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.

Just had a bite at Catalina and need to walk the dog so I meandered over through the park and to…read morethe playground. What a great space with its cool climbing structures that look like pieces of sculpture art and are loads of fun for the kids to play on. This will be an anchor in the new community that is going to include hundreds of new houses and schools. The playground is surrounded by native plantings and wide open spaces with shady trees. This playground and surrounding park will form part of a coastal walk and cycleway.

do NOT go to this beach. my whole family got bit by something and gave them red itchy bites just by…read moregoing in the water. Also we saw plenty of poisonous jellyfish which could've sent my babies to the hospital

Narrow Neck Beach is simply the most beautiful beach in Auckland !…read moreNear Devo, this beach is very large and quiet. Here, you will find clear water, fine sand not forgetting a wonderful view. But the photographs will talk better about it than a long explanation. Just the perfect place to go and relax after a working day.

Fantastic park and walkway that I got to introduce to friends who had never heard of it or been…read morebefore! So glad they know of it now, especially the one who has a dog whose allowed on this track. Just next to Castor Bay, Kennedy is home to gun emplacements as well as tunnels from the Second World War. The tunnels are only open second Sunday of every month between 11am and 2pm for guided walks by volunteers from the Kennedy Park WWII Trust. There is also ample green grass and shade from trees next to the wooden coastal walkway. There is a sturdy wooden staircase leading to Back Beach where several people were doing up and down stair-runs and other fit-stuff. Good on them. Unfortunately we came at high tide so couldn't make it full all the way around the cliffs but definitely coming back at low tide to do more walk exploring and go for a swim! Having said that though, we instead did the coastal walk, noticed the spiderweb-centred playground that looked like fun as well. A proper dedicated car park space you can turn into after the main sign. Such a great park space- must see.

JF Kennedy Park is one of those fantastic spots that has somehow managed to remain relatively…read moreunknown - well, unknown enough at least to ensure it's not overcrowded or anything. You get there a little turnoff into a carpark off Beach Road which reveals a wide expanse of park complete with a quality playground. At first you don't quite realise how high up you are, but then you notice the water of the Hauraki Gulf on the horizon out to the east, walk to the edge of the park, and see that you're actually on a high clifftop. You can follow a wooden staircase all the way down the cliff-face, revealing a beautiful beach mercifully free of direct car access which makes gives it a nice secluded feel. It is a favourite of the fitness/dog walking crowd, but most of the time this beach is pretty well empty so it's a great place to come for a swim, enjoy some Vitamin D, and marvel at the golden rock of the cliff. My favourite time to come is just before sunset - it's especially peaceful around this time, and in summer the water's still lovely and warm.

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.

Beautiful beach used to go here all the time really good views cool place to go with family and…read morefriends

If you feel like taking a drive out of Auckland central to hunt down some magnificent beaches, you…read moredon't have to go far. Whangaparoa Peninsula is less than a 20 minute drive from Auckland and boasts some truly beautiful coastlines. Big Manly Beach is probably my pick of the bunch , not to be confused with Little Manly! Little Manly is not as sheltered as Big Manly so the swells can be significantly bigger/rougher on this isle in comparison. Big Manly is a supreme swimming beach and in the summer the water always seems to be warm for some reason (and no, no one peed in there), it also has a little jetty that floats out with the tide as well which is great fun to swim out too and hold bomb competitions off. It takes a while to get deep as well, so its pretty safe for the little ones, and theres a playground to entertain them as well once they get cold/bored. I personally like nothing more than parking the car up on the grassy knoll fronting the beach itself and settle under a well placed tree and have a few drinks with friends while having some beaut scenery to look at. Bliss

I must admit Potters Park this morning was a saving grace, up early for a 6 km charity walk along…read morethe bays, the children needed a playground to kill the time with while we waited for the race to begin. Potters Park has a lovely grassy area perfect for kicking a ball about or flying a kite, and the most beautiful rose gardens on site. You can sit and read a book on the many benches available. I was very impressed with the playground as I have taken my toddler to a few places that have been only good for the over 2 1/2 age bracket, so for the mums who would love to see bub crawling, climbing and interacting with the playground a bit more heres your answer. Of course the park has bathrooms on site care of the council, and right next door is a large public pay and display car park which is free on the weekends, what a bonus. The Playground is only a small one, so if it is a busy time of day you might have to wait a bit for swings etc, however I recommend early on a saturday morning as on sunday the Anzac street carpark fills up with the Takapuna Sunday Markets.

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

Great Kiwi Beach! This place is a wonderful beach- it's…read morewide, sandy, with beautiful views, plenty of nearby amenities, restaurants, parking- this place has it all! There's a place where you can pay some dude on a tractor to launch your boat. He drives his tractor waaaay into the water to make sure you're properly launched. I saw people on jet skis, boats, swimmers- this place gets used. Walking along the beach, I found all kinds of interesting seashells! Heaps of them! There's a grassy area between the beach and the facilities, if sand isn't your thing. The beach offers wide open spaces where you can run free and not worry about stepping on a pop-top and blowing out your flip-flop and have to go on back home. Other than the fantastic view of far off seas and distant islands, was the facilities offered here. Outdoor showers to wash the salt water off, or bathe the family dog in. Indoor changing rooms and bathrooms. Hungry? There's heaps of dining options just a stone's throw away from this beach. It's like a small little town alongside this nice beach, with a large park backing up to it. Check it out!

A lovely beach across the road from various shops and cafes, Browns Bay has a lovely ambience that…read moremany Aucklander's love to rave about. There's a giant ice-cream dust bin opposite the delightful Penguino Ice Cream shop nearby, which I highly recommend before you head to the beach. Afterwards, go for your stroll and take in some grand views. The sand stretches for ages, so it's easy to find a spot even on a hot summer's day. Not a good surfing or bodyboarding beach, but great for swimming and paddling. My last visit was on a chilly, windy day, but it didn't ruin the atmosphere, rather adding to it's special nature. Hop on a swing and take in a peaceful breeze this autumn at Browns Bay.