Commonly know as the 'Secret Beach' this reserve is so awesome. Probably one of my top five spots…read morein Auckland, which is saying a lot. You walk down a set of steps to find the cutest little beach in what seems like the middle of the city. And the best thing is that there is usually no one there! This is unheard of for most Auckland beaches and I love that it's like that. The beach looks out over the harbour and also at the harbour bridge, which makes it the perfect date spot. I've also got friends who've had wedding photos there. But you do need to be aware of when it is low and high tide as it goes out a little way. We like to go get a coffee from Jervois Road and take it down with us. Nature truly provides the best setting to enjoy a good coffee.

Super beach reserve which looks out towards the Chelsea Sugar Factory. There is a toilet and…read moreshower in the reserve which is handy. On the beach there are lovely low hanging Pohutukawa which provide some shade if you want. The best time to come here is a couple of hours either side of high tide.

You can walk for hours along the Harbourview Walkway and experience a variety of terrain. Parking…read moreis easy at Orangihina Park (465 Te Atatu Road). You can walk South or North from here. We went North. You immediately go through a tunnel of trees on a nice gravel and paved pathway, this walks by a number of storm catchment ponds with lush plant life. There are several beach areas including Harbor View Beach Reserve which has nice views toward Auckland City and some sea wall and boardwalks. Continuing north you go inland a bit from the sea with several nice grassy parks. At the northernmost part of the trail is the Whau West Walkway which traverses boardwalk areas over the marsh with yet more varieties of plant life. We did a 2.5 mile each way out and back and were glad we did this longer walk as the plant life and views changed quite a bit throughout the walk.

I stumbled across this great wee spot last time I was out West. Located off Te Atatu Road,…read moreHarborview is a park that boasts the most spectacular view of Auckland City. Despite growing up and living in Auckland, I'd never seen a view of the city like this. You could see everything from the North Shore and the Harbour Bridge, to the Skytower and high-rises and all the way out to Mt Albert, Point Chevalier and Blockhouse Bay. Unfortunately at the time I was there it was raining, but on a clear sunny day I can only imagine how much better the view would be. Despite the bad weather, when I was last there a wedding was taking place, and I couldn't help but appreciate how great the location was for such a special occasion. There is a little decked area that the ceremony was being held on, and while facing the bride and groom, the guests could also appreciate the brilliant view of the city. Definitely a good place to keep in mind if you're planning your big day and you're Auckland locals! Harbourview would also be a lovely place to park up and enjoy a picnic and run around with the kids.

Having decided to try visiting this bird sanctuary on a lark (thanks folks, I'll be here all…read morenight), I was impressed enough with it. One visits by boat either from downtown Auckland (which I imagine is a scenic ride) or from a more remote peninsula near the island where the boat stops just before reaching it (which is nice if you want somewhere free to park for the day). The boat ride is most of the cost; for a small additional fee you get a guided tour lead by one of a remarkably large number of local volunteers. Why not? The guide leads you through the middle of the island with some narration, before finishing at a lighthouse and leaving you the second half of the day to roam alone. There weren't that many visible birds during New Zealand "winter"; you'd here more than you see. The island was once a farm before being purposefully replanted as a forest. Things grow fast here; it looks quite wild. Up to the point of reaching the light house, I'd probably have written a four star review. However, they buried the lead. Exploring alone yielded vast panoramic views of the entire region. The island is centrally located between the city and a variety of other islands. New Zealand's indigenous people are of Polynesian descent, and while you walk around here you might confuse the volcanic landscapes, abundant greenery, and clear turquoise water for a more archetypically Polynesian vacation spot. There are a few swimmable spots. It is a big enough island that there were significant areas of track that I did not see even after hustling around the coastline. Always leave 'em wanting more, the saying goes. If I had occasion to, I wouldn't mine going again, which having paid $60 to see an island that had no trees at the time I was born is something. Tips: *There were a ton of local schoolkids, but the guides kindly separated out kids and adults for the tour, and once you're off the boat, it really isn't an issue. *Adults get free tea and coffee at the end of the tour, but no food. There is literally nothing even to buy. Bring decent food. *A truck loads any bags you might want to leave at the wharf, and carries them to the lighthouse and back, meaning you do not need to carry what you bring while walking the island. *They are very concerned about biosecurity, so wear clean shoes and bring only closed, zippable bags. *Apparently the name means that it's a really windy island. Which it really is. Be ready for wild temperature differences based on wind and shade.

Seriously one of Auckland's greatest outdoor treasures. This pest-free island is a magical place…read morethat harkens back to the days before massive deforestation for farming, hunting, and introduction of pests shrank the population of New Zealand's birds. The bird songs you'll hear here are incredible! Amazing work has been done to reforest native plants and trees, and reintroduce rare birds on this island. You can see hihi (stitchbirds), saddlebacks, kakariki (red crowned parakeets), bellbirds, north island robin, heaps and heaps of tui, wood pigeon, little blue penguins, kokako (if you're lucky) and of course, my favorite - the takahē (a population of less than 300 exist in the world, and this is one of the few places you can see them in the wild - plus BABIES!) So worth paying the $70 to take the ferry out there. Pack your lunch and your sunscreen, bring your swimsuit and good hiking shoes, and get ready for an amazing day. The extra $5 for the guided tour is worth doing at least once. The guides are very knowledgable and will point out the birds and interesting plants and give you a history of the island. However, when we went the second time without the group, we saw heaps more birds, I think as we were separate from many of the larger (noisier) groups. I'm dying to stay overnight at the DOC hut and try to spot a kiwi! The huts are booked well in advance so you're gonna have to troll the website for an opening. Also be sure to book your trip well in advance as the ferry can book up during peak season, and you don't want to miss out!!

Peaceful spot to relax. Love going down here when it's raining. Good playground for the kids and…read morehas public restrooms that are clean.

What I love about Island Bay Road Wharf and playground is how calm and peaceful it is, and I would…read morerather not too many people know about it. You can bring your kids here to the playground and on a nice day its just gorgeous as the playground is right next to the water and you can watch the yachts sailing by and just relax a bit either during the day, after work or in the weekend while your kids are having a good play. At full tide you can swim here and at low tide you can actually have a BBQ down at the beach if you have a portable BBQ and its just nice to run around and play in the sand and water.

Such a great little beach!! I came here when I had a Thursday off and spent almost three hours…read morelaying in the sun and cooling off in the water. The beach is small but not overly crowded, and there is even a dock in the water for kids (or adults haha). There is a grassy area right by the beach if you want to chill out in the shade for a while. That would be a great spot for a picnic! There is street parking available but no car park. This probably helps keep it not so crowded There are public bathrooms with showers to wash the sand off, but make sure to bring your own soap or hand sanitizer as the bathroom doesn't stock soap. Overall this is a great beach if you're looking to catch some sun - there isn't much shade on the beach but if you want some, head on to the grass. Make sure to bring your own water and snacks! It's based in a residential area so you won't have lots of food and drink options.

Since Pt Chev beach was re-sanded it's really become a gem of a city beach. It is great for a…read morepicnic date, a family adventure, or a good beach adventure for your pooch. Parking can be a bit difficult during the summer but there is also plenty of street parking before the Coyle Park car park. It's off-leash for dogs all the time during the winter and before 9am and after 7pm during the summer. The only real important thing to be mindful of is the tide. Pt Chev beach is incredibly tidal so if you rock up during low tide expecting to go for a swim it ain't gonna happen. Likewise, if you arrive expecting to go for a beach walk at high tide, it will prove nearly impossible. Otherwise, Pt Chev beach is one of those places that makes Auckland such a great city to live in.

Looking for a quiet place to be alone, while listening to the subtle swoosh of winter waves? Then…read morewalk to the end of Herne Bay road and descend down the steps into the calmness of this secluded beach. It is not grand in scale, but it does have beautiful sunset views of the west. There is a bench above the beach for picnics, as well as a restroom for public use. Surrounded by homes above this is surely a location where the locals come to visit. While not the most epic beach in Auckland, it holds its own and would be a great place to come for a short stroll along the water.

Wicked little reserve and beach just off the North Western motorway…read more This place is a popular spot for kite surfers as the prevailing wind heads offshore most of the time, and when the tide's in on a sunny day you can spot heaps of these madmen speeding along the beach. It's also a really nice place to stop for a nice picnic and watch the sun go down. It even has a playground to keep the kids busy, and toilets onsite too, just in case.

Fun times at this gorgeous beach. Come an hour either side of high tide. The reserve has a toilet,…read more shower and seating.

The discovery of Sentinel Beach makes me excited that there are more of these babies just waiting…read moreto be found. If I have lived in Auckland for 24 years and haven't even heard of a place 10 minutes from my house, then imagine how much more there is to discover! Sentinel Beach is a little gem. There isn't any big carparks or reserves, and the only way i saw to access it was by foot. It's rather hidden. As a result it is never crowded and despite being smack bang in the middle of town, you feel like you're up north somewhere. Swim safely in calm and teal-coloured waters, relax on the soft sun, take shade under one of the gorgeous big trees or take a stroll around the rocks. Great restaurants and bars are just a quick walk away as is public transport to get you to wherever you want to go easily. Lovely.

This is a great park to bring the kids or just yourself for a play or picnic, its surrounded by the…read morepeaceful native bush, it has access to the beach if you want to go down there as well. There is the kids playground area with all the standard play things, swings, stuff to climb, slides etc. Then there is the big park which you can walk or run or bike around and stop and do some exercises on the exercise equipment along the way, no need to join a Gym. The park also has big rugby and soccer fields and tennis and squash courts are located here. The best entrance for the playground is if coming from the Beach Haven shops there is an entrance on the left before John Bracken Way. So all in all its a very handy park.

Tui Park is one of my new local parks, its a great park with the standard playing areas with swings…read moreand slides. It also has this cool big climbing net and even the fathers can get up there with their kids, I think its best for around 5 plus, its a bit big for the littler ones. It features a neat skateboard/scooter area which the kids love. It also has a big grass area to run around and play a bit of sport, cricket, softball etc. There is also access down to the beach from the park via a small bush walk. I have also been to a number of the Summer fun days in the park here which are really good. Also possibly in the future the Beach Haven Plunket may move to this park.