Parnell is the oldest and one of the most affluent neighborhoods in Auckland - dating back to the…read more1840s - and it ended up being one of our fave spots we visited! We wandered around the tree lined streets and enjoyed views of the harbor in search of some lunch after exploring one of its magnificent historic cathedrals. Quaint cobblestone paths lead into hidden courtyards with cute bridges and statues. There are boutique shops and eateries around every corner and even in the basements and up beautiful winding staircases. The buildings all appear to be glorious Queen Anne style with their cute gingerbread wood trim accents - one of my fave aesthetics! Our lunch here at the Java room was one of the best meals of our trip - highly recommend!! And the pavlova with the passionfruit sauce at the Chocolate Boutique is a must. We were staying in the CBD which is a couple of miles away so we arrived via Uber which was very affordable. This is a great place for shopping and just meandering and I truly wish we had more time to explore on our trip.

Parnell Village is so charming. Filled with restaurants, boutiques and history, it was the first…read moresuburb in Auckland established in 1841. Although most of the galleries were closed due to Auckland Day, we were able to buy a couple of delicious lamb pies from a bakery and munch happily as we walked down the road enjoying the sunny summer afternoon. Tip: Take the Explorer Bus to the Cathedral at stop #6 and then walk to stop #7 to pick up another bus.

Ferndale House is another historic homestead in Mt Albert albeit on a smaller scale than the grand…read moreAlberton. It is set within a lovely little park and although it's on New North Road, it's a calm and peaceful place. The rooms are hired out by Auckland City Council and although it's well used regularly by many different groups, it still has a heavy sense of history and maintains its olde worlde character. I came here over a series of weeks for an acting course and even the stacks of chairs are plush and classical. Not to freak anyone out but from the moment I walked in I could feel the ghosts here and the slightly faded grandeur adds to the feeling of being in another time. There's an ancient smell of wood and previous generations, and the little servants' attic of the kitchen is like a secret hideout. I really loved spending time here and I'm sure any spirits present are friendly as there's a relaxing serene aura about the place.

I used to run to this wharf when I lived in the city, and it is one of my favourite places to enjoy…read morethe view of Auckland's CBD. If you can get to this place for a sunrise or sunset, it truly is a magical place to be. Whenever the stress of Auckland life is pissing you off, come here and all will be fixed (well until you have to leave and get back to reality). A lot of people fish off the end of this extremely long wharf, and while I have only ever caught one eel and a small shark off here, I think it has some potential. But even if you don't care much for fishing, just walk out to the end of the wharf for some fresh air and beautiful views.

Like so many Aucklanders I've seen the wharf heading out past that function centre that never seems…read moreto be doing very well but driven or walked on by. On my last big sweaty walk round the bays though we decided to walk out on it, really with nothing other in mind than adding to our total steps. Wow, who'd have thunk a wee wooden walkway could create such a fresh and gorgeous new perspective on our city? There's a lot of quiet fishing going on here and you have to pick your way around bait boxes and beer coolers but most people are really friendly which is such a nice surprise in Auckland. There's the obligatory bunch of kids bombing at the end which can't help but make me smile and you feel like you are right out in the water, halfway to Rangitoto. Beautiful. SO worth a wander.

This place is a gem. I can't believe it's just open to the public. Anyone can access it and it's…read moreabsolutely free. The roses are gorgeous. There are small restaurants where you can order take away and eat here or at a nearby park. You can smell the roses as soon as you start walking in the garden. This place is quite a distance from central Auckland, but it's worth a stop!

A stunning open to the public park with over 5000 roses. We explored the gardens, then meandered…read morealong the paths to the overlook above the water. Gorgeous, with plenty of benches so you can sit and appreciate the peace and beautiful that's absolutely free. Long expanses of green space make it a perfect place for children!

Ferries run every :10 and it's a :15 ride for $12. We walked through the wharf and easily found…read morethe bus stop wait. This beautiful island feels more like. Cape Cod than Auckland. There is a very laid back relaxing vibe here, it feels like we are a world away from the bustling city of Auckland. We easily spent 6 hours here & could have stayed longer. Victoria Road is where the shops and restaurants are located . The architecture is Edwardian and Victorian, but I didn't think it looked particularly special. I found some locally made artistic greeting cards & enjoyed the charming gift shops. We stopping for dinner at the Patriot. There are 4 pristine beaches on Davenport. There are a local and also Torpedo Bay Navy Museums here. There are many charming shops, cafés, restaurants and friendly people.

We stayed in Devonport on the beach. It's a charming beach city, but it wasn't as cute as I…read moreexpected. It was not on my favorites list. We ate at several of the restaurants. All were good enough, but nothing was amazing. Mount Vic was the highlight of our stay here. This is definitely worth the lovely walk up.

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

Impressive upgrades are still underway in New Lynn at the moment and the train station has received…read moresome improvements along with it. I have welcomed the new addition of a coffee vendor, such a good idea that I hope it remains as a perfect fixture. The New Lynn ticket Office - open Mon - Fri 7 am - 5pm and Sat's 8:15 am - 3:45 pm have some very helpful and patient customer service crew in place as well. One down fall is the lack of new HOP machines near the West side of the station, yes, there is staff to help but for quicker and easier access to make this transition smoother they may need to hear the voice of the public demands a bit more. Perhaps this will be another upgrade in the future.

Laundromat is located bang-smack in the middle of the slew of bike, car and water-sport shops on…read moreBarrys Pt Road - not an area I would expect to find good coffee and definitely not one I would go to buy some new threads...until now! The boutique has an extensive collection of NZ and international designers including Something Else, Stussy, Federation and Public Gallery. It's a little bit too "surfy" for me but I think their t.shirts are cool and they have a good range of vans/converse. As for the café, I predict it will fast become one of my go-to spots for out-of-office work. It has a high ceiling and large street-facing windows, which make it gloriously light and airy, plus the tables are large - perfect for sprawling. The café also doubles as a home design store so there is plenty to look at/peruse whilst you wait for your Supreme espresso or Karma Cola (my new fave). Of particular note is their artwork. They have a number of unique pieces at reasonable prices, ideal for that hard-to-buy for chrissy present. .

Found myself in the Barry's Point Area on the weekend, looking for a good dose of caffeine to feed…read morethe soul. As I had driven past this delightful looking establishment many a time, it surely was time to check in and have an experience. The limited parking gave us the choice of either parking on the street which seemed to be all taken or just around the corner at the Federation Clothing store which kind of neighbors and co shares the car park I think. The interior design of the cafe is very cool, lovely comfy leather couch, a mixture of chairs and tables dotted about, and even a very large wooden table that could seat up to probably twenty if needed. Cabinet food looked delicious, although I was only stopping in for a drink; I could eye the baguettes with tempting spreads, salad and slices of meat beckoning to me. The Mocha ordered was pretty damn perfect, nothing to flaw it on. I enjoyed that magnificently. The husband loved his Flat white, and the three kids, really lapped up the hot chocolate and fluffy. A pet friendly cafe, the kids were entertained by two friendly canines whilst we enjoyed the chilled noise of "Into the Wild- Eddie Vedder". Cant wait to come back and sample the food treats!