Rocket Park is awesome, even if you're not allowed to climb up the rocket. It has a huge range of…read moreplay equipment including an expensive Variety Liberty Swing which allows disabled children or those in wheelchairs to enjoy a thrill most kids take for granted. Very cool idea. I also really like the fairytale castle-themed play area which gets kids role playing and using their imaginations. I've spent countless hours here after pre-school Gym and Dancing classes at the neighbouring YMCA, and the beautiful setting amongst mature trees makes it a great place for a picnic. Be organised and bring your own or grab something from one of the surrounding cafes or delis (or a kebab!). One of Auckland's best playgrounds.

Rocket Park is an icon of Auckland. Though it is just a playground - and not a particularly special…read moreplayground anymore thanks to health and safety regulations - there is a giant rocket smack bang in the middle of the climbing equipment that is the reason for its name. As a child I spent countless afternoons climbing on and around this rocket, and even remember the days when you were allowed IN IT. Those were good times. Though this is no longer possible, every afternoon the park is still packed with young families and it's a really nice place to have a wee picnic and a run around. Tip: Now there is even some cardio gym equipment permanently set up in the park, like treadmills and cross-trainers, that available for anyone to use. So parents, you too can get some exercise while your kids tire themselves out on the playground!

This is a great park to bring the kids or just yourself for a play or picnic, its surrounded by the…read morepeaceful native bush, it has access to the beach if you want to go down there as well. There is the kids playground area with all the standard play things, swings, stuff to climb, slides etc. Then there is the big park which you can walk or run or bike around and stop and do some exercises on the exercise equipment along the way, no need to join a Gym. The park also has big rugby and soccer fields and tennis and squash courts are located here. The best entrance for the playground is if coming from the Beach Haven shops there is an entrance on the left before John Bracken Way. So all in all its a very handy park.

My nieces went to this activity adventure park for a birthday party and could not stop raving about…read morethe fun they had. For the insatiable appetite of tweens and youngsters it is great to know there is another thrills and spills attraction that's safe and monitored. Lots of activities to choose from including: A free climbing wall which is a huge inflatable bouncy castle with giant climbing wall that puts dexterity skills to the test. For the ultimate bouncy castle they have Jump n Slide which is for all of the budding acrobats, here you can propel yourself to do crazy flips. Take it all a step further with the jousting bridge. Crazy Ladder tested their perseverance skills, those who did make it to the top got a great jump down. The series of trapeze satisfied the monkey in the kids, let's face it they can never get enough jungle gym time. Pizzas were delivered to the party area in the venue, smiles a mile wide the result of a great day out.

Best. Playground. Ever…read more Right on one of the best beaches in Auckland. Close to a large selection of good cafes abd restaurants. The playground equipment is in very good working order and there are lots of picnic tables nearby to have a picnic or enjoy some takeaways!

I don't get to visit Browns Bay too often, but the highlight for my sun is the amazing playground…read morethey have here. As a mother of a bubbly active 17 month old baby, I am always keen to re visit playgrounds that are planned and made for children of his age. I have been to a few that are just way to complex and hard to navigate for his younger age. I need not worry at Browns Bay; they have a fabulous ground floor playground for the little crawlers to walkers, and runner's even- fun tunnels, up and down moving boardwalks, climbing stairs and lots of slides. I like that the playground is located nice and close to the beach, so if your child has had enough playing they can either go to explore the beautiful beach, or even splash around for a swim. It is just a short walk to the public toilets, and a cool skate area for the big boys and girls. I usually just grab a coffee at the nearby cafe and sit and watch as my son enjoys this great play area.

I discovered this park one day when out walking. It is tucked away at the end of a no exit street…read more The playground has been recently updated and I think it is a pretty great park. Find a spot at a BBQ table or hang out on the grass, or if you want to get active run up and down the hill at the back of the park.. If you have children I'm sure they would love the new playground. How much fun do those two, bright greeen enclosed slides look?! (I'm yet to actually try them out). When I was at this park last, one family had iPhone in hand and were geocaching. So there might be something really awesome to find... or it might just be a box, who knows?!

Coyle Park is cool and with Pt Chev Beach nearby I love that you can smell the ocean as you head…read moretowards it. Perched right on the point, it's a great place for picnics and has a really awesome playground including a giant sleeping... dragon? Crocodile? Whatever, it's cool. There's enough room here for people to do things with balls (Aucklanders love to do that in public parks I've noticed), without disturbing everyone else. I will say that early evenings are not so great due to the local teenagers amping up their car stereo and having a big old underage booze-fest in the carpark. Kind of puts you off. The good news is that they eventually lock it up although one would imagine the kids just continue with their cars on the road instead. Anyway, come during the day and if you're lucky Mr Whippy will turn up too - he usually does.

You'll find this park at the end of Point Chevaleir Rd, right by the beach…read more When I last visited the beach, there were a heap of kids all enjoying the playground. I gotta admit that it did look pretty awesome. There was a couple of twin slides that looked like they'd be a lot of fun, as well as the playground feature I most loved growing up - a flying fox. There is also a modern roundabout (safety conscious) and a miniature train ride. This park has a heap of grass to chill out on, play volleyball, get a cricket game going, play some touch, or walk the dog. There are barbecue tables and a block of toilets also in the park. This park offers some great harbour views over the city. And you have Point Chev beach as an added attraction!

This was a nice place to hang out while we waited for our flight. The kids did 2 rounds of golf…read morewhile the parents waited at the picnic tables. The kids had fun and we got Maccas on the way back to the airport. Perfect little walk to and from too. A little exercise before a long flight.

Adventure Mini Golf is my local and over the years I've probably tallied up quite a few rounds…read morehere. I'm from a family with a few younger cousins so I enjoy taking them out to places like this where kids an adults can share in the fun. You can pick from two courses; the Captain's Course or Blackbeard's Course. If you're not with a big group or you're just very patient, its cheaper to play 36 holes and makes for healthy competition between friends! I really like the way they've set up the course, its very animated, interactive and a real sight to see, even if you're just driving past. It can be especially tough to play when its windy out, so I'd suggest checking the weather just in case. All in all though, its a great spot to incorporate into a family day and I'd highly recommend it for anyone keen to have little fun and competition.

Jellicoe Park is one of those War Memorial parks that we have all over our country and as well as…read morereminding us of the lives lost at war, the monuments of the 1920s and 30s somehow define our national character. To me this park is Kiwiana at its prettiest. It's been around for more than 100 years and is now home to several historic buildings alongside its gorgeous entrance arch, fountain and flowerbeds. The Norfolk pines are majestic and I love coming here for the lighting of the Christmas Lights every year. The largest of the trees is festooned, the switch flicked and the atmosphere makes it my favourite of all Auckland's community events. There is something about the history of Onehunga and its strong Pacific population that sees the most diverse people come together for a night of family festivities that perfectly reflect this suburb's individuality. The Fencible Cottage and Blockhouse are open and the people of the 'Hunga feel the love. (If you don't know about the Fencibles, look it up - it's a fascinating and fairly obscure piece of Auckland history.) The buildings are occasionally opened up at other times by The Onehunga Historical Society and are well worth a look if you get the chance. Otherwise, just come play in the playground, relax and enjoy, it's a beautiful place.

This park is the oldest park in Onehunga but I feel like not that many people know about it, or if…read morethey do it just doesn't come to their minds when thinking about a nice trip out. But in fact if you dedicate an hour to this park you will find that you will have a really great time. It's a memorial park that was renamed in 1921 for the Governor General so you can get an idea of what it is like. It's like stepping back in time to the Victorian era with it's 100 year old pine trees, big old fountain, historic buildings and beautiful archways. The flat grassy areas are perfect for a picnic or to play a game of rugby with friends and family. Opposite the park are some beautiful old houses too which can make your day at Jellicoe even better if you come on the first and third Sunday of each month between 1.30 and 4pm as they are open to the public on those days.