Explore north Auckland with Akl Paths
Exploring Auckland’s paths over the summer is a great way to combine exercise with helping you, your friends and family burn off some energy and have some fun.
Here are five paths to check out in your part of Tāmaki Makaurau. For more information or other paths to explore, head to aklpaths.co.nz
Takapuna Beach Path
Take a stroll along Takapuna Beach and enjoy the incredible views across the water to Rangitoto. Towards the northern end of the beach is the new playground and water play area. Take your togs and a picnic and make a day of it.
Rothesay to Browns Bay Path
A great opportunity to take in a couple of North Shore’s beautiful beaches. Both Rothesay and Browns Bay have playgrounds so the kids will enjoy playing on both. Starting at Rothesay Bay also means that you can end in Browns Bay, which also has a skate park for the older kids, and grab an ice cream to finish. Note that this path does include steps, so it's not recommended for buggies.
Onepoto Path
Sitting in an ancient volcanic cone, this path allows you to explore the popular Onepoto Domain. With a lake, forest, wetlands, an adventure playground, and a ‘learn to ride’ bike park, Onepoto offers something for all the whānau.
Little Shoal Bay Path
This path is a good challenge linking Little Shoal Bay with the Birkenhead shops. Start at the playground at Little Shoal Bay where the kids can enjoy the playground, climbing wall and flying fox. Walking through Le Roys bush enjoy the waterfall, giant kauri, tōtara and nikau palms, but please keep on the path. Finish at the library but make sure you check out the stunning views from the Kaimataara ō Wai Manawa platform before you leave Birkenhead.
Whangaparāoa Path
This path starts at the Whangaparāoa Library and meanders down to Stanmore Bay. The path is steep between the library and the Rata Road Reserve and you will need to cross roads so keep little ones close to you. Take your togs for a dip in the ocean, or let the kids have fun at the splash pad outside the leisure just across the road from the Stanmore Bay Reserve.
Keep our kauri standing
Kauri dieback in Auckland is a serious problem and it’s important we all play our part to prevent the spread of the disease.
To help keep our kauri standing for future generations, the forested areas of the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park have been closed until further notice. Some higher-risk tracks in the Hunua Ranges Regional Park have also been closed as a proactive measure to prevent the introduction of kauri dieback disease into the park, where it has not yet been detected.
Controlled Area Notices (CANs) are in place across the currently open tracks within the forested area of the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park and the whole of the native forested area of the Hunua Ranges regional parkland.
Aucklanders and visitors to the region are advised to find alternatives to get out and enjoy what our beautiful backyard has to offer.
If you enter or leave a forest/area with native trees anywhere across the region, here are three easy steps you need to remember:
- Scrub– clean all soil off your footwear and other gear.
- Spray– your footwear and gear at every cleaning station you encounter. Kauri dieback can be spread by just a pinhead of soil.
- Stay– on the designated open tracks.
Find out more about protecting our kauri trees.