Hunua Ranges

Hunua Ranges are located in the North Island of New Zealand. The destination is situated to the southeast of Auckland City and is a block of hilly terrain that forms the suburb. This destination thus has a rich source of natural reservoirs and dense forests. The place is also sparsely populated which makes it a perfect destination for those seeking a place to escape their stressful city lives. Hunua Ranges is also famous for eco-tourism. Here, travellers get to explore the natural surroundings that include the mountain slopes, the peaks, the natural reserves and the water bodies. Hunua Ranges expand over an area of 250 square kilometres between Waharoa and Hunua Ranges Regional Parks. The highest point of the range is the Kohukohunui at 688 metres above the base. Also, over 178 square kilometres of the vast expanse is made up of parkland and the remaining has dense natural vegetation, rivers, streams and water reservoirs in the hills and the valleys. Travellers can also explore the Hunua settlement located at the base of the range and interact with the locals. The Maori and the Europeans are said to have used some portions of the ranges in the past. This region is also known for Manganese mining. The area occupied by the Hunua Ranges was bought by the Auckland City Council in bits and pieces since 1920 to build dams and water reservoirs. There are four dams in the ranges that are used to supply water to Auckland. All the dams, together, have the capacity to supply over 77 million cubic metres of water and out of this about 68 percent of the water is treated in the Ardmore Water Treatment Plant to provide potable water to the city. The ranges also have trekking trails through the scenic surroundings. Adventure freaks and nature lovers often visit Hunua Ranges for a thrilling time in nature.