Auckland has more than 4000 parks waiting for you to explore! From an afternoon relaxing by a remote beach to an action-packed weekend in the bush, here are 101 fun and affordable ideas to get you started:
- Pitch a tent and camp under the stars at Te Muri Beach Campground in Mahurangi Regional Park.
- Take in the stunning views of the Hauraki Gulf and its offshore islands by walking the Coastal Track and Long Bay Regional Park.
- Get up early on a Sunday morning and go for a long walk around the Auckland Botanic Gardens and Tōtara Park.
- Go camping via kayak at the Te Wharau (Malua Bay) Campground in Duder Regional Park.
- Paddle around the Puhoi Estuary or along the Puhoi River from Wenderholm Regional Park.
- Picnic under a pōhutukawa at Tapapakanga Regional Park.
- Fly a kite at Āwhitu Regional Park.
- Do your bit for the environment and take part in a park planting day.
- Meditate in the Fukuoka Garden in Western Springs Lakeside Park.
- Trek to isolated Tawhitokino beach – accessible only by foot at low tide – and discover one of Auckland's best kept secret beaches.
Tawhitokino beach
- Explore Ātiu Creek Regional Park for stunning views of the Kaipara Harbour.
- Keep an eye out for blue reef heron, kingfishers, black, pied and little shags and white-fronted terns at Whakanewha Regional Park.
- Pack up your mountain bike and head for the bike tracks at Waitawa Regional Park.
- Enjoy the stunning piece of coastal land at Pakiri.
- Learn about the rich history of the Waitākere Ranges at the Arataki Visitor Centre.
- Walk the Perimeter track at Omana Regional Park.
- Head north to the beautiful parkland at Te Ārai.
- Lie on your back and watch the clouds roll by at Waharau Regional Park.
- Escape to a natural oasis amid urban and industrial Auckland at Mutukaroa - Hamlins Hill Regional Park.
- Hike 106m above sea level to the top of Māngere Mountain.
Māngere Mountain
- Take a walk to the point at Scandrett Regional Park and have a snooze under the shade of a tree.
- Experience life on a farm at Ambury Regional Park.
- Get your step count up on the Okura Bush Walkway.
- Park your campervan overnight at Shakespear Regional Park in the Te Haruhi Bay Campground and experience an opening sanctuary by night.
- Head for the Auckland Botanic Gardens with a blanket, a picnic and a good book – there are plenty of trees to sit under.
- Take a walk across the rocks out to Pudding Island at Mahurangi Regional Park (only at low tide).
- Get your heart pumping with a vigorous walk across Duder Regional Park.
- Read a book and relax in the bach at Āwhitu Regional Park.
- Go diving at the protected Long Bay Marine Reserve along the northern coastline of the Long Bay Regional Park.
- Take the kids fishing off Cornwallis wharf.
Cornwallis wharf
- Kayak Te Ara Moana – ‘the sea-going pathway’ – a self-guided five-day sea kayak along 51km of Auckland’s scenic south-eastern coastline.
- Hop on a horse and ride along expansive rolling farmland to the Kaipara coast at Te Rau Pūriri.
- Put your fitness to the test on the Coast to Coast walk – a 16km route from Waitematā to Manukau.
- Walk along the stony foreshore at Whakatiwai Regional Park.
- Book a weekend escape in the beachfront bach at Wenderholm Regional Park.
- Ride your mountain bike along one of the tracks at Waharau Regional Park.
- Go for a walk around Victoria Park in Auckland’s CBD.
- Watch the sunrise over the city from Harbourview OrangihinaReserve.
- Take the kids for a play at the playground and discover the natural treasures hidden in the bush at Omana Regional Park.
- Escape the hustle and bustle of the city and explore Waiheke’s Te Ara Hura.
Te Ara Hura
- Listen out for the elusive sounds of little spotted kiwi at Shakespear Regional Park.
- Put pedal to the metal on the pump track at Moire Park.
- Enjoy spectacular views of the Ātiu estuary and Oruawharo River at Ātiu Creek Regional Park.
- Catch a ferry across to Waiheke Island and have a BBQ on the foreshore at Whakanewha Regional Park.
- Take the kids to Takapuna’s hot-spot Gould Reserve playground.
- Stop and smell the flowers at the Auckland Botanic Gardens. There are more than 10,000 plant varieties from around the world to be enjoyed.
- Bring your binoculars and go birding at Ambury Regional Park.
- Go swimming at Umupuia Beach – a sandy beach available at low tide along the coastal walk at Duder Regional Park.
- Round up the whānau and head to Long Bay Regional Park for a BBQ and a play on the all abilities playground.
- Count the number of cars on the motorway from Mutukaroa - Hamlins Hill Regional Park.
Mutukaroa - Hamlins Hill Regional Park
- Stay at the sea kayak campground at Tawhitokino Regional Park.
- Cycle your way through the Project Twin Streams area in Henderson and check out the community art installations along the Opanuku Stream.
- Go pipi digging at Tapapakanga Regional Park.
- Pack a picnic and head south to the tranquil bays at Āwhitu Regional Park on the south west shores of the Manukau Harbour.
- Say “I do” in the Perennial Garden at the Auckland Botanic Gardens.
- Join the volunteer group at Ambury Regional Park and help look after the animals.
- Pitch a tent at Omana Regional Park’s Cliff Top Campground.
- Walk to the Woolshed at Ātiu Creek Regional Park to learn more about the history of the farm.
- Kayak up Henderson Creek from Taipari Strand to Tui Glen Reserve.
- Stay overnight in a 1950s waterfront bach on Scandrett Regional Park.
Scandrett Regional Park
- Photograph the sun setting over Rangitoto from Whakanewha Regional Park.
- Relax and unwind among the flora and fauna at Tōtara Park.
- Pick up an orienteering map from the noticeboard at Duder Regional Park and make your way around 148 hectares of coastal parkland.
- Go walking with a friend along the coastal cliff top track at Long Bay Regional Park – the track forms part of the of the Te Araroa network.
- Take your pooch for a walk at Craigavon Park in Blockhouse Bay.
- Enjoy the spectacular view of Tiritiri Matangi Island from the TiriTiri Track at Shakespear Regional Park.
- Get inspiration for your home garden at the Auckland Botanic Gardens.
- Play disc golf at Waitawa Regional Park.
- Learn how we conserve and protect our native plants and wildlife at the open sanctuary at Tāwharanui Regional Park.
- Explore the sights and sounds of Mahurangi Regional Park via its network of walking tracks.
Mahurangi Regional Park
- Go diving in the protected marine reserve at Tāwharanui Regional Park (but not in a northerly swell).
- Ollie, kick flip and carve up at the Marlborough skate park in Glenfield.
- Simply unwind in the beautiful scenery at Āwhitu Regional Park.
- Book a BBQ site at Wenderholm Regional Park and spend the afternoon swimming, fishing or playing cricket on the flat open spaces.
- Meet Cameron the Colin & Connor the Clydesdales at Ambury Regional Park.
- Take your horse riding at Ātiu Creek Regional Park.
- Launch your boat into the Manukau Harbour from Cornwallis wharf.
- Swim at the beach or stream at Waharau Regional Park.
- Learn about sustainable farming on the Sustainable Farming Trail at Duder Regional Park.
- Enjoy quiet time with the family at an outdoor movie with Movies in Parks.
- Walk the Nikau Track at Whakanewha Regional Park.
- Discover the Sculptures in the Gardens at the Auckland Botanic Gardens.
- Wander over rolling pastures, explore the wetlands and enjoy the sandy beaches at Āwhitu Regional Park.
- Buy a unique gift at the Arataki Visitor Centre.
- Climb amongst the trees at the Tree Tops playground in Tui Glen Reserve.
- Book a birthday party for your kids at Ambury Regional Park.
- Find a picturesque spot at Ātiu Creek Regional Park for a picnic.
- Learn about the early days of farming in the restored farm buildings at Scandrett Regional Park.
- Bring a picnic and find your favourite spot at Waitawa Regional Park.
- Keep your eye out for tūī at Shakespear Regional Park.
- Escape the city and head to Duder Regional Park – an isolated and peaceful coastal farm park.
- Wander along the Opanuku Walkway at Henderson Park.
- Take your kids or grandkids to the Potter Children’s Garden at the Auckland Botanic Gardens.
- Launch your kayak from the beach or boat ramp at Omana Esplanade. Kayaking is best at high tide.
- Try to spot a fernbird at Āwhitu Regional Park.
- Adventure through the green open spaces of One Tree Hill Domain(Maungakiekie) and up to the top of the 183m volcano.
- Take the Cudlip Point Loop Track to the estuary at Mahurangi Regional Park.
- Relax at the sandy swimming beach and picnic sites at Long Bay Regional Park.
- Round up the family for a BBQ and game of beach cricket at Tapapakanga Regional Park.
- Pack up the surfboard and head to Tāwharanui Regional Park.
- Ask a ranger where their favourite spot is in the park.
출처 : Auckland Council News