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.

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.

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.

Self contained motel accommodation with great sea views. Excellent lawn and gravel area for parking…read morecaravan or motor home. Costs $20 per night for a self contained van which includes water, power and free wifi. For $40 per van you can also use all the bathroom amenities. Nice views of the sea. Very clean and well laid out. Friendly welcome. Highly recommend!! Close to lots of interesting sights, wineries and small towns like smart Matakana. We stayed on a windy wet night and it was a perfect place to recharge!

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!

Came here in early July 2018 with my family. Before this, the last time I'd been to the hot pools…read morenear Auckland was as a kid - Waiwera, some 20+ years ago, but they were closed for refurbishment this year so I decided to take everyone to Parakai. We went on a weekday and it being winter, there weren't many people at all. Two slides, one swimming pool and one soaking pool that's hotter than the rest. Had a good time going down the slides and hanging out in the pools. Worth a visit, particularly if you've never been. The hot chips were really good as well.

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.

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.

Ti Point and Ti Point wharf are a perfect place to take the family and spend the day. The wharf is…read moresmall, but gets busy with fisherman. It's great for fishing with the kids; you can usually pull in a sprat or two with a hand line over the side. If you walk along the coast from the wharf there are some beautiful old trees to set up under for the day. They are great for the kids to climb and some have rope swings or picnic tables. If the tide is out there is a little sandy bay protected by rocks perfect for swimming. There is also a walkign track that awinds aroudn the coast, where rocks can be accessed for heavier duty fishing. Ti Point is a little difficult to get to; you turn off from Leigh road down a winding metal road. Parking is also a little sparse. But once you're there it's a great little place to explore.