Waitakere Ranges Regional Park

Here we are again back in my home city of Auckland and studying the variety of tree ferns and native bush which inhabit the nearby regional park. Just to give you an idea of how close the Waitakeres are to the city, here is a picture (below) taken from the highest point in the park. In this shot you can clearly see the central business district with the iconic Sky Tower standing tall in the centre. To the left is the harbour bridge which leads onto the North Shore and further on just behind that bush on the far left is Rangitoto Island. Rangitoto is the largest volcano (yes, volcano) in the Auckland bay area and is one of over 60 in total.

As we turn our back on the city and look inwards to the ranges the vista changes dramatically. Concrete towers are replaced by towering tree ferns and palms. The 4 lane highways make way for walking tracks and a city of 1.4 million people thins-out to a 3 hour trek with not another soul in sight. All this within a 30 minute drive of the Sky Tower.

The scale of the tree fern population in the park is quite staggering and best viewed from a high vantage point. This view (below) is from Huia on the southern fringe of the ranges and just look at those Cyathea medullaris! They are the first species to take over any cleared areas and will be found growing in large groves of 30 or more. There are probably over 300 in this picture alone.