Nice Kiwi beach! This place is on Browns Bay, just north of…read moreAuckland, across the bridge. It faces the sea, and is right off the main drag of town. The park has a playground, outdoor showers, bathroom facilities that include changing rooms, benches and outdoor seating, and trashcans. There's plenty to see and do along here. The beach is nice, and was in full use when I went. There's lots of interesting shells along here, and places for people to swim and boat. They had a tractor out launching boats when I went! The park is wide open with a few trees, so you can get a footie game going! There's lots of food options nearby, where you can get takeout and enjoy the view from here. I went when there was the Brown Bay flea market going on, and this was a good followup.

Great playground overlooking Browns Bay beach. Picnic tables nearby if you want to bring a picnic,…read moregrab a pizza, sushi or fish and chips from one of the shops on Clyde road. There are swings for the older kids separated from the two baby swings and a huge play structure with slides on all sides. My son likes walking back and forth on the wobbly bridges and there is also an interesting looking spinning circle that always is occupied by dizzy children. There are a couple of really good climbing trees that stay quite close to the ground.

The park is well maintained, with a safe to swim at beach. Great walks along the cliffsread more

Auckland really is a beautiful city with so many outdoor beauties…read more Long Bay Regional Park is a sure winner, and a superb place to take the little ones on the weekend. On my recent second mother's day, my family and I travelled to Long Bay to take part in the Free Volunteer Tree Planting at Long Bay Regional Park. Parking close to the awesome kid's playground with flying fox, we had a 15 minute uphill walk to the park location that had been chosen for planting. This event had been organised by the wonderful Auckland City Council. The stunning weather really brought out the serenity of mother nature. Aucklander's and foreigners showed up from all around to plant kowhai's, flax, cabbage trees and more. This beautiful park has so much to offer; a slice of paradise where young and old can come, relax and enjoy nature in its purest form. I recommend taking one of the many walks through tracks labelled in the park, or even enjoying leisure time walking or running in your spare time. You have so much on offer, whether you want to do nothing or do lots. The ocean is at the parks edge, so be sure to stroll on the beautiful long beach and take a swim in the glorious ocean too.

I probably like Milford park more than the average punter because I grew up down the road…read more Throughout my childhood, I spent many a day at Milford Park climbing the trees, playing BYC and go home stay home. Trip down memory lane aside, Milford Park is still a great spot to bring the kiddies. There is a freshly painted, bright blue playground, toilets, BBQ pits AND the Beach is right next door. Not to mention in Summer there is frequently concerts or outdoor movie screenings. Oh, and for all those runners out there every Wednesday night there is a fun run that leaves from the Milford Cruising Club in the park and goes to Takapuna and back for only $7 ($3 for kids), free drink included!

I shouldn't review the park as high as I would prefer to keep this to myself - but better to be…read morehonest. A good little suburban park - good parking, safe kids playground, beach volleyball courts and the beach a hop and a skip away. The Creek provides a bit of action if the tide is in as the yachts and fisher boats trailing and out over the 4 hours of tide. Good takeouts and coffee close by in Milford and it is not surprising the number of people who get fish and chips from PJs (another secret) and eat them on the picnic tables worth a visit

Auckland Council owned memorial park. Beautiful place with wonderful staff. Always ask if you want…read moreanything specific. Always accommodating. Enjoy outings there.

Marlborough Park in Glenfield has a little bit of everything for everyone. I love visiting for the…read moreplayground as it has a section of low tunnels and abacus balls for my preschooler to enjoy playing with; also swings and slides that suit the little and big kid. Not only are the children catered for, there is a basketball court, a skate bowl, a climbing frame, and even a flying fox. If your jogging in the area, why not pop in and work out on the free adult gym equipment? Fantastic park for a picnic on a warm sunny day, and with lots of trees is just really pretty to look at. Please don't miss the peace of Marlborough Park.

Northwood Reserve is a neighbourhood park in the Rosedale area that backs onto a whole lot of…read morenative bush with a stream that runs all the way through it. This is a really awesome park for walking the dog or taking children to as there's so much room to run around, there's a playground with a covered shade area and seats, and theres even a barbeque station set up so it pretty much keeps the whole family happy. I take a lot of pram walks down here because its close to my work and it is perfect for quiet walks with the baby mainly because there is hardly ever anybody here! The reserve had a major overhaul last year when the council put some power lines underground so there was a lot of digging and fenced off areas but it seems to have recovered okay and you'd hardly even know anything had happened here. For a neighbourhood park I always wonder why this place isn't always packed but I think its because the area is still relatively quiet so nobody knows about it yet! I'm pretty sure this will change fairly soon. In the meantime I'm happy to take peaceful walks through the park on my own.

Another favourite with the dogs, Sylvan Park is located on the Northern side of Lake Pupuke and is…read moreless well-known than the South side, where the Pump house is. This suits both me and the dogs just fine. We are more than happy to roam the grassy embankment, play catch and discover new bush trails alone. Enter the park behind the tennis courts on Dodson Ave. Head down the RHS of the back courts and you will find yourself on a trail. Go right and you will end up at the back of Milford Primary (15 - 20mins), where there is a boat ramp if you want to go for a dip (too much swan poop for me - be each their own). Head left and you end up in an opening, which if you keep following round turns into the main part of the park. Here you will find toilets, BBQs and Madloop Windsurfing School. Whilst Sylvan Park ain't huge, it's a great daytime option during summer when our four legged friends are banned from the beaches!

Fantastic little inner city escape with lake beside it and away from the hustle of the city!read more

What used to be a grassy knoll with a lone bommyknocker tree has been transformed into a great…read morespace for locals to enjoy their lunch. There's still plenty of grass but there's also additional seating in the form of tiered bench seats, wooden recliners and large communal tables - perfect for enjoying an ice cream from Movenpick or better yet, fresh sushi from Bian. Reading a book, eating your packed lunch or waiting for a table at a nearby cafe, whatever your jam...Hurstmere Green's got you covered!

It's taken some time but it is great to finally see a central common area in Takapuna. The…read moreHurstmere Green looks great and is the perfect place to sit down in the sun to read a book or simply people watch. The council seem to be taking amazing care of the area too. The only thing I believe they could add which would make the entire area more versatile is sheltered seats for intense summer days or when there is rain.

Killarney Park should be more popular than it is. It almost seems like people (including myself)…read morejust forget about it. And it really is beautiful (if you can avoid the duck poo). Situated right on the bank of the beautiful Lake Pupuke, Killarney Park is a lovely place to relax. Sit in the sun with some lunch, relax under a tree with a book, grab a coffee from the nearby cafe, or take a stroll around the lake. Despite being right in the middle of busy Takapuna, you honestly feel miles away when you're here, and you realise how cool and unique it is that you can walk from beach to lake in 5 minutes. The lake itself is always busy with little boaters, kayakers and dive groups. You'll often find our Olympic rowers and kayakers training here. The walk around the lake is a really nice one, and I highly recommend it, although there are some annioying parts that don't let you take dogs, those can be avoided though. It is close to many of Takapunas cafes, but doesn't have them in the immediate vacinity, which actually makes for a much more relaxed, natural atmosphere. Lovely.

There are some places where you come to hang with your mates, some where you just like to be alone,…read moreand some where you don't mind either way. For me, Killarney Park falls into the *alone* category. My high school years were spent at the nearby Rosmini College, and Killarney Park is where I came just to unwind and be with my thoughts during those turbulent teenage years. For somewhere so close to central Takapuna it is incredibly serene and peaceful - it's something to do with the lake and the rowers on it...or the ducks - something about things gently passing while you're still is just relaxing. So yeah I come here to chill - lie on the grass, walk among the dew in the morning, sometimes I'll bring my guitar down and sit under a tree and have a quiet play to myself. Blissful.

Just had a bite at Catalina and need to walk the dog so I meandered over through the park and to…read morethe playground. What a great space with its cool climbing structures that look like pieces of sculpture art and are loads of fun for the kids to play on. This will be an anchor in the new community that is going to include hundreds of new houses and schools. The playground is surrounded by native plantings and wide open spaces with shady trees. This playground and surrounding park will form part of a coastal walk and cycleway.