Welcome to the Wild West [Coast]

There is a term New Zealanders use to refer to people from the country's largest city - they call them "JAFA's", short for "Just Another F@#king Aucklander". Because, well, there is a lot of them. Nearly 1/3 of the country in fact. I used to feel sorry for JAFA's with the rest of my non-JAFA friends; with their desperate, overpriced city existences, trying to survive the rat race in a country that prides itself on rat eradication. Until, one day... I became a JAFA. And you know what I discovered? It ain't half bad. 

Take Auckland's close proximity and easy access to some truly spectacular outdoor escapes for example. One of the best places to get your fresh air fix is along its rugged West Coast. An easy drive out from the city, the West Coast offers world class hiking (see more on the Waitakere Ranges below), surf, horseback riding, camping, fishing and virtually anything else you can dream up. Want to drive your 4x4 through a river? You can do that. Want to hunt a pig with a knife? Go for it! Want to ride beautiful A-frame peaks all to yourself below dramatic clifftops? Ka pai bro. Here, you'll discover endless volcanic sand beaches stretching for miles along a remote coastline.

Now, if the world-class beaches of Piha, Bethells and Muriwai don't do it for you and you would rather go bushwhacking , look no further than the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park (or simply "The Waitaks"). This beautiful park spans nearly 40,000 acres of native bush and coastline and offers explorers over 250kms of trails including the epic multi-day Hillary Trail. Scott Cook, Author of NZ Frenzy, The North Island's Most Comprehensive Outdoors Guidebook sums up the Waitakere Ranges like this:

"Most places in the world you hurry to escape the region around the international city you fly into. Most visitors do the same in NZ... but not for the right reasons... Nobody trumpets about the Waitaks because nobody stands to make a bunch of money off travellers visiting to the Waitakeres. That's why you should go..." 

Out here, as I stand along the trail of this stunning coast and snap this photograph, the city seems a world away. The air carries with it a familiar saltiness, in the distance storm clouds build on the horizon and there isn't another soul in sight. "It ain't half bad" I tell myself, It ain't half bad. So what are you waiting for? JAFA's don't bite, but the wind might. The Wild West Coast awaits you.