We have been coming here for what seems like forever. Some of my first memories are waking up in…read morethe tent, running down to the water and swimming all day long at Sullivans (Otarawao) Bay. It's an Auckland Regional Council camping ground so it's super cheap to stay in paradise. But this means that the sites book up seriously fast. They open booking six months before you want them and they can sell out in a matter of hour over the summer holiday. It is rather primitive with drop toilets and only a hose tap. But this is part of the fun for us. There is hardly any reception so even though you are not even an hour from Auckland, you feel like you're way out in the whaps. We usually take up kayaks, fishing gear, loads of board games and of course our togs. It's the most amazing way to spend your summers and I am so thankful for my parents for taking me here so many years.

Absolutely love Home Bay. Huge grassy meadow to tent on and still have your own space even when a…read morelot of other people are there. Although I have never experienced a lot of people being there, and I used to go every summer. A calm beach of smooth stones which is great for swimming, and rockpools to explore at low tide. There are walks around both Motutapu and Rangitoto to check out if you're staying a while, otherwise just relax and enjoy the peace. There are flushing toilets, water, and it's only $6 per night (for adults, and $3 for children). You really can't find better. Take the ferry to Rangitoto and hike over, or access the bay itself by private boat. It's possible to kayak here but is recommended for experienced kayakers only.

Cuuuuuute. This place is adorable. Mum bought me and my boyfriend and weekend here for Christmas,…read moreand we went up last weekend. It was so so cute. Sandspit is really close to Aucklanders' favourite - Matakana, and just like Matakana even though you're close, it feels like you're miles away. It was super easy to find despite never having being there and as soon as we arrived we felt more relaxed. The service was super friendly and chilled despite us arriving outside of working hours. We were shown to our little waterfront cabin and left alone for the rest of the time. It was everything we needed, a bed, fully equipped kitchen, bunk beds if you need the, a great deck and a bench for eating on. Oh, and a TV. We were so close to the water and the place is idyllic. It is a favourite for families, so if you are wanting an adult escape, it's probably not the place. But we loved the cheerful family vibes. You can take kayaks out whenever you want, go for walks along the wharf and cook on the great BBQ set up. With Matakana, Goat Island and Omaha just a short drive away, there are plenty of things to do, great food, drinks and adventures to be had.

If I had to pick a favourite day trip out of Auckland there's a high chance that Tawharanui would…read morebe it. It has the most beautiful beach, large enough for everyone to spread out over busy summer weekends but small enough to still feel intimate and easy enough to find friends who've had the same idea as you! You can walk out past the first bay and there is a huge stretch of beach - more popular with the surfers as the break is bigger on this side. If sunbathing and lazing isn't your thing, there are plenty of walks and wildlife in the regional park, and you can even camp here (something I've never done but is on my bucket list). Looking forward to plenty of day trips next summer already!

I'd been in Auckland for precisely two weeks when my friends insisted one hot hungover Sunday that…read morethey were going to drive me to Tawharanui beach for a day of sunbathing. Sit in a car for over an hour? On a boiling hot day? With a hangover? I still can't believe they managed to talk me into it...But I'm oh so glad they did. Tawharanui is without a doubt my favourite out of Auckland day trip. The beach is just gorgeous with perfect white sand, big crashing waves and lots of caves at the side you can explore. It literally makes the inner city beaches pale in comparison. Stop in Matakana for ice-cream or a meal on the way there or back. Load up a cool box with beer and sit and take in the amazing view. Tip: it gets really packed on sunny days so head there early to secure a good spot. Also, not drinking the night before will help to uphold your enthusiasm for the journey.

I have the best memories of my first camping holiday with my family as it was my first time camping…read moreas a new mother of a little infant. The calm peace and tranquility that I experienced at this holiday park will stay with me for life. My powered waterfront tent site was pitched perfectly a few steps from the water's edge on the beautiful Whangateau harbor. Allowing our days to be spent, at leisure taking swims in the bay, and watching time slip away. The region is spoilt with amazing places to visit- drive from here to either Goat Island Marine reserve or any of the stunning beaches and bays of the coast. The park offers a few different options too with accommodation, you can choose with the powered sites, the onsite caravans or cabins. The bathrooms, kitchen and BBQ area are all situated in one large block, at opposite sides of each other and closely in zone with accommodation. The shower's cost only a 50 cent coin in the machine which lasts a good few minutes. We didn't need to use the laundry for our short stay; however I admired the cosiness of the dining and TV/games room. I liked that the field adjacent had lots of space for the little ones to run about and of course the close water play kept us all happy!

This is a beautiful and well looked after Holiday Park, in an amazing location, literally right…read morebeside the beach. It is only a short walk and you can find yourself on Pakiri Beach, which is a pretty stunning beach in itself. I've been here a few times for swimming and snorkelling, and the water is usually really clear. We also tried a bit of surfcasting off the beach, but only managed to catch a few small kahawai. You can't ask for a much better location really, and the staff/owners are friendly and accommodating. They have a whole range of cabins to choose from, and plenty of space for tents. One downside is that this place is very expensive, even just for camping. Be prepared to pay a bit extra, especially in peak season when prices skyrocket.

There's an urban legend about Parakai that involves a woman squeezing the pus out of pimples on her…read moreman's back while sitting in a hot pool. I almost feel like I have seen it happen myself because I actually think I did. In the really hot adults-only pool. Anyway, such are the risks you take when sharing water with others. Ergh. The whole place has hardly changed in years and has a slightly sad faded feel about it which does nothing to deter the masses from descending, particular on chilly Winter's days. The slides are pretty rough but the kids think that's a good thing (uh huh) and the facilities in general are just a bit dilapidated. Still, it's so wholeheartedly Kiwi that you just gotta love it. I remember we used to have friends who would take their campervan to Helensville (the whole 40 minute drive from home) and camp at the campground here, which is part of the Springs complex. I was so jealous. Now I'm not really sure why you would - it's nice and green enough but there's better places. Still, like I said, it's classic Noo Zilland.

I hadn't been to Parakai since the last year of High School which was over 10 years back, so was…read morelooking forward to seeing if anything had changed since my last visit. Other than possibly redoing the reception, and maybe cafe area, I don't think a lot has changed since I last swam here. I did have a blast coming down the hydro slides with the kids on the mats provided; however I'm sure the owners could possibly put a bit more money in sprucing up the facilities and particularly the padding on the stairs up to the top as it looks a bit tired in places. The hot pool inside is great, and had it been a colder time of year I would of spent more time inside, however it was sweltering hot, so I had a quick splash and spent more time in the sun, and riding the slide. It felt like the busiest Saturday ever, 100's packed in to the springs, and the pool was a sea of faces- quite fun, but also hard to enjoy your own space really. I would recommend trying the pools out on a week day, when the kids at school next time.

Waipu Cove is a great wee beach and a lovely destination for a fun day trip out of Auckland. There…read moreare a few nice beaches nearby and this is one of my favourites. This is a well known spot for surfers and surf life savers. It's a really long beach which means even on the busiest of days there is room for everyone. Speaking of busy days, it can be a bit of a challenge to find a park, but as in rural New Zealand, just park up on the side of the road. The last time I went there, there was a Surf Life Saving event on and the place was buzzing. The water is generally safe to swim in and there are often great waves to be had. The sand isn't the nicest, by that I mean it's not white. But it's all good, because e harder sand is great for playing sports on. There is also an awesome walkway from here to Langs Beach and fantastic swimming spots at either end. There's a really great looking Camp site right on the edge of the beach which goes off around the holidays. A very cool place to visit.

This is probably one of my favourite camp sites around, and it's not all that far from Auckland…read moreCity. It's pretty cheap to stay here, and if you get your timing right and miss the peak season you will have the campsite almost to yourself. Everything here is clean and well maintained, and the staff are extremely friendly and happy to answer any questions. All these things are great, but that's not even the best part. The best part about this campsite is its location. It's situated right on the edge of Waipu Cove Beach; a beautiful white sand beach that is massive and usually pretty deserted, the beach is an awesome place to swim, fish, and just chill out. I can't wait to come back here for a holiday. There are other nice beaches around this area too if you're keen to go for a drive and check them out.

I was truly excited to visit Whatipu Beach because I have been to so many of our West Auckland…read morebeach favourites, but I had not experienced this wonder. Upon arrival I was off with my family to walk the 20 minute/1.5km track to the Whatipu Caves. On the walk to the biggest cave you pass smaller old sea caves along the track, they are really fun to walk into for some exploring. The big cave was very impressive; I really enjoyed walking around and hearing my voice bounce around its walls. I made sure I listened to the department of conservation- and sprayed a disinfectant on the bottoms of my shoes before and after entering the walk; this would help prevent the deadly Kauri collar rot which is easily passed from soiled footwear to trees. After the cave walk, I headed to the beach for a bite of lunch and a chance to soak in the scenery, hardly a sole to see. Picturesque waves rolled in to the shore, while in the distance the Manukau bar dramatically splashed up almost to say check me out I'm dangerous. I will be back Whatipu I promised as I departed this afternoon- you are a mysterious beauty.

Over Christmas my husband and I knew we wanted to go camping but also wanted some quietude, so we…read morelooked somewhere close to home, the Waitakere ranges were it, and Whatipu Lodge camp grounds looked quite remote but interesting. It took quite a windy drive to get to, passing very close to the oceans edge and down some narrow curly passes but with just a mild case of nausea (for me) we eventually got there. The space was very open and had one other camper nearby, a family tenting. We have a van decked out, which was ideal as the place was very windy and wet. It rained the whole time, but I liked it none the less, it wasn't cold and a bit of rain is no drama in my world. The hike up the big hill was easy and gave amazing views of the coast that we had walked along earlier in the day. The wind up on the cliffs did mean we had to keep our wits about us, and no rock climbing. We tried to get to the caves but it wasn't really possible without more serious wet weather gear, we got soggy shoes and socks even through the mere attempt to get at them. I recently read about all the ghost sightings in this place, we saw, nor felt, none, but it did give off a rather haunting feel. But that could also be because it felt like such an isolated environment and was so wet and windy. We did, however, see a lot of bird life. Bird watching is not a hobby of mine but it was kind of cool to see so many and all their antics. The lodge caretakers came over to the car and collected the $15 (per night, per car) and had a brief chat soon after we had arrived. Bookings are essential before you arrive.

Beautiful lush trails along the waterfront, offering tranquil views of the headlands and ocean…read more There are about four or five different trail options. Do not be fooled by the time stamped on the map though. The 1.5 hr trail was a mere 45-50 minutes. I suppose it depends on your hike speed, but it certainly wasn't near 1.5 hours. I suggest the perimeter track (which is listed as a 2.5 hr loop) for some epic views of the Puhoi River, Moturoa Isl. and the ocean. There are rest benches along the ridge, so bring a lunch and enjoy the view above before making the trek down. The only issue I had with this park was the amount of stairs during the ascent. I'd say we came across three sets of stairs with at least 30-40 steps each! We assume it was for the preservation of the roots, or that the terrain was not very stable. Being winter season we caught our fair share of rain. I would absolutely like to return during a full Sun day. Especially since it's less than an hours drive from Auckland!

Here you will find such a beautiful scenic park, with a fantastic beach to swim at in summer…read more I love Wenderholm, there is so much to offer here. Massive old Pohutakawa's line the park and bloom to maximum beauty during the hottest months of the year. I really enjoy taking my son to the beach as its super safe, have nice calm waters, and also close by an estuary which is also brilliant for child play. Stunning views across the sea call for many hours spent lying at the beach, reading that fave book or building sandcastles with the little ones. Super facilities for the public; include lots of space to choose a private spot, birds roaming in their natural habitat, lots of picnic tables to use, and public bathrooms. Be sure to spend a day down at Wenderholm and be at one with nature.