Waiatarua is a small settlement near the top of the Waitakere Ranges

Waitakere Ranges

The Waitakere Ranges are a chain of hills in the Auckland metropolitan area, generally running approximately 25 km from north to south, 25 km west of central Auckland, New Zealand. The maximum elevation within the ranges is 474 m...

, which border New Zealand's largest city, Auckland

Auckland

The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...

, close to the junction of Scenic Drive

Scenic Drive (Auckland)

Scenic Drive is a road that runs through the bush-clad Waitakere Ranges from Titirangi to Swanson on the western outskirts of Auckland, New Zealand. It is part of Auckland urban route 24...

, West Coast Road and Piha Road to Piha

Piha

Piha is a northern New Zealand coastal settlement with a population of about 600. It is one of the most popular beaches in the area and a major day-trip destination for Aucklanders throughout the year, although especially so in summer.-Location:...

 and runs east until the junction of Scenic Drive

Scenic Drive (Auckland)

Scenic Drive is a road that runs through the bush-clad Waitakere Ranges from Titirangi to Swanson on the western outskirts of Auckland, New Zealand. It is part of Auckland urban route 24...

 and Mountain Road. Surrounded by native bush in the Centennial Memorial Park and the water catchment area, Waiatarua is over 300 metres above sea level.

Radio and Television Mast

A large radio and television transmission mast is located in the area. The mast has a high-power TV transmitter broadcasting the main TV channels (including TV ONE, TV2, TV3, C4 and Prime) to most areas in Auckland. Radio broadcasts used to be broadcast from this mast, but has since transferred to the Auckland Sky Tower

Sky Tower

The Sky Tower is an observation and telecommunications tower located on the corner of Victoria and Federal Streets in the Auckland CBD, Auckland City, New Zealand. It is tall, as measured from ground level to the top of the mast, making it the tallest free-standing structure in the Southern...

.

Tourism

The nearby Arataki Information Centre proves information about the local flora, fauna and geology, and is the starting point for a number of well-maintained walking trails.

Tramping

Many other tramping tracks are in the area. The nearest centres to Waiatarua are Titirangi

Titirangi

Titirangi is a suburb in the Waitakere Ward of the city of Auckland in northern New Zealand. It is an affluent, residential suburb located 13 kilometres to the southwest of the Auckland city centre, at the southern end of the Waitakere Ranges...

 village, Swanson

Swanson

Swanson is a brand of TV dinners, broths, and canned poultry made for the North American market. The TV dinner business is currently owned by Pinnacle Foods, while the broth business is currently owned by the Campbell Soup Company...

, and the Henderson

Henderson, New Zealand

Henderson is a major suburb of Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located 13 kilometres to the west of Auckland city centre, and two kilometres to the west of the Whau River, a southwestern arm of the Waitemata Harbour.-Description:...

 Valley. One nice viewing spot is between Annika and Sarah trail.

Education

The local State secondary schools are Kelston Boys High School and Kelston Girls High School. Catholic students usually commute by train from New Lynn to Marist College

Marist College, New Zealand

Marist College is a Catholic girls high-school located in Mount Albert, Auckland, New Zealand. It teaches from year 7 through to Year 13 with a curriculum based on Roman Catholicism...

 (girls) or St Peter's College

St Peter's College, Auckland

St Peter's College is a Catholic college for year 7 to 13 boys . The school, located in Auckland, is one of the largest Catholic schools in New Zealand and is an integrated school under an integration agreement entered into by the Catholic Bishop of Auckland and the Government of New Zealand in...

(boys).