Despite my (irrational) fear of cows...Churchill Park is a pretty awesome spot…read more Nestled between St Heliers and Glendowie in the Eastern Bays, the park allows you to temporarily escape the city feel, while strolling among pastures, and, yes, droves of grazing cattle. The terrain is varied from footpath concrete to gravel (which can get muddy in spots, but nothing crazy). Beware: if you choose this as your trail running destination, be prepared to weave your way in and out of a number of gates (hint: aforementioned cattle). Also, this is popular dog walking haven (including an off-leash area) so if you are trying to get a speed workout in, this is probably not your best choice. If you're feeling energetic, you can connect onwards to Glendowie park through to Tahuna Torea Nature Reserve in Point England, too :)

Set in the serene surrounds of the Eastern Suburbs of Auckland, Churchill Park sees suburbia meet…read morerurality. I often use this area for running and walking, providing a brief escape from city life. The top of the park (towards Riddell Road) gives 180 degree views further east and also back towards the city. The undulating terrain provides a challenging natural jogging course in itself. The vast areas of pine trees have been felled in the last decade but as the regrow provide a tranquil walk along the bottom track (accessible at the end of Forfar Road and through to Kildare Avenue). Just make sure you watch out for the park's residents, the cattle!

My pursuit of trail running options in the Eastern Bays brought me to Dingle Dell Reserve…read more With a number of entrances around St Heliers (including from Fern Glen Road, The Parade, and Dingle Road), the Reserve is an ideal spot to get some trail loops in without straying too far from Tamaki Drive. The trail network isn't huge, but large enough to keep one entertained for a good half hour of running. The hills aren't super steep either - a perfect balance of undulating pathways and gradual inclines with forgiving gravel groundwork (but without mud!). Dingle Dell is dog friendly, too, including an off-leash area :)

So glad to have discovered this local reserve so close to my flat!…read more Kepa Bush reserve is tucked away behind Eastridge Shopping Centre, with some nice views across the Purewa creek and through to Hobson Bay. The reserve is home to some well-marked gravel trails as well as a number of rugged, muddy ones that travel along the creek (thus something to satisfy everyone ;)). There are entry points along Kepa road, Thatcher Street and Colenso Place as well. Sadly, the reserve does not connect to the trails around Orakei basin (due to the waterways) so you'll either be doing a few loops to get a solid run in or it's best to exit at Colenso Place and run along Kepa through the the basin for a longer adventure. A bit of history for all those curious fellows out there: Kepa Bush reserve covers 14 hectares and was established in 1962 when the Auckland City Council purchased it from St John's College. You're welcome.

We live across the road from this reserve, never thought it would turn out to be such a beautiful…read moreshort walk right at my doorstep! It feels like you're in the middle of a forest far away from the city until you hear a train pass and realise you're surrounded by the rat race of busyness . There's an outlook point and seating area where you can just enjoy the view or take time out to reflect. Worth taking a walk here after a hard day's work.

Probably the most aptly named road you'll find, Pigeon Mountain Rd leads to indeed, Pigeon Mountain…read moreWetlands. Named after the Pigeons that used to live here, this dormant volcano is now home to cute pukekos, stilts and swampland. There's plenty of board walks, gravel roads and shrubbery to guide yourself through. I took my dog along (they have to stay on the leash) and she found the wire netting on the board walk extremely weird. She kept dancing on it like it was hot coals! Incredibly funny. Then the pukeko's arrived to size her up, and she was ready to flee. They were far more afraid of her than she was of them though, as they quickly leapt off the board walk and into the flax! Anyway, it's a pleasant, short walk for those inclined to take adventures around East Auckland.

I always thought Pigeon Mountain was a euphamism for a really big pile of pigeon poo. So you can…read moreimagine what I thought Pigeon Mountain Wetland was. These misunderstandings aside, I love walking here these days I bring my dog and she has a great time being alternately brave and fearful of the pukekos. I adore getting so close up to pukeko, they're such little weirdos, but really cute. This is a nice place to bring out-of-towners who are into photography - they'll be able to get some amazing shots. The walkway is in good condition and the walk isn't too long, so it's nice for the whole family too.

Perched on a gentle slope at the bottom of Norman's Hill Road in Onehunga, there's something almost…read moreeerie about this park but in a good way. You can sit here and look out at the Manukau Harbour and imagine it as it once was when the suburb was first settled. The view has changed a bit but the sense of peace here has not. It's just a tiny little patch of green but one of those places where if you just stop the car and hop out and sit for 10 minutes, you'll carry on through the rest of your day feeling refreshed. Maybe it's the briny scent on the air or maybe it's my childhood memories but this little reserve, more than most, just does it for me.

Madills Farm is one of several reserves amongst the evergreen Eastern Suburbs…read more Madills Farm is a versatile reserve, popular with dog walkers, runners and cyclists (mainly of younger age groups) alike. It is also the home ground of Eastern Suburbs Football Club meaning goals are readily available for the next Ronaldo to practise and during summer, cricket pitches are laid for the next Richard Hadlee. The tracks circling the park provide an ideal route for runners, allowing a break for the bustling Auckland Waterfront along Tamaki Drive. There is a playground at the Allum St end for chidren and parking on the street around the majority of the periphery of Madills Farm.

After having worked near this beast of a mountain for over a year , And after a talk with Alex D…read moreabout what things u you should do in this super city of ours , I was prompted to check out Mt Wellington . Maungarei / Mount Wellington was used as a pā, and its flanks, particularly on the eastern side, are covered in food storage pits and terraced house sites. That wee fact above pasted from Wiki was just as amazing to me , I had no idea it was a pā site . I'm guessing you need to be a athlete of sorts to run up it as I've seen many do , however that was a non option for me today , I will try to tackle that in the future though . With views for as far as you can see !! And a great place for a picnic . If you have visitors from overseas bring them here ! Way less crowds than Mt Eden and One Tree Hill .

Mount Wellington is the most sinister of the "mountains" around Auckland (cynical South Islanders,…read morechuckle now). If it wasn't the model for Maurice Gee's terrifying Under the Mountain, it should have been. I shudder just to look at it. If you like, you can drive up it. Or, if you're a sadist, run up it. At the top is a rest stop with room for approximately 1.5 cars, overlooking Panmure (not the most visually spectacular of the Auckland suburbs), and on the other side, the old quarry, which now has a pretentious name because they are infilling it with ticky-tacky houses that all look the same as the others (which I've heard is a real challenge when you come home slightly tipsy - lots of knocking on the neighbours' doors and apologies ensue).

Beautiful views from the Michael Joseph Savage Memorial Park at Bastion Point…read more Take the Explorer Bus to stop #8 and enjoy the park. The bus comes about every 30 minutes. The memorial has a sunken reflecting pool, a huge obelisk and the most beautiful surrounding garden. Climb up and down the steps to get a better view. Walk through the park to get a better view overlooking the harbor. What a difference a day makes. Monday was blue skies and so sunny as compared to the intermittent thunderstorms and overcast skies the day before. A nice way to enjoy a beautiful summer afternoon in Auckland.

Bastion Point is a nice spot to enjoy views of Auckland and Rangitoto, hang out under some trees…read morewith your fish and chips, or kick a ball round with the kids. Or with your mates or family or whoever. I particularly enjoy it at dusk, watching the fading light and sunset colours. Magic. There are also toilets up here which is pretty handy. It can get a bit cool (especially if you take up the evening stroll option) and also windy so best to keep something warm with you. It is, however, a bit more sheltered in the pond/garden area just behind the Michael Joseph Savage memorial (New Zealand's first Labour prime minister) and also it's just a pretty area. Tour buses come up here as do wedding parties, along with a whole host of couples and families and groups of people, yet it never seems crowded. Nice place to hang out or just stop by to check out the views.