This is such a wonderful beautiful park. We landed in Auckland after a long flight and just wanted…read moreto stretch and get some fresh air, this was the perfect choice! We took the field trail up, I did it in sandals but sneakers or hiking shoes would be better, and we took the road on the way down. There were people having picnics, kids playing, dogs walking, people just enjoins the great outdoors. As we started the trail you can see cattle, a small cafe, and more at the bottom. As you climb the views are amazing. A 360 panoramic view of Auckland is visible from the top. It was just a majestic view from the top. Walk is easy, the views are spectacular, the trees are so unique and huge, it was lovely.

Lovely food great setting. The staff are friendly and it's a great place for families…read more 5 star

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.

On the first day of our trip, we had just flown into Auckland the night before, and wanted to check…read moresomething off our bucket list right away. Going to a black sand beach ended up being super simple as this beach is located in Waitakere Ranges Regional Park and is only a 45 minutes drive from Auckland. What could be easier? The drive is beautiful and it was a straightforward find with the assistance of google maps.They have a nice visitor's parking area with well maintained toilets, information on hiking and local activities, and even a picnic area. The walk out to the beach was short and we enjoyed a rewarding coastline and soft smooth sand. We were there during the end of winter, so it was still pretty cold and windy but no less beautiful. It is a dog friendly spot and a lot of people were out flying kites and walking their furry buddies. It's a great location to spend a few hours or the better part of a day; and if you're traveling from a country where black sand beaches don't exist, it's an easy check off that must see list.

Beautiful rugged beach out West. I had my first visit here today; plenty of other people were also…read moreenjoying the sunny, summer public holiday. Families with their kites, pet dogs, a few surfers and one handful of people (adults and children) were having a model boat race down the water inlet - great idea! Looked like lots of fun! There were lifeguards on duty and they had flags set up to swim in between. Although I didn't see many people out in the water. All the West coast beaches are infamous for their tough swimming conditions. The beach has a nice long stretch of sand, gorgeous views and fresh, beautiful air. What more could you want?

We decided to do a day trip over to Waiheke Island and rented a car so we could do a bit of…read moreexploring. This is one of two beaches that we spent some time on. Like other beaches we have visited in New Zealand, it is astounding how few people were there. Of course it was nearing the end of the summer school holiday, and a weekday, but even at 2 pm on a warm and mostly sunny day, there were only a handful of people and just a few splashing about in the waves. While not huge, at low tide there is a broad flat golden sandy beach perfect for just hanging out. There is some parking in a small lot or on the street too. We had no trouble finding a space. There also is a toilet and a small convenience store nearby. We hung out and enjoyed the sun for about an hour.

Great play ground and pristine beach. The playground is perfect for toddlers and slightly older…read morekids, with swings slides and climbing gyms. It also has picnic tables, but often times in nice weather, everyone takes their picnic down to the beach. Nice beach for swimming with very calm waves, and pretty seashells for beachcombing.

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!

Rangitoto was definitely a highlight of our visit to Auckland. We had a free day and wanted to get…read moresome exploring in, so we took the 10:30 ferry ride on over which was quick and beautiful. The range in microclimate hiking to the summit was fascinating. There were times where it was unbearably hot and then others when it was cool and wet. So interesting! The views, unsurprisingly, were magnificent.

We booked this tour through Fullers/360 Discovery Tours. They made it very simple to find the…read morecorrect dock, pick up our ferry tickets, and hop on board to the island. It was a fun little cruise to Rangitoto and then a very well organized tour and hike once there. We boarded an open-sided cart pulled by a truck/tractor, and it drove us all over the island - with our guide pointing out neat sights along the way, including volcanic fields, old dwellings where the WWII soldiers used to bunk, and some flora and fauna that we passed: birds and pōhutukawa trees (of which Rangitoto is the largest forest in the world). We stopped at the foot of the summit, and those who wanted to venture to the top hopped onto the boardwalk that runs alongside the mountain. It was an easy climb along the flat winding boardwalk, but the views do get a little daunting for those afraid of heights. There is a stop along the way called the crater summit track. Here you can walk around the edge/ring of this very large and very deep volcanic crater. There were lots of beautiful trees and scenic views to stop and see/snap photos of along the way. You can see Motutapu Island from the summit, where it connects to Rangitoto. Our guide said that some people hike from Rangitoto to Motutapu along the causeway connection, but we did not have time for that on this tour. Once we snagged our photos at the top of the summit, we headed back down and then boarded the vehicle again to meander back around the island to the dock and start our journey home. Overall, I would say this island (as part of a tour or a self guided hike with your own ferry pass) is a great way to spend a day. Hiking, beautiful views, and the sights of New Zealand that you don't get from just staying in Auckland!

I went here yesterday for the first time, suggested by some friends from Auckland (who I hadn't…read moreseen in 15 years) as a nice place that would be child friendly. Driving up from Hamilton with two sets of directions (printed from Google maps and navigation from my phone) and we still got a little lost... I'll take some credit for that, but also to forewarn you that the signing up to the park isn't that great and it's a little out of the way. There was plenty of parking when we arrived around 10:15 on a Saturday morning. There were already a lot of people there, appeared to be many birthdays and parties, rented jump houses and the like. There are lots of picnic tables around. It would be friendly for strollers/prams/push chairs. We also brought our son's little balance bike, and he enjoyed riding around on it there. Mostly, it's flat gravel areas for walking, flat grassy areas and very little paved area. The park was free to enter and to view the animals. It didn't appear to be staffed during the time we were there. You just walk around the various animal areas. We saw some rabbits, chickens, sheep, cows, goats, horses and a pig. My son (3-years-old) liked it, but wasn't blown away. Maybe we've been to too many animal parks lately. After walking through the animal areas (took about 30 minutes at a very slow pace), we grabbed a picnic table and chatted until my friends had to leave. One, somewhat bizarre thing, is that we couldn't find any garbage cans/rubbish bins here. So, if you are planning to generate trash, bring some bags with you. There appears to be some camping areas and some walking tracks. We didn't go around any of these, so I don't have any comment about those. Overall, I thought this place was fine, but not amazing. It's free, so you can't complain too much :)

Except for the rain, I had an excellent Ambury Park experience. You go through it as part of the Te…read moreAraroa trail (hiking trail that spans the length of NZ) so it makes an excellent place to stop for the night. I bumped into a park ranger as I arrived and she was really awesome, and since I was hiking the TA, allowed me to camp free of charge. The grass is flat, the toilet facilities are clean, and there's water available: everything a tramper could ever want. I didn't spend much time wandering the rest of the park (after walking in the rain all day I was kind of over it) but it's a nice outdoor area and a great place to take the family.

The drive that takes you around the coast of Maraetai is one of my favourites in all of Auckland…read more The road itself is a little bit dicey in places so do be careful, but it's so beautiful looking out onto the ocean as you drive dangerously close to the cliff. There are many places that you can stop at on the way and admire the view, or get out of the car and go for a swim in the clear water. There are usually a few people jumping off the end of the main wharf in the Summer time, and even some fishermen. I went fishing here once at night time and something huge surfaced just below the wharf and then disappeared. Possibly a whale or a dolphin, but it scared the shit out of us in the pitch darkness. It is known that the Maraetai area can be a bit dangerous at times, with thieves etc. so be aware of your stuff and your car.

The first white sand and blue water beach I have ever been to in New Zealand. I was used to the…read moreblack sand and stony beaches, they are all beautiful but I was wanting something different. The first time we went to Maraetai was when I was 13 and it was Christmas. Man I had the time of my life swimming with my family and friends and enjoyed a beautiful picnic. Now many years later I still love going to this beach and lounging around. Last time I was there my boyfriend and I sat by the rocks and enjoyed the sun. The fresh air at the beach plus the sound of the sea creates a romatic and relaxing setting.