Tahaki Reserve is a park I have spent countless hours playing in over the years. Located on the…read moreside of Mt Eden, this park boasts a pretty good playground, flying fox, mini amphitheatre where movies and gigs are often held and nice grounds for a picnic. I admit the flying fox used to be my favourite aspect of Tahaki Reserve - it was an old wooden one that you held on to, not like the ones you sit on now - and we used to where our rollerblades at the same time. You can imagine the fun we had! Zooming off on the flying fox, only to put your feet down at the end and keep going on your rollerblades! Needless to say I grazed many a knee at Tahaki Reserve when I was younger, and even had the privilege of kicking the top off my toe there - but the fact that it remains one of my favourite parks is testament to how nice it is there. Though I no longer run amuck around the playground, I still enjoy picnic dinners in Tahaki Reserve. Taking hot Chinese takeaways and sitting on the wee stage in the top corner of the park is a pretty nice way to spend an evening with your partner, or group of friends, not to mention it's perfect for midday picnics with the family and a friendly game of Frisbee! Tip: Tahaki Reserve also hosts full moon parties on occasion - a whole lot of free-spirited people gather in the park and party the night away - it's pretty cool!

Since moving to Newmarket I've been at a loss for where I can exercise outside comfortably - that…read morewas, until my partner introduced me to Tahaki Reserve. It's an expansive, nicely sheltered park on the side of Mount Eden that's also easy to get to & from. A quick walk here ensures I've got plenty of fun, physical things to do; from braving the Flying Fox, hill sprints up a refreshingly even paved path, cartwheels along the lush grass fields, hopping onto the adult-friendly swings, testing my metal on the small merry-go round, hanging on the monkey bars and even playing a quick game of tic tac toe! My partner and I spent hours here enjoying the sun and revelling in the opportunity to have fun whilst getting fit. I got to embrace my inner child in a perfectly lovely environment that I'll be sure to visit regularly from now on. Afterwards, due to the great location, it was all to easy for us to stroll past a dairy for a sneaky ice cream in celebration of our favourite new park. I recommend Tahaki Reserve to both adults and children, there's something's for everyone to enjoy.

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.

Thanks to our New Zealand friends (Geoffrey and Margaret), whom we met the year before during our…read morecruise through Southeast Asia, for planning a day of fun, exercise, and good eats in Auckland. We started with a hike up Mount Eden (Maungawhau), a dormant volcano and the highest natural point in Auckland, offering panoramic views of the city from its summit. As we hiked uphill along pathways and boardwalks to the summit, our friends explained that Mount Eden is a culturally significant Māori site, pointing out its historical Māori pā (fortified village) terraces and its sacred 160-ft-deep crater. It took us about 18 minutes to hike up from the parking lot to the summit while following the pathway to the boardwalks. The uphill hike was relatively easy with an elevation gain of nearly 240 feet, and I was sure glad that my osteoarthritic knee wasn't "acting up." We prepared for this hike by taking physically challenging shore excursions and actively exercising pre- and during our cruise. After all, we didn't want to reach the summit wheezing and out of breath, because we truly wanted to enjoy the panoramic views and take in the cultural and historical background from our younger friends. It was very windy atop and along the summit boardwalks, and I had to either hold on or lean into the handrails, otherwise be blown about like tumbleweed. At the summit, we were treated to a 360° panoramic view of Auckland city, its nearby neighborhoods, the iconic Sky Tower, Auckland Harbor Bridge, Rangitoto Island, and a glimpse of the South towards the Auckland Airport. Instead of returning to our vehicle the same way we had climbed up, our friends guided us downhill on a less steep, paved private roadway. Our round-trip hike took about an hour, and it was a beautiful day to spend with friends, enjoying iconic sights and learning about Māori history and culture.

At 196 meters high, Mount Eden, a dormant volcano, is the highest natural point in Auckland. It…read morewas named in honour of George Eden, the 1st Earl of Auckland (a white guy), by Governor William Hobson (another white guy). In the Māori language, Mount Eden is called Maungawhau, which means "mountain of the whau tree". At the top of Mount Eden/Maungawhau is a large, grassy crater 50 meters deep which is sacred to the Māori and must not be entered. Mount Eden/Maungawhau is a popular for hiking, and while it is not a long or difficult hike, there are steep sections. Around the crater are boardwalks that were installed in 2020 for people to take a stroll. Fortunately when we went hiking on Mount Eden/Maungawhau, the weather was nice, although it was quite windy at the top. I took a lot of photos to try and capture the beauty of the area, but it's something you just have to experience in person. If you like hiking and nature, don't miss Mount Eden/Maungawhau. [Yelp collections: NZ/Fiji 2023; New Zealand 2023; Hiking]

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

Potters Park is beautiful and historic with gorgeous tall Norfolk Pines and a darn good playground…read more(and, randomly, an award-winning toilet block). The park's amenities also include basketball courts which always seem to be in use and one of the most excellent things about the playground here is that it's fully fenced. I've spent a lot of time in this park and can recommend it for kids of all ages. I would say though to go hard on the sunblock and make sure the kids are wearing hats, because the Westerley sun in the afternoons is haaaaarsh bro. I know that's probably a bonus to a lot of people but I'm part vampire and just melt. Despite the traffic at the busy intersection, this is another of Auckland's really great green spaces and the "pigeon lady" who feeds the birds here is one of the local Balmoral personalities that make it such a cool neighbourhood.

I know Potter's Park only because it hosts the terrific annual Auckland International Cultural…read moreFestival, and it make the perfect location. The park is big enough so that there's plenty of room for a good-sized stage as well as heaps of stalls, but small enough so that it still feels like a community event, and you're pretty much guaranteed a good view even if you're not right at the front. There's also all the usual parky stuff - a playground, toilets, and lots of big old trees, so I'd say it'd be a good spot for any of the other events it regularly hosts - including Family Fun Days, Carols by Candlelight, and the Community Spirit Family Carnival - as well for a family day out.

To call this a reserve - or even really a park - is to give this patch of ground more grandness…read morethan it really deserves. A better way to describe this is a piece of waste land, too small to put a house on, that Auckland has decided to justify the existence of by putting some toilets on it and a sign that says 'Sandringham Reserve'. Luckily the council took one extra step in glorifying this awkwardly-shaped street corner, and this is its saving grace. They put a playground on it and, although not large, it is a decent one. It's that usual wood-with-primary-coloured-pipes-and-plastic set-up that anyone who's been to a park in New Zealand in the last twenty years will be familiar with, and it's the only one in or around the Sandringham village, unless you're willing to take your small children on a hike up to the primary school by Pizza Haven, and nobody will be keen on that, not children or parents. Good thing there's Sandringham Reserve then, right?

Cute colourful and clever little park. Pretty new by the looks. Great size for keeping an eye on…read moreboth kids at once. Fully fenced, toilets and picnic space nearby and great coffee over road at Atomic. Amazing what you can create with stumps, planks, concrete and a few old tyres. Would've loved a swing or two but the kids (3.5 & 1yo) really enjoyed it all the same

I only discovered this reserve while looking for parking. Mt Eden village has many cafes and food…read moreplaces, Mt Eden has a reputation for being a good cafe district. Quite often though, the more popular places will be cram packed with people, so if you wanted to get your food and go someplace a bit more quiet then this is a good spot. There are park benches and tables closer to the playground or you could sit on the grass. In a space closer to the parking lot there are a lot of benches surrounding a circular area. Whenever I have over 15 minutes to wait for a bus, I'll go and sit here. Especially on a sunny day this is a nice place to sit and relax.

Essex Reserve is a lovely wee park right in Mt Eden village but tucked behind so it's off the main…read moredrag. It has a good little playground, some nice big shady trees and a cool sculpture by Richard Wedekind called Bystanders. What I love most about this reserve is its community events; I've been to a Halloween event here that had witches with cauldrons, face painters, lucky dips for the kids and lots more. The annual Artists in Eden event is also held here (and in fact is coming up very shortly), which is a really great day out for the whole family as well as the chance to see well-known local artists create an entire work in just a few hours. To me Essex Reserve is an integral part of Mt Eden whether it's playing host to festivities or simply providing an oasis in the urban hubbub.

When my 6 year old nephew comes to stay with me, we spend a lot of time at this park! It's super…read moreclose to where I live and it has different play grounds to suit different ages, There is a "little kid's" playground with safe swings and slides that aren't so long or steep and there is also a "big kid's" playground that's quite separate. You have to climb up some stairs to get to it. I think the separation is quite good though because quite often the little kids can be a bit intimidated of the boisterous big kids. In this playground there is a huge slide going down the side of the hill which was great fun for my nephew and also a big flying fox. I would definitely recommend to parents or babysitters because there is space to park and it's not right on a busy road.

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.

This is a reasonable sized park for a neighbourhood park. It is situated between St Leonards Ave…read moreand Watling Ave (which both run off Mt Eden Road). There is rolling grass, a playground, and even a tree swing to discover, which is popular with the kids. The perfect park for children to be able to play hide and seek in or my favourite game from back in the day 'go home stay home'. I visited this park a few times during the summer to just lie out in the sun with a book - very relaxing! So if you haven't yet discovered this local park, how about visiting it on the next sunny day, because I think it is pretty great.