Great skate park. Can be a little bit of a mission to get there if you are not local to the area…read more Nice and spaced out, one of the better parks around for bikes in my opinion. I ate it bad when I was there a little while ago. I was on my friends downhill mountain bike, I came up to the table top with way too much speed, and for some reason, just at the last second I decided to try and pull a 180. Before I knew it the ground was coming towards my face in slow motion, oh man that was painful.

You could easily miss the Devonport Skatepark if you didn't know where to look for it. Tucked away…read morefrom the main road into town opposite the Golf course and right in the middle of Ngataringa Park, this park has unlimited lines and transitions for all skill levels. It was designed by a bunch of local boys quite a few years ago and they included every hip gap and rail you can think of. The layout is huge and there's plenty of space. And even if it was complete crap, its still the coolest location! You can play music without bothering any neighbours and kick back in the grass when you need a break.

Howick Historical Village is in the park, it is pretty fun to walk about and go see it on a"live…read moreday" you can join a school class from the late 1800's. $15 Adult entry - $8 kids under 5's are free

Well, I have no clue who Lloyd Elsmore is, but he makes a pretty cool park. Covering a significant…read moreexpanse of East Auckland, it has a swimming pool, skate ramps, fields, sports clubs and the Howick Historical Village on site. Walking my dog here, I spied cyclists on the skate ramps, kids laughing on the playground, cars driving to and from sports matches and new games being set up for kids after school. They have plenty of sports days here - I know, because I can hear the announcer from my house a few kms away! It's also a good place to host an event, as I remember coming here a few years ago for a South African Festival. If you're looking for a day of fun, I reckon Lloyd Elsmore will fill your Saturday quite nicely.

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.

I cannot believe that this skateboarding bowl in Pukekohe still exists. It's pretty ridiculous to…read morebe honest. The shape of it is like a big teardrop. You start out at the skinny part at the top, which is almost like half a tube, and this gets steeper and wider until you end up dropping down into the main round bowl part. And that's it. There's not much else you can do when you get to the end, just have to pick up your board and walk back up to the top again. It kind of reminds me of the luge in Rotorua. Of course you can do some tricks on the way down the track and in the main bowl itself, but on the whole it's a pretty poorly designed skate park. Maybe it's better for BMX.

Even though this skate park is kind of crappy, it does have a few good things going for it. For one…read moreit has a very cool mini half-pipe made out of aluminium, making it super smooth and great for beginners. This skate park is also in a nice secluded location, which means that there's barely ever anyone there; most of the time we have had the park to ourselves. It is right beside the water too which makes for some sweet background scenery, and if you get too hot you can always run down for a refreshing swim. A couple of downsides are that the secluded location of this park means that it is a fair drive from most places around Auckland. Also, the concrete part of the skate park is pretty lame to be honest, with only a few obstacles to jump and grind; a skilled skater won't be very impressed.

I had a chance to explore the Te Atatu Peninsula Township on my recent visit to see a good friend,…read moreand I had to check out the local kids playground to give it my okay. Located on Pringle road, off the main strip of the town, in Jack Pringle Park is a very neat play area for the kids. My toddler really enjoyed the blue boat that you can sit in, and play drive, and also the rocking dolphin as well. I was able to shelter a bit from the hot sweltering heat under the beautiful shady trees at the playground, and I could see lots of families having a picnic on the tables nearby. A couple 100 metres away is the skate park for the older kids, and lots of space to stretch out on the lawns and read a book, or have a snooze. I agree this is a great park for the area.

This is a tiny little park next to the library in Te Atatu Peninsula Village. It's next to the…read moreroundabout on the main road, so even though the traffic comes by pretty slowly through the village there are always heaps and heaps of cars so keep a good eye on your kids or your dog. There's a playground here for kids to play on, it's not very big though but there's usually hardly anyone here anyway. They've got some public toilets that are those good ones where you can electronically lock the doors so it's very private and you don't have to worry about getting walked in on. There's parking around the back with quite a few parks available, and with the village right there, there are heaps of food options too.

My best Panmure Basin story involves me coming across at man while I was out on a mid-week walk…read morearound the Basin. He was down at the water's edge, in a suit and tie and looking very smart, but he was throwing a stick for his dog like it was the weekend. As I got closer I noticed he was talking quite loudly into his cell phone, something along the lines of "Oh nah mate we're absolutely flat out here, it's so full-on, I can't talk mate, I've gotta go, I'm in a meeting". And I thought "Good on ya mate". I love walking my dog around Panmure Basin. She's only little so it takes us the best part of an hour to get around the whole thing. It's a great spot to walk or run since there's car parking (not heaps, but enough), and most of the walkway is in good condition, although there are places where the tree roots are busting through.

The Basin is an idyllic recreational facility located in Panmure just off the Pakuranga Highway…read more The track around the basin is a decent 3.6 kilometres, and is perfect for both joggers and walkers - I have lots of memories running around and around lap after lap when I was young and crazy and ran much more than I currently do. There are lots of exercise stations located around the basin, so you can have quite an all-rounded workout mixing up running and body-weight resistance training. There are a decent number of seats to stop and sit at if you get a bit tired, and also a few hills in the mix for that extra challenge on your morning jog. Dogs are allowed and there are plenty of toilets located around the track, making for a convenient and attractive exercise location with lots of facilities available.

I have driven past this park so many times in the past couple of years and never ever ventured in,…read morefor the reason that it's not in my hood. So I was really happy to have the opportunity to attend a Free Music in Parks concert sponsored by Auckland City Council. Nixon Park may be more famously known for its Skate park or the two half courts to shoot some baskets. My experience of the park was when it transformed into a community of music and a sea of people, young and old, to enjoy free music and a free space to relax upon. Fantastic trees on the west side of the park, which provide shelter from the sun when it is at its most powerful comes in handy when you don't have sunscreen, are with little kiddies, or just need some time out from the rays. In this little oasis of trees you will also find a really cool tree swing that glides out for some free play time. The kids playground is small, but really good for the fifteen month to six year old, they have a few slides, see saws, and swings, not as modernized as of yet, but I'm sure it won't be long till they revamp this kids play area. Always enjoy a good Auckland park, and this was a great find.

Most kids rate Nixon Park for its skate area or the little playground. Mine rate it because of a…read moredodgy old rope swing up the hill at the back, hidden in the trees. Injuries have been sustained and I doubt it is remotely OSH approved but, just like back in the day, the home-made rope swing kicks the arse of those PC playgrounds. I don't know who put it there but I am glad that no one has (yet) had it pulled down due to misplaced (and misappropriated - if you don't like it don't let your kids play on it) safety concerns. True they have to be a bit careful about hitting the ground when they swing back but that's all part of the fun. And yes, that loop could be dangerous and yes, my son has got his leg caught in it and scraped the bejesus out of his torso (if a mishap is at all remotely possible, it will happen to him). But they LOVE it and I can totally see why. Just keep an eye on them - I'm constantly surprised at how many parents feel supervision is unnecessary (in all kinds of situations!). Nixon Park is also pretty cool for family and music events with its big flat field and the Kingsland Karnivale that took place last weekend was a lot of fun for everyone - with some particularly good shopping. And I do always love to see the carefree Titirangi dancing come and visit the central suburbs.

After a good carwash and two coats of wax, I took my nephew to the Albany Skate Park, as a reward…read morefor his help. Now, I promised him that my boarding days are over, and to tell the truth, never really started. But he is a master on a board, and can make Tony Hawke look like a beginner. Word of advice for parents; don't ever get your son a skateboard. It will either kill them, or you if you decide to watch. What these boys do on ramps with a flat piece of wood and four rubber wheels is nothing short of certifiable. My knees hurt just by looking at them. Next time I'm taking my car to the carwash, it is more expensive, but kinder to my heart.

Only recently finished, Albany skatepark sits just back from the main Oteha Valley Road thorough…read morefare opposite Mitre10 Mega and only minutes away from Westfield Albany and Albany Park and Ride. Its pretty polished-looking with a smooth concrete finish and its a decent size too. Theres plenty of rails, ledges, ramps, humps, and bowls to skate on. This park caters for all age and skill levels so its perfect to bring the kids for the day. Plenty of parking in front and a decent playground and toilets to keep everyone else happy, and if thats not enough then just pop up to the largest mall on the Shore!

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.