Having decided to try visiting this bird sanctuary on a lark (thanks folks, I'll be here all…read morenight), I was impressed enough with it. One visits by boat either from downtown Auckland (which I imagine is a scenic ride) or from a more remote peninsula near the island where the boat stops just before reaching it (which is nice if you want somewhere free to park for the day). The boat ride is most of the cost; for a small additional fee you get a guided tour lead by one of a remarkably large number of local volunteers. Why not? The guide leads you through the middle of the island with some narration, before finishing at a lighthouse and leaving you the second half of the day to roam alone. There weren't that many visible birds during New Zealand "winter"; you'd here more than you see. The island was once a farm before being purposefully replanted as a forest. Things grow fast here; it looks quite wild. Up to the point of reaching the light house, I'd probably have written a four star review. However, they buried the lead. Exploring alone yielded vast panoramic views of the entire region. The island is centrally located between the city and a variety of other islands. New Zealand's indigenous people are of Polynesian descent, and while you walk around here you might confuse the volcanic landscapes, abundant greenery, and clear turquoise water for a more archetypically Polynesian vacation spot. There are a few swimmable spots. It is a big enough island that there were significant areas of track that I did not see even after hustling around the coastline. Always leave 'em wanting more, the saying goes. If I had occasion to, I wouldn't mine going again, which having paid $60 to see an island that had no trees at the time I was born is something. Tips: *There were a ton of local schoolkids, but the guides kindly separated out kids and adults for the tour, and once you're off the boat, it really isn't an issue. *Adults get free tea and coffee at the end of the tour, but no food. There is literally nothing even to buy. Bring decent food. *A truck loads any bags you might want to leave at the wharf, and carries them to the lighthouse and back, meaning you do not need to carry what you bring while walking the island. *They are very concerned about biosecurity, so wear clean shoes and bring only closed, zippable bags. *Apparently the name means that it's a really windy island. Which it really is. Be ready for wild temperature differences based on wind and shade.

Seriously one of Auckland's greatest outdoor treasures. This pest-free island is a magical place…read morethat harkens back to the days before massive deforestation for farming, hunting, and introduction of pests shrank the population of New Zealand's birds. The bird songs you'll hear here are incredible! Amazing work has been done to reforest native plants and trees, and reintroduce rare birds on this island. You can see hihi (stitchbirds), saddlebacks, kakariki (red crowned parakeets), bellbirds, north island robin, heaps and heaps of tui, wood pigeon, little blue penguins, kokako (if you're lucky) and of course, my favorite - the takahē (a population of less than 300 exist in the world, and this is one of the few places you can see them in the wild - plus BABIES!) So worth paying the $70 to take the ferry out there. Pack your lunch and your sunscreen, bring your swimsuit and good hiking shoes, and get ready for an amazing day. The extra $5 for the guided tour is worth doing at least once. The guides are very knowledgable and will point out the birds and interesting plants and give you a history of the island. However, when we went the second time without the group, we saw heaps more birds, I think as we were separate from many of the larger (noisier) groups. I'm dying to stay overnight at the DOC hut and try to spot a kiwi! The huts are booked well in advance so you're gonna have to troll the website for an opening. Also be sure to book your trip well in advance as the ferry can book up during peak season, and you don't want to miss out!!

This is the place where I spent hours and hours pretending to study. My love for sculptures and all…read morethings artsy led me to this place after I realised studying indoors when the weather was amazing, was a complete waste of my time. I grabbed my study items, a novel that had nothing to do with my exams and a beverage of some sort. I sat on the bench looking at the fallen sculptures and thought about the mysteries of life, hours went by as I say there contemplating what was there before and what will be there in the future, All I can say is if you are looking for a place to just take a chill pill, enjoy some quiet time, "study" and be one with the grass then Western Park is for you. The location is perfect that if you get hungry you can just waddle on to Ponsonby road or K road for a bite.

Want local flavour? Try Western Park. At the K Road end of Ponsonby Road it's close enough to the…read morecity to attract those "interesting" types that seem to just love hanging out in parks (broad daylight sleeping seems to be the thing here). This place is a bit of a secret in that from its main entrance on Ponsonby Road it looks very small. Even if you can't be arsed walking down the hill to explore, seeing John Radford's famous building sculptures is reason enough. They have become a much-loved Ponsonby icon and still fascinate kids and adults alike after all these years. If you do decide to carry on down the hill though, you'll find a landscaped basin with a pretty cool playground leading to tennis courts and sports fields. Who knew? The playground is always fairly quiet, thanks I think to the steep climb down (and inevitably back up). The last time I was here there was a film crew shooting so like I said, you just never know what surprises await. It's also a great spot for lunch if you work nearby and there's even a fitness trail if the hill just isn't enough.

Public spaces in the central city have been designed in mind of developing an interesting…read morepedestrian environment. A special feature of many of these spaces is the acknowledgement of their particular cultural significance, the signpost that indicates Mahuhu ki te Rangi Park is evident of this, as it tells the story of where the park takes its name from (which has particular Maori significance). Native plants are also an important part of this story. This park is directly across the road from Vector Arena and has been given the effect of being a sheltered, internally focused open area. There is a pond/fountain, a staged area with a gazebo type shelter to protect from the sun and a grassed area of course. This little spot is always busy when I'm there, boot camp fanatics, families with young ones, couples, just people out taking advantage of what the central city has to offer if you just bother to look hard enough.

This is one of the most beautiful green spaces I've ever seen in my life. I thoroughly enjoyed…read morewandering through the grounds of the domain. Especially the greenhouses. I wanted to stay in those spaces, smell all the flowers, touch all the plants, and pick some of the very ripe fruits and vegetables. I admit to smelling some flowers and touching a few plants, but no fruits or veggies were at risk. Highly recommend the Auckland Domain if you are in Auckland. It's free, beautiful, and walking it is great exercise. It's made of win.

Green lawns, ball fields, gazebos with live music, clean public restrooms, unique trees & shrubs,…read moreendless trails with lots of benches & a very nice day. I loved the trees, I expected to see a Hobbit crawl out. We were walking to the museum & then back to our hotel. We passed pristine rolling hills, a bowling center, tennis center, Olympic aquatic center .... Many were biking, walking, jogging and enjoying the green space. There is a botanic garden near the museum.

Some people are probably going to be very upset that I'm giving away their secret nook but hey,…read moremove over and share this space, will ya? A hidden green space in Auckland for you to go when Albert Park is just too big or full of students. There's a couple of park benches up under the trees near a memorial statue for some dude who was, apparently, "earnest, vigilant and laborious." It's a nice, peaceful, shady getaway from the city hustle and bustle. A bit down the hill is the grassy slope of the reserve, a good place to catch some sun and relax on your lunch break or after some shopping in town. There was also a couple of some kind of awesome massive beanbag things courtesy of some nearby business. Sweet.

Definitely a community park with a unique history, Silo Park in Auckland NZ is located right off of…read morethe harbor in Wynyard Quarter. When we visited on a Sunday afternoon, it was very much alive with children, many of whom were practicing to ride their bikes (some with training wheels, many were not) at the adjacent parking lot. It is so named because of the 7 silos that dominate the scenery around the park. They were built and used to store cement, but have now been converted into an art and exhibition center and movie screen for outdoor cinema. How cool is that!

What a neat place for the whole family while in Auckland!! We had the luck to go during Christmas…read morefestivities our first time. There were Holiday food trucks and funny picture spots and lots of games for the kids. They had rides and I think there was a concert. Normally when we went they still had a awesome colorful playground and the sand pit for falls and a small wading pool for young kids they had to share with seagulls. My kids said it was there favorite place.

I used to be a Grey Lynn local up till a few years ago, and just recently popped back for a…read morefriend's son's birthday party in the park. I realize now that for a city park Grey Lynn is well rounded. It has a fantastic playground for the kids to play in, right next to an outdoor paddling, splash pool- which is free to use of course. There are lots of leafy green trees to shade the hot sun in the middle of the day; as well as a giant flying fox for the older kids to let loose on. This park is fab for running laps in, playing soccer, or basketball at, and taking the family dog out for a run and fetch. They even have a cool Skate Ramp to flip some boards on too. I have always enjoyed Grey Lynn Park and will continue to for many years to come.

Kick a ball around, see who can swing the highest at the playground, fry a few things on the…read morebarbeque (after thoroughly cleaning it of course!) or splash in the pool. (if it happens to be full - every time I've been here it's been empty. To the point that my American friends joked that's how Kiwi's like their pools) The Grey Lynn festival goes on here once a year, otherwise it's just a nice area to hang around in without travelling far away from the city. It's not so nice to be near at night though, so make sure the sun is shining and the weather is fine.

Great spot to go for a stroll with the pup. Judges Bay backs onto the gorgeous Parnell rose gardens…read moreso plenty of space for an off lead run around. It's definitely not your typical bay with a beach (or any sort of for shore for that matter) but there is a small stretch of sand. Don't know if you'd catch me swimming there though...

I've always taken notice of this little inlet on the way back from Mission Bay along Tamaki Drive,…read morebut have always wondered a) what it was called, (b) how you accessed it and (c) if it was swimmable. Answer to (a) is Judges Bay, (b) the easiest option for access is to hit Judges Bay Road in Parnell or you can wander down through Dove Meyer Robinson Park and (c) I would say by the amount of people I have seen here on different occasions that yes it is swimmable. It even has its own pontoon and jetty. Now that's swimmable! Because its cut off from the the ocean itself by the road and bordered on both sides by developments it does feel like a little hideaway. I'm super duper glad I discovered it!

Beautiful park across from the hotel…read more Lots of activity from the never-ending crickets matches to playgrounds to the historic markers. Interesting to follow the Foreshore Heritage Walk and learn the history of Auckland. Read the signs while exploring the park for more information.

We strolled through this park while waiting to walk on the sky tower. The park was clean and not…read moretoo crowded. They have a little section for children. We also saw a cool area where people were working out and being active. There's a large walking/ running track. The park has some beautiful trees and huge lawn to sit and enjoy the scenery. They have some huge gorgeous trees. Definitely a nice place to take a stroll, sit and relax or just get your work out on.