After beginning at Waiatarua, the stream passes through the rural locality of Oratia and the West Auckland suburbs of Sunnyvale and Henderson.

[7] The land adjacent to the stream form an alluvial flood zone, which was historically forested by tōtara, tītoki and west coast kōwhai.

[13] Carbon dating of shells in the bottom layer of a midden near the Oratia pā showed occupation from at least 1570.

[14] The Oratia Stream was first milled for kauri timber in 1841 by early settler Thomas Canty,[15] who obtained logging rights in the area in 1843.

The Pirrits installed a water turbine, which they used to manufacture iron heel and toe plates for boots.