The Waitakere Ranges are a chain of hills located about 25 km (15.5 miles) west of Auckland. The maximum elevation within the range is 474 meters (1555 feet). There are many kilometers of walking tracks there, and when you get to the ocean shore, you meet the famous black sand. Waitakere Ranges are uncrowded and are a good place for trampers who seek solitude, even though they are pretty close to Auckland.