LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!…read more Discovered this park the other day with my one year old son. I can't believe the amount of times I have driven by and not stopped for a closer look!! Duck feeding - yes Picnic friendly - yes Fully equipped modern playground - yes Sherwood reserve is expansive and connects to Freyburg Park off Anzac Road. If you are keen on a family picnic and/or outing to the playground with the kids but don't want to deal with tlhe crowds that Browns Bay has, this is a MUST VISIT!!

Gorgeous reserve. I use the walkway that runs through it from time to time and I love the scenery…read moreand the huge fresh grassy patches. The pathway that winds down and around is perfect for a bit of bike riding or skating down. Just don't do what I did and jump off your board on a downward slope... I had to watch in horror as my skateboard took a dive into the stream! There's a block of shops at the top of the reserve with a dairy and there's also a playground up top. Great spot for a slow Sunday stroll.

The park is well maintained, with a safe to swim at beach. Great walks along the cliffsread more

Auckland really is a beautiful city with so many outdoor beauties…read more Long Bay Regional Park is a sure winner, and a superb place to take the little ones on the weekend. On my recent second mother's day, my family and I travelled to Long Bay to take part in the Free Volunteer Tree Planting at Long Bay Regional Park. Parking close to the awesome kid's playground with flying fox, we had a 15 minute uphill walk to the park location that had been chosen for planting. This event had been organised by the wonderful Auckland City Council. The stunning weather really brought out the serenity of mother nature. Aucklander's and foreigners showed up from all around to plant kowhai's, flax, cabbage trees and more. This beautiful park has so much to offer; a slice of paradise where young and old can come, relax and enjoy nature in its purest form. I recommend taking one of the many walks through tracks labelled in the park, or even enjoying leisure time walking or running in your spare time. You have so much on offer, whether you want to do nothing or do lots. The ocean is at the parks edge, so be sure to stroll on the beautiful long beach and take a swim in the glorious ocean too.

I probably like Milford park more than the average punter because I grew up down the road…read more Throughout my childhood, I spent many a day at Milford Park climbing the trees, playing BYC and go home stay home. Trip down memory lane aside, Milford Park is still a great spot to bring the kiddies. There is a freshly painted, bright blue playground, toilets, BBQ pits AND the Beach is right next door. Not to mention in Summer there is frequently concerts or outdoor movie screenings. Oh, and for all those runners out there every Wednesday night there is a fun run that leaves from the Milford Cruising Club in the park and goes to Takapuna and back for only $7 ($3 for kids), free drink included!

I shouldn't review the park as high as I would prefer to keep this to myself - but better to be…read morehonest. A good little suburban park - good parking, safe kids playground, beach volleyball courts and the beach a hop and a skip away. The Creek provides a bit of action if the tide is in as the yachts and fisher boats trailing and out over the 4 hours of tide. Good takeouts and coffee close by in Milford and it is not surprising the number of people who get fish and chips from PJs (another secret) and eat them on the picnic tables worth a visit

Auckland Council owned memorial park. Beautiful place with wonderful staff. Always ask if you want…read moreanything specific. Always accommodating. Enjoy outings there.

Marlborough Park in Glenfield has a little bit of everything for everyone. I love visiting for the…read moreplayground as it has a section of low tunnels and abacus balls for my preschooler to enjoy playing with; also swings and slides that suit the little and big kid. Not only are the children catered for, there is a basketball court, a skate bowl, a climbing frame, and even a flying fox. If your jogging in the area, why not pop in and work out on the free adult gym equipment? Fantastic park for a picnic on a warm sunny day, and with lots of trees is just really pretty to look at. Please don't miss the peace of Marlborough Park.

Northwood Reserve is a neighbourhood park in the Rosedale area that backs onto a whole lot of…read morenative bush with a stream that runs all the way through it. This is a really awesome park for walking the dog or taking children to as there's so much room to run around, there's a playground with a covered shade area and seats, and theres even a barbeque station set up so it pretty much keeps the whole family happy. I take a lot of pram walks down here because its close to my work and it is perfect for quiet walks with the baby mainly because there is hardly ever anybody here! The reserve had a major overhaul last year when the council put some power lines underground so there was a lot of digging and fenced off areas but it seems to have recovered okay and you'd hardly even know anything had happened here. For a neighbourhood park I always wonder why this place isn't always packed but I think its because the area is still relatively quiet so nobody knows about it yet! I'm pretty sure this will change fairly soon. In the meantime I'm happy to take peaceful walks through the park on my own.

Another favourite with the dogs, Sylvan Park is located on the Northern side of Lake Pupuke and is…read moreless well-known than the South side, where the Pump house is. This suits both me and the dogs just fine. We are more than happy to roam the grassy embankment, play catch and discover new bush trails alone. Enter the park behind the tennis courts on Dodson Ave. Head down the RHS of the back courts and you will find yourself on a trail. Go right and you will end up at the back of Milford Primary (15 - 20mins), where there is a boat ramp if you want to go for a dip (too much swan poop for me - be each their own). Head left and you end up in an opening, which if you keep following round turns into the main part of the park. Here you will find toilets, BBQs and Madloop Windsurfing School. Whilst Sylvan Park ain't huge, it's a great daytime option during summer when our four legged friends are banned from the beaches!

Fantastic little inner city escape with lake beside it and away from the hustle of the city!read more

The new Hurstmere Green redevelopment cost the council (and ratepayers) a decent handful of change,…read morehowever the results have been worth it. Some fantastic eateries have opened up on the terrace overlooking the new space and the night markets and events such as the open air cinema take advantage of the new built-in seating areas. The park is green with modern, well designed social and seating areas and forms an attractive transitional space from the shopping area of Hurstmere Rd to the park and beach at The Strand beyond.

There are a rusties and crusties brigade sadly prominent on the North Shore which rail against…read morespending rates on anything other than roads, rubbish, pipes and whatnot. I challenge them to come here when the night market is on and not enjoy it. This is a perfect example of spending that's got a community together while opening up lots of spots for great new eateries. The old Hurstmere Green by contrast was a travesty of a wasted public space - it simply worked for nobody but the smokers that used to sit in the dingy spots under the tree. Now it's an open, vibrant space that links Hurstmere Road nicely to the beach. I love the seating arrangements which allow you to recline or talk to your neighbour depending on what you feel like. I love the green space. I especially love the little sculpted details in the drink fountains and whatnot where they've managed to get a images of Lake Pupuke and Rangitoto in there - fantastic imagery evoking the natural surroundings. Kudos to the urban designers here, and may all public spaces in Auckland eventually be upgraded to this high standard.

Killarney Park should be more popular than it is. It almost seems like people (including myself)…read morejust forget about it. And it really is beautiful (if you can avoid the duck poo). Situated right on the bank of the beautiful Lake Pupuke, Killarney Park is a lovely place to relax. Sit in the sun with some lunch, relax under a tree with a book, grab a coffee from the nearby cafe, or take a stroll around the lake. Despite being right in the middle of busy Takapuna, you honestly feel miles away when you're here, and you realise how cool and unique it is that you can walk from beach to lake in 5 minutes. The lake itself is always busy with little boaters, kayakers and dive groups. You'll often find our Olympic rowers and kayakers training here. The walk around the lake is a really nice one, and I highly recommend it, although there are some annioying parts that don't let you take dogs, those can be avoided though. It is close to many of Takapunas cafes, but doesn't have them in the immediate vacinity, which actually makes for a much more relaxed, natural atmosphere. Lovely.

There are some places where you come to hang with your mates, some where you just like to be alone,…read moreand some where you don't mind either way. For me, Killarney Park falls into the *alone* category. My high school years were spent at the nearby Rosmini College, and Killarney Park is where I came just to unwind and be with my thoughts during those turbulent teenage years. For somewhere so close to central Takapuna it is incredibly serene and peaceful - it's something to do with the lake and the rowers on it...or the ducks - something about things gently passing while you're still is just relaxing. So yeah I come here to chill - lie on the grass, walk among the dew in the morning, sometimes I'll bring my guitar down and sit under a tree and have a quiet play to myself. Blissful.