This has to be one of the busiest beaches during the summer months! And it's pretty obvious why…read more The beach itself is absolutely beautiful. The water is clear and crisp and the sand is squeaky clean... it actually squeaks sometimes when you rub your feet in it! This is a great beach for the family as more often that not there are little waves, which make for some fun boogie boarding or body surfing. As Jacob said it's not often that there's real surf-able waves here but when the east coast swell gets up and hits at the right angle you might be in for a treat. There are some awesome rock pools to explore and a hill to climb which gives you a great look out over the bay. But be careful! I once saw a group of young kids get washed along the rocks as a set wave rolled in. Make sure you accompany your kids and only go exploring if there aren't big waves and the tide's not too high!

Beautiful Anchor Bay is a day trip spent perfectly in one of our regions golden treasures…read more I spent Easter Sunday here with my son and partner, we arrived not too long after lunch, and the car park close by was already packed to maximum capacity. A short walk down to the beach via the beach path and we found a lovely patch of sand with our name on it. I spent my time here swimming in the beautiful clean cool ocean, body surfing waves, and sun tanning. I recommend if you're not too relaxed to take a walk down the beach towards the rock pools which fill up and explore a deep human sized rock pool that you can dive bomb into! Sublime. The little kids will enjoy running about the rock pools and soaking in them, or searching for the little and big crabs that call it their home. The oceans out beyond the bay are protected as a marine reserve so the fish/sea creatures are happy and you won't see a fisherman in this regional park area. I love the peace I feel at Anchor Bay and always cherish my time here.

Ti Point and Ti Point wharf are a perfect place to take the family and spend the day. The wharf is…read moresmall, but gets busy with fisherman. It's great for fishing with the kids; you can usually pull in a sprat or two with a hand line over the side. If you walk along the coast from the wharf there are some beautiful old trees to set up under for the day. They are great for the kids to climb and some have rope swings or picnic tables. If the tide is out there is a little sandy bay protected by rocks perfect for swimming. There is also a walkign track that awinds aroudn the coast, where rocks can be accessed for heavier duty fishing. Ti Point is a little difficult to get to; you turn off from Leigh road down a winding metal road. Parking is also a little sparse. But once you're there it's a great little place to explore.

There is a spot situated pretty much right under the harbour bridge where some people come to fish…read more It can be quite tricky to find because you need to drive towards the Harbour Bridge but stay clear of the Northern Motorway or you'll go over it; instead take the back roads (Westhaven Drive) that lead around the water. If you come to a place where there's a whole bunch of campervans and gypsies parked on the side of the road, then you've found the spot. I don't know why they come here, perhaps it's a secret meeting place, but anyway the fishing here is OK. Bear in mind that this is still very much in the city, so don't expect a massive haul of fish, however, you might reel in the occasional snapper or trevally.

This is a pretty sweet, secluded fishing spot in Kawakawa Bay. You drive along Clevedon Kawakawa…read moreroad until you come to the point just past the main bay. Park up and walk down the precarious path to the rocks below (actually it's not too bad, just a little steep and slippery in some places). The walk is only a short one, and then you'll find yourself on a large rock with a good radius for casting into the relatively deep water. There are some fish that hang around this area, but the main problem is that there is heaps of kelp around. This can be annoying as it tends to be rather snaggy. Bring plenty of spare hooks and sinkers.

I am yet to actually catch the ferry from Stanley Bay wharf. That may be a consequence of it being…read morejust that little bit further from home than the Devonport Ferry terminal or it's very specific timetable. Ferries run Monday to Friday to coincide with the 9 - 5 work hours so only run for the peak times of 6.55am to 8.30am and 4.05pm until 7.10pm. The wharf itself is in need of an upgrade, but seems to manage it's relatively minor workload sufficiently. The large shed built half way down it is very effective on a cold winters day, and the lack of fences on one side make it a popular spot for local kids to practice their swan dives and back flips.

This is not a review about the ferry, this is a review about how great this wharf is for jumping…read moreoff. There are a couple of wharves that I really love on the shore and this is one of my favourites. Stanley Bay is a really lovely area - it's right in the heart of Devonport but almost feels like it's own little area. You feel far from all the stresses of daily life. The Wharf is nestled in a little bay surrounded by stunning trees and cliffs. There is also an awesome view of the city. I love jumping off this wharf. There is plenty of room to sunbathe and chill, and a small building to shelter from the sun in, and jump off if you re so inclined. There are stairs which make it easy to get back up. I don't actually know much about the ferry...but it doesn't come often enough to ruin the wharf jumping. Great spot.

There always seems to be people fishing here and I'm not entirely sure why. Perhaps they know…read moresomething that I don't and perhaps there are some decent fish here to catch, but every time that I have tried I've only ever caught the odd small snapper and other small fish. The best place to go is on the far side of the bridge and down the hill of the paddock until you reach the water's edge. Just be careful though because it is usually pretty muddy and slippery on the banks of the water, and there are oyster shells galore just waiting to cut open some human skin. That's another problem with fishing here too is that your line tends to get snagged quite often on the rocks and perhaps oyster beds. If you have no luck here at the end of the day, you can always just grab some fish and chips at the store close by and bring that back for the family.

In what could be described as the premier location on the Waitemata Harbour, Orakei Marina provides…read morethe most accessible option for boat storage in Auckland's urban environment - accessible, both from the land, and to the sea. The boat ramp is also a great alternative for those that are not lucky enough to own a berth in the Marina. The location of the Marina at the top of the low speed zone in the harbour provides a quick getaway to all your favourite fishing spots and beaches. Orakei Marina offers full vessel services, perfect for the lazy boatie. We took off one Friday afternoon, avoiding the chaos of the inner harbour, returning with a chilly bin full to the brim of snapper, at Spot 'X' of course.

I am such a huge fan of the outdoors and we are just spoilt for choice when it comes to beaches in…read moreour beautiful city. Located on the North Shore in between Mairangi Bay and Rothesay Bay is this little gem called Murrays Bay. With a lovely stretch of soft beach to relax upon, and a bay that is perfect for swimming, and boating. The Murrays Bay Wharf is great for jumping off in high tide, as there is a nice depth to the water for a big splash. If you are a keen fisherman/woman, or kid sink a line off the wharf and as you ponder on the view of Rangitoto island wait on that lucky bite. Great place really to teach the young children to fish, as it is safe and picturesque. The Bay is also home to Murrays Bay Sailing Club; located at 513 Beach Road which offers sailing facilities for all levels of dinghy sailing. An East Coast Bays jewel to sum it up.

The North Shore is inundated with great beaches and I feel like Murray Bay often gets forgotten…read more Though I do think there are better beaches nearby, on a hot summers day Murrays Bay is a great option, and will probably be a bit less crowded. It's pretty small which I quite like, and when it's busy there is a really cool family vibe. There's a great grassy area, perfect for a picnic, some games, or some chill time under the shade of a tree. The water is really safe to swim in, and to rocks bordering either end of the beach make for some really good exploring. My favourite part of the beach however, is the wharf. This is one mother of a wharf, and is one of the most well-known among fellow wharf jumpers. When it's sunny and the tide is up, it is littered with sunbathers, walkers, jumpers and spectators. There is an easy to use staircase making getting back out of the water simple. And because the beach is pretty sheltered, it's always calm.

I caught my first fish off the Matakana Wharf. It was only 5cm long, but what a proud moment it…read morewas! The Matakana Wharf isn't just for kids fishing though, there have been some serious Snapper caught from there. If you get the tide right, it's a peaceful place to drop a line in. It's also a good place to kayak. Again check the tides, but you can paddle all the way down the river to Sandspit from here. It took us a fair few hours (we were against the tide) so I would suggest a support crew at the other end for a hot choccie and a pick up. For something more mellow, there are picnic tables at the Matakana Wharf too. It's a good place to take your fish and chips or have a picnic tea