Hillsborough Bay is a place of beauty. Just off the top of Hillsborough Road there is also a track…read moreyou can take which is like walking through the jungle to get there. At the bottom lies a green and a picnic table. Carry on across the road down steps to the bay and you will be in awe of the beautiful surroundings. You can see a couple of mountains before you. The setting is tranquil and there are wooden benches to sit on. Take a book and sit under the shade of a tree. There is a children's park at the end, however, it is rarely used. There is also a beach area, however its quite stoney. If you want to meditate or go somewhere peaceful this is your place.

I love this little park located in the heart of Remuera. It has to be one of the more fun…read moreplaygrounds in the area. With a swing set, a big climbing frame, slides, a flying fox and a skate board bowl, there is something here to entertain all the kids while you could be walking the dog (on leash only). Upland Road playground also has a lot of greenery for you to sit down on and set up a picnic for lunch or those summer evenings. Located incredibly close to Benson Road dairy, it's only a short hop and skip away to get an ice block, ending a perfect fun filled afternoon at the playground. I have grown up coming to this playground and have taken my siblings here a number of times. It's always a favourite; you just can't go past the awesome flying fox!

This is a super cool park for kids! There's a playground with actually nice and maintained play…read morethings and swings, slides, all that sort of thing - appeals to young babies up to older children. Plenty of seating for parents while the kids play. There is also a big flying fox, and a skate park for the bigger kids. To one side is a cliff that kids can climb up and have a little picnic at the top. We have had several birthday parties here. And heaps of grassy playing area! HEAPS! But note - if you are allergic to grass, this is the grass that will make you come out in a rash. Parking is on the road.

This is one of my most favourite places to bring my dog, the lawns are so vast and the views are…read moreincredible here. Parking is easy as there is lots of free parking on site and navigating the grounds is also a cinch because of the walking track. I have never let my dog off the leash here it just doesn't feel right for some reason? I am unsure what the official rules are regarding dogs but it's better to be safe. The TSB Wallace Arts Centre also makes this place extra special standing majestically in the middle of the grounds. I like to pretend that it is my house and I'm simply taking a walk around my endless garden. If you are fitness focused, this place really can deliver as a walking or running destination as it is quite a large circuit with lots of inclines and declines! The views here as mentioned before also make it an excellent spot for a romantic picnic (tried and tested).

Monte Cecilia lies semi-hidden , off Hillsborough and Mt Albert Road - with the best parking up by…read morethe Pah Homestead, where the TSB James Wallace Art Gallery resides. The park spreads out from this high point , curving away down to the road on one side, the school on the other, and looking out over the Manukau Harbor on the far right. The park has the biggest collection of Northern Hemisphere trees in New Zealand - and they are certainly big themselves. When I play disc golf here, I usually have to dedicate at least half an hour to climbing trees to retrieve discs- provided, of course, they aren't at the very top of an old oak tree. There is a course available at : http://www.discgolf.co.nz/monteCourseDescription.htm, but the map can be a bit confusing - so it's worth contacting the contact available on that page to get shown around. Afterwards you can stop off for a coffee in the cafe, or head to Cameron Pools for a nice dip.

Perfect for kids to roam free & play with huge open space across the field. A modern addition is…read morethe kids playground with slides, swing basket, net wall and small climbing features. Great for kids 1-8 years. The grounds are well kept and the nice tree placements between the pavilion & the playground add to the family community atmosphere. Hardly any ppl around so it's a great space for my autistic son who loves the outdoors away from crowded places. Car parks available. Can't go wrong. Enjoy

If you like running laps try Melville Park. It's not huge (which suits me fine) but is flat and has…read morea nice little path around the outside of it. I used to live right next door and if one of our house mates was to lose a bet, the punishment was usually 5 laps of the park. It's fair to say I've run it a few times. The grounds are impeccably well maintained, especially in summer when young cricketers take it over. The gardens around the outside are also worth a mention. The little playground at the top of the park is a favourite for the under 10's gang of Disraeli Street and would be a good place to kick a ball around and then have a bit of a swing

This park is a regular of mine, I always turn to it in times of need. When I'm looking for…read moresomewhere fun to walk my dog? I come here because there is a large open field for her to run in, as well as forest type track walks for her to explore. When I'm looking for a natural location for photoshoots? I come here because it's local, it has great parking as well as looking untamed much like forests that you would find out of Auckland (just in a miniature scale). The reserve also offers barbecues, tables, a sportsfield with a cricket pitch, netball and tennis courts as well as half courts. As I said before, there is plenty of street parking which is free, so even if you aren't into sports, come here and have a barbie on their electric bbq's!

Windmill reserve is actually the shit. It's a good sized field, surrounded by big pine trees and a…read morebit of a track that you can walk along. It's great for exploring and I take photos back there sometime and pretend I've taken them somewhere out of the city in a secret location or something. Next to the field is a set of in Winter - netball courts, in Summer - tennis courts. All free to play on. Yeah, they're kind of concrete and shitty, but they're still cool and there's heaps of them so you're likely to find space if you want to have a game. The best. Full Disclosure: I live near here so I'm kind of biased.

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 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.

What a great park with everything you need in one place. It has a secure childrens playground…read morewhich is fenced all the way around, access only via the 2 gates so very secure for the little ones. It has this great path all the way around the park with exercise activities you can do while you are walking or running around. You can also come here for sports acitivies, soccer, cricket, rugby etc. Also onsite is the Ellerslie YMCA which also has a child centre. On the otherside there is also the duck pond and wildlife reserve with lots of ducks and pukekos. Its a great park if you are in or near the area, and its one that I miss going to as I just to be just a hop and a skip away from it.

It's true this is a great park ! Big open kids play area ,…read morewith a small gate to keep them in . Ample parking and it looks like they're trying to sort the drainage issues on the sports field . No public toilet though .

Jellicoe Park is one of those War Memorial parks that we have all over our country and as well as…read morereminding us of the lives lost at war, the monuments of the 1920s and 30s somehow define our national character. To me this park is Kiwiana at its prettiest. It's been around for more than 100 years and is now home to several historic buildings alongside its gorgeous entrance arch, fountain and flowerbeds. The Norfolk pines are majestic and I love coming here for the lighting of the Christmas Lights every year. The largest of the trees is festooned, the switch flicked and the atmosphere makes it my favourite of all Auckland's community events. There is something about the history of Onehunga and its strong Pacific population that sees the most diverse people come together for a night of family festivities that perfectly reflect this suburb's individuality. The Fencible Cottage and Blockhouse are open and the people of the 'Hunga feel the love. (If you don't know about the Fencibles, look it up - it's a fascinating and fairly obscure piece of Auckland history.) The buildings are occasionally opened up at other times by The Onehunga Historical Society and are well worth a look if you get the chance. Otherwise, just come play in the playground, relax and enjoy, it's a beautiful place.

This park is the oldest park in Onehunga but I feel like not that many people know about it, or if…read morethey do it just doesn't come to their minds when thinking about a nice trip out. But in fact if you dedicate an hour to this park you will find that you will have a really great time. It's a memorial park that was renamed in 1921 for the Governor General so you can get an idea of what it is like. It's like stepping back in time to the Victorian era with it's 100 year old pine trees, big old fountain, historic buildings and beautiful archways. The flat grassy areas are perfect for a picnic or to play a game of rugby with friends and family. Opposite the park are some beautiful old houses too which can make your day at Jellicoe even better if you come on the first and third Sunday of each month between 1.30 and 4pm as they are open to the public on those days.