Hunua Ranges Regional Park sits on Falls Rd in Hunua, Franklin, south of Auckland, and holds a solid 4.6 Google rating. Like most big bush parks, this kind of country rewards a little planning: choose a track to suit the day, from short waterfall walks to half-day loops, and expect the steeper routes to turn muddy after rain. Take more water than seems necessary, wear proper shoes, and expect phone coverage to fade under the canopy. Many regional parks double as water catchments, so some gates stay shut, dog rules run stricter than in suburban reserves, and pest control is the quiet reason the birdsong is so good. Regulars arrive early on fine weekends to get parked near the popular spots. An easy drive from the southern suburbs, it is one of the region's largest areas of native forest — the kind of place that makes a whole day disappear.