So you’ve got your North Shore rental car and you’re only here for a few days, but don’t know where to go… well, never fear, Realistic Rentals are here! This week, we’ll be extolling the virtues west of Auckland, where some stunning scenery and beaches are only 30 minutes away from the city!

Muriwai

Only half an hour from Auckland CBD with a rental car, Muriwai feels like another world. Maori Bay is where you can watch hundreds of thousands of birds all flocking together- incredible colonies of gannets nesting along the cliffs of this protected area. Murwai is known to have some of the best wine trails in New Zealand, along with delightful wee restaurants and cafés. For the adventurous types, the wild coast provides some excellent surfing and windsailing opportunities.

Waitakere

The Waitakere Ranges are internationally renowned for their stunning natural beauty and close artistic community. You’ll find pretty much everything here, from incredible black sand beaches to postcard golden sand beaches, popular camping sites or secluded sunbathing spots, thick hiking treks through the forest and breath-taking waterfalls. Along the west coast of Waitakere lie some of the Auckland regions most beautiful beaches, perfect for day trips from Auckland. Whatipu, Karekare and Te Henga/Bethells to name a few of the more popular ones, but Piha is definitely the one to check out.

Piha

New Zealand’s most famous surf beach is a great all-round advertisement for the Waitakere Ranges. The Black sand beach has a fearsome reputation for an unforgiving surf, which is why it’s so popular. The famous Lion Rock splits Piha into two beachs, and across the road the forest starts! There are some beautiful walks here for all ages and experience, but a must-do on the list is the 45 minute trek to Kitekite Falls, a 40 metre, three-tiered waterfall that’s great for a swim during the summer.

Lion rock at sunset

So grab your North Shore Rental Car from Realistic Rentals and within an hour you could be lying on a beautiful beach or hiking to a stunning waterfall! Where else but Aotearoa?!