dieback spreading. A quick scrub before and after takes seconds and matters for keeping the remaining kauri alive.
Which west coast beaches can you pair with the tracks?
The reopened tracks sit close to some of Auckland's best known black sand beaches, so it is easy to build a full day around them:
- Karekare, wild and cinematic, and the beach from The Piano. Zion Hill Track is right in this area, so the two pair naturally
- Piha, the best known of the west coast beaches, where the surfers are out even in winter. Lion Rock is closed to climbers, so enjoy it from the sand
- Bethells Beach, or Te Henga, a little further north, with sand dunes, a freshwater lake behind them and generally fewer people
In winter, treat all three as places to walk rather than swim. The surf is rough and lifeguard patrols generally run over summer only. For more ideas out west and beyond, our guide to Auckland day trips worth the drive covers Piha, Kumeu, Matakana and the Hunua Ranges.
Why is winter a good time to walk the Waitākere Ranges?
Fewer people, and a forest that looks its most atmospheric. Newly reopened tracks draw a crowd at first, but a weekday winter morning is still your best chance of having a track largely to yourself.
Winter brings mist through the canopy, full streams and a quiet you only get in the cooler months. It is also an easy half day or full day from central Auckland, roughly 40 minutes to an hour depending on where you are heading.
Do you need a car to get to the Waitākere Ranges?
Realistically, yes. Public transport does not reach most of these tracks or beaches directly, and even where it gets close, the walk in adds time you do not want on a short winter day.
A car also means you are not locked into one spot. Walk Zion Hill in the morning, stop at Karekare for half an hour, then decide on the day whether Piha or Bethells is worth the extra drive. That is the same logic behind our guide from hotel lobby to highway, which covers collecting your car in the city and heading straight out.
How do you make a weekend of it?
Pair West Auckland with a wider loop rather than a there and back trip. Our guide to the best weekend road trips from Auckland covers Matakana, the Coromandel, the Kauri Coast and Raglan, and if the walk leaves you hungry, our favourite Auckland food stops will sort out dinner.
Book your car for a West Auckland day trip
Whether it is the reopened tracks, a walk on the black sand or a full loop out towards Muriwai and beyond, your own car makes West Auckland easy this winter. Book your rental car with Evolve Rentals and get out to the Waitākere Ranges on your own schedule.
FAQs
Which Waitākere Ranges tracks have reopened?
Zion Hill Track, Kuataika Track and Smyth Ridge Track have reopened after being closed since 2017 to protect kauri from dieback disease.
Do you need to clean your boots on Waitākere Ranges tracks?
Yes. Cleaning stations at track entrances stop the spread of kauri dieback, and using them properly is essential.
Is it safe to swim at Piha or Karekare in winter?
No. They are surf beaches with strong currents all year, and lifeguard patrols generally only run over summer. In winter they are best for a walk or a view.
How far are the Waitākere Ranges from central Auckland?
Roughly 40 minutes to an hour by car, depending on which part of the ranges or coast you are heading to.
Do you need a car to visit the West Auckland beaches and tracks?
Public transport does not reach most of them directly, so your own car is the most practical way to get there and to move between spots in one day.