Helensville
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Understand
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Visitor Information Centre
phone: +64 9 420 8060address: 5 Commercial Rd
Get in
By car
From Auckland take the Northwestern Motorway then continue on State Highway 16.By bus
Two-hourly bus services (route 125) connect Helensville with Westgate in western Auckland.See
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address: 2421 Kaipara Coast Hwy, MakarauA private sculpture park in farmland. Has about 30 sculptures by well known modern artists including Sol LeWitt, Andy Goldsworthy and Anish Kapoor. Open one day a month, usually a Thursday. Booking required and you may need to book about six months in advance.
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address: 2 Railway St
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address: Riverside Reserve, Mill Rd
Do
Ali-Kat ChartersFishing charters on the Kaipara Harbour.
Kaipara CruisesThree-hour to two-day cruises on the Kaipara River and Kaipara Harbour. The farthest cruises go to Dargaville, at the northern end of the harbour.
Mataia WalksOne-day or two-day walks through farmland, saltmarsh wetlands and coastal forests, where there is an active ecological restoration project, and a population of kiwi. In conjunction with Mataia Homestead (see Sleep section below).
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address: GloritWalk 3.5 km (1 hr 45 min) each way through regenerating native forest to the summit (305 metres), where there are panoramic views of Kaipara Harbour and Hoteo River estuary.
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address: 150 Parkhurst Rd, ParakaiNatural thermal water pools, indoor and outdoor, big waterslides.
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address: 76 Green Rd, Parakai
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Woodhill Forest
address: off State Highway 16Has a bike park where children learn how to ride on tracks amongst the trees. Other activities in the area include BMX trails and racing and a huge high ropes course set in the forest called Tree Adventures (bookings recommended). There are 8 courses to do and it can take 2-4 hours depending on skill and fitness.
Sleep
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address: 2791 Kaipara Coast Highway, GloritAccommodation in the homestead and in a cottage.