Daytripper: Fairy tale walk to falls

The Arataki Visitor Centre is the starting point for a host of walks in West Auckland. Photo / ITravelNZ

Elisabeth Easther tackles the Waitakeres' Fairy Falls Walk.

Keen for a spot of tree hugging on a warm but rainy day, a bunch of us headed for the Arataki Visitor Centre on Scenic Drive to pick a walk at random.

After admiring the whopping great views from the various lookouts, we agreed unanimously on the Fairy Falls Walk, (5km north of the Visitor Centre) where we were promised a three-hour hike, a waterfall, forest and views.

The moment we entered the track (after giving our boots a good rinse and scrub for kauri dieback), we knew we'd made the right choice. Starting from the Scenic Rd entrance, the path started quite gently through native forest then descended, by many flights of stairs, to the valley floor. Along the way we had with several pretty glimpses of the falls.

Fairy Falls in the Waitakere Ranges. Photo / Creative Commons image by Flickr user Russell Street

There were plenty of impressive kauri and it felt like we could be miles from anywhere, despite being just 30 minutes from Auckland. Stop at the bottom for a picnic and a paddle in the pool if you fancy, then return the way you came or take the loop track up Old Coach Rd.

We chose the latter and would recommend it. It's steep at times but it's much easier than tackling those stairs in reverse. The information panels advise it will take about three hours but we knocked it off in about 90 minutes, stopping only to hug trees, take pictures and feel the rimu fronds to discern whether they were male or female (you learn something new every day.)

Starving after our exertions, we piled into the car and headed for the aptly named Refreshment Room to refuel and plan the next outing.

If you have an adventure you'd like to share, email elisabeth.easther@nzherald.co.nz