We went here on recommendation of a friend and what a discovery. This is one of those reviews I…read morewasn't sure I should write because once the secret is out, some of the magic of this place will be lost in the crowds. There's a few in the know already because we certainly weren't alone but it's absolultely one of the quietest beaches I've been to in a long time. It's calm and safe, albeit a little sharp underfoot and the tide never seems to go out very far. There's a grassy area under the trees if you prefer or a reasonable amount of shade under the rockfaces. It's really beautiful and we spent an afternoon here quietly relaxing with everyone doing their own thing (read boys throwing things around and digging holes, the girl making a beautiful sand sculpture and the parents snoozing and reading). Bliss.

Good beach for swimming when a nor'easterly blows (it's calm then). Also not very tidal, unlike (to…read moremy knowledge) all other Manukau harbour beaches. Been going there for years.

We went here during the summer in order to relive my husband's golden memories of his youth but…read morefound it somewhat lacking. Only in New Zealand could you say that about a beach that looks this good but hey, we can't help it, we're spoilt for choice. It's roomy but busy and the shade provided by the overhanging pohutakawas is in hot (literally) demand. Like most of the beaches in this west coast chain, there's a large grassed area as well if you don't want to get down on the sand. We squished in under a spot of shade, a little too close to another family but that was the only protected spot that was left. The kids climbed the tree a bit but the swimming was muddy, slimy and sludgy which was ok but didn't engender repeated dips. I'd say try one of the more quiet ones further down the road.

Cornwallis seems to be the beach you go to when you cant really be bothered driving all the way out…read moreto Piha or one of the other West Coast beaches. This seems kind of silly, as by the time you have driven out this far, you may as well keep on going. However, Cornwallis has its own charms. If you walk down past the rocks you can get to Cornwallis wharf and do some bombs (try do these at full tide,) or if you bring a rod do a bit of fishing - this seems to be a pretty hot spot for catching the occasional kahawai. There are also heaps of walks around, including one that goes up to the memorial on the hill which is so important it has trees cut out just so you can see it from the beach.

Blockhouse Bay Beach is, strictly speaking, artificial. The white sand on the beach is trucked in…read moreto create the beach area for people to enjoy, but once you're out into the water, it's actually a muddy bottom, which you can see at low tide. Don't let this put you off though, as the water tends to be nice and calm, sheltered from the harbour as it is by the headland. We went down to check it out as a place to paddleboard from, and we had a great time paddling out past the headland and around the basin. The park facilities are awesome, and despite being right in the middle of the suburbs, it never really tends to be that busy, which is choice, as I hate beaches and parks that get spoilt by an overabundance of people. All in all, a great little spot to head out for a paddle, or chill out with fish and chips on the grass and enjoy the day.

This side of the harbour seems to be strangely under used, I suspect because everyone heads out to…read morethe more scenic Titirangi, but it's actually a really good place to come and hang out on a good day. Blockhouse Bay is a little horseshoe shape, so it's a bit more sheltered than some of the other beaches around the area which are more exposed, so even on a windy day it's quite pleasant. Swimming isn't that wonderful here as the tide never comes in that far, so it's always a bit of a wade out to somewhere where it's more than ankle deep, but it's a good place for a wander, or a swing on the swings, or just to sit and read a book and eat an iceblock.

The Waitakere ranges was one of the biggest draw cards for my husband and I to settling out West…read morewhen we moved here last year from Australia. The West of Auckland has a hit and miss reputation, but that is ok, so does Tasmania in Aus where we were living for the last five years. We have managed to go camping out in Whatipu, Waitakere Ranges, once so far, visited most of the beaches, and done a couple of tramps around the bush a bit closer to the city side. No major, hard-core tramps/camps for days on end, but more leisurely 'park the car day trips' kind of thing. I would highly recommend going with the kids if you are interested too, there is a variety of walks set out that would suit many levels of fitness. It is also well maintained with conservation awareness well set up, so taking the kids would be educational as well as the many other blessings you get when you go.

This past Easter weekend, my family and I spent two of the four days travelling across the…read moreWaitakere ranges. First visit was to the amazing Bethells Beach to get through the ranges, we had to start our journey at scenic drive, merging with Te Henga road, and then Bethells road which travels up the northern ridge of the ranges. We travelled through the beautiful cascade Kauri zone (where if you're keen for stretching the legs walk the 8 km track to see the biggest Kauri trees in Auckland) and finally arrived at the west coast- Bethells Beach. The drive is purely scenic as its name describes, and nature at its finest. The other journey I took was to Huia and Whatipu Beach, We started at Titirangi, and following signs headed towards the southern part of the ranges, first you past turn off's for Cornwallis, Huia and once in Little Huia, follow the Whatipu road which climbs up into the forest before plunging down towards Whatipu and the beach- this road is gravel and very twisty so be prepared for the drive. I really enjoyed my adventures through the ranges and loved the scenery and beaches I found.

I came here for a wedding and I was really stoked on the venue. It is modest but yet so amazing as…read moreit looks right over the water. There are balconies around the entire building so the guests can take in the fresh sea air and the beautiful view. I'd recommend checking the tides though so that your wedding lines up with high tide as it goes out quite a way. While we waited for the couple to arrive we went for a walk around the water on the beach. It's the perfect way to have a chilled out Kiwi wedding. We watched the sunset across the harbour while eating dinner by caterers the couple got in. It was a really beautiful setting; as good as you'll get really and for a fraction of the price. It's not a huge venue but would be perfect for a smaller wedding. At the end of the night they just cleared the tables and made way for a dance floor.

A couple of my friends have got married here, and while the view is absolutely fantastic, the venue…read moreitself isn't that great. Hold that thought, it's a great venue for a small wedding; a terrible venue for a not so small wedding. My friend's wedding wasn't the smallest so we were packed in, not comfortably either. Our table was right next to the bar so people seemed to be around us constantly, and my head kept smacking against the side of the bar where our table was. The best thing about the venue however are the balconies. They wrap right around one side over the beach. The sea smell is gorgeous and the views are stunning, especially when the sun starts to set. The whole place is surrounded by huge windows making it appear bigger than it is, and giving great light and views from everywhere. Fantastic photo ops, especially for selfies.

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.

As a recent new pet owner I still find myself constantly on the prowl for dog friendly beaches in…read morethe Auckland area. So far a good rule of thumb is that the Regional Parks are a good bet on being dog friendly, Dept of Conservation tracks/parks are usually a no-go zone, and Council land are 50/50. The Kakamatua inlet is basically a dog's dream and it's actually fun for owners too. There's about a 5-minute bush walk to get to the beach and opens up to an ample off-lead beach with no time-of-day restrictions throughout the year. The beach is super tidal so if you go at low tide the beach about triples in size, but don't worry about high tide as there is still ample beach for your pooch. The waves are gentle and swim-friendly for dogs of all sizes and it's a really good place for dogs to brush up on their social skills. The car park can be quite full as it is a real local favorite (especially on the weekend). There are several rubbish bins at various points of the walk to dispose of your pooch's dirty business and there is even a loo for humans too! If you're looking for an off-lead dog friendly beach especially during summer venturing out West to the Kakamatua Inlet won't disappoint!

I love kakamatua because my dog has an amazing time at this beach! She loves too run around and…read moreplay on the huge massive space! I recommend taking your dog/s to play because there is often many other dogs there too! But just be careful because there are crabs in the water so take your water shoes just incase but besides by that the beach is very fun!

During my photography course at uni, I really needed to discover natural locations that looked like…read moreuntamed wildernesses. I got on google and searched around, discovering Otuataua Stonefields. When I got there it was amazing! It had farm type fields, small beaches, forest and track walks. It took the best part of a day to walk around and I didn't see a single person the whole time. It has excellent parking, no security but I guess you just park there at your own risk. Also if you visit, take some food and water because there definitely is nothing around haha, also wear good walking shoes. Another thing, there are NO toilets there, just saying, things could get a little awkward. I still think regularly think about my day at the stonefields and can't wait to return!

A really neat place to wander around if you a) like wandering around, and b) are interested in the…read morehistory of the area. If neither of those things appeal then this isn't the place for you. I walked through the Stonefields on my journey on the Te Araroa trail so I didn't linger too long as I had a full pack in tow, but I enjoyed the quiet emptiness of the place. Didn't see anyone else (which helped when I had to answer to nature's call; what can I say, I was super hydrated) which makes you feel like you're having a more remote experience which is nice. It's a cool place to explore, as long as you don't get too unnerved by sharing the area with cows.

The ultimate, one and only dog friendly beach in Auckland. Here you can bring your dogs to freely…read moreroam and meet up with other dog-minded friends of the two- and four-legged variety. Just past Cornwallis Beach is Kakamatua. Park in the carpark and then it's a ten minute bush walk to the river estuary and ultimately the beach. At high tide the sandy stretch is diminished, but at low tide you can walk right down to the end of the tidal bay where you get an incredibly beautiful view out to the Manukau headland. This is also a place to bring families as we have had many a great day out here. Pack a picnic, the sunscreen and enjoy.

Great for dog watching…read more I have a dog. She also watches other dogs then she catches a ball at this particular beach. On busy days, there will often be a bit of a scuffle between some crazy mutts, but nothing too serious. Um. Yeah. It's a nice place. Quiet and good for plane watching too, if you like that. Dogs. Planes. Beach. Yup.

I've spent way too much time here over the years; it can't be helped if you have kids. The little…read moreones LOVE it and by little I mean, preschoolers and up to about age 10. There's a nice warm baby pool and the shallows of the main pool are full of interactive water thingies, and of course a slide. There's "the lazy river" which is kind of an alternative to a whirlpool but what's most special about here is the waves, dude. They don't turn the waves on all the time mainly I think because they're bloody dangerous. Hold on tight to your toddler because the floor is really slippery and the force is enough to knock adults over easily, let alone adults holding another small body. Seriously, be careful. The hydroslide is pretty cool as far as these things go but the up the stairs and the shivering is not for me. Which I'm sure is fine with the kids. My reckoning is that this is Auckland's busiest pool so if you do have a little one in the big pool it's incredibly stressful trying to keep track of them. Go when your kids can swim on their own.

I used to come to this pool every single morning to swim laps before I went to work. My absolute…read morefavourite thing about this place was the kind of clientele it encased. Rapidly aging Asian men in the most terrific striped speedos imaginable. Pregnant women. Sad people. Lots of sad people. I dunno, it was a good people watching spot. The lane pool was never overly busy and the water was always a nice refreshing temperature. The price was okay. I think pools generally are a bit of a rip off. I probably wouldn't have gone here if it wasn't the closest pool to my house. But I did, and I'm perfectly at peace with the time I spent there. Three stars.