Tag Archives: Cafes And Restaurants

Dingle Dell and St Heliers Circuit

Walks in Auckland

One of my favourite short bush walks in Auckland is the Dingle Dell Reserve and St Heliers circuit.  On a sunny day St Heliers village  has a holiday feel about it – with the harbour water sparkling, the golden sand and people enjoying the waterfront.  Contrasted with the quietness of the native bush in Dingle Dell.

This is a dog friendly walk with an off-leash exercise area. There is a children’s playground at the corner of Maddills Farm and Allum Street.  Plus a picnic area in Dingle Dell Reserve. And a good choice of cafes along the Tamaki Drive waterfront.

Description: A mix of level paths, gradual inclines and bush tracks. Not wheel-friendly. Suitable for users of average fitness and mobility. May require boots in wet weather, running shoes suitable in dry weather.
To see: Sea/harbour views, beach, residential homes, native bush, views of Mt Victoria and North head.
Time: approx. 60 minutes (about 5.38km).
Parking: Along Tamaki Drive, St Heliers (note Parking Time Zones)
Buses: Tamaki Drive, St Heliers MAP

Stay on track…get your detailed guide and map over at our Walks Store  (AE-003 Dingle Dell) and our Book Store (one of 12 walks featured in our books “Urban Bush” and “Best of the East”).

St Heliers and the Hauraki Gulf

Walks in Auckland

What a fabulous day for a walk in Auckland – warm, sunny, no wind….and there were so many people out and about taking advantage of the great weather!

St Heliers is a buzzy little place on Tamaki Drive with a small selection of cafes and restaurants to choose from for refreshments.

Todays walk provides spectacular views looking over the Hauraki Gulf to the small islands and the impressive Rangitoto volcano. And then onto Glover Park another of Auckland’s volcano remains – this one is an ‘explosion crater’.

This is a dog friendly walk with an off-leash exercise area.

Description: A mix of level and steep paths. Suitable for most ages and levels of fitness and mobility, designed with flat shoes or running shoes in mind. Not suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs.
To see: Wonderful views of Rangitoto, Hauraki Gulf and Auckland City.
Time: approx. 60 minutes. (about 4.5kms) Map

Find this walk over at our Walks Store (AE-016 St Heliers and Glover Park) and our Book Store (Volcanoes, Dog Friendly part 2, Best of the East)

12 Volcano Walks
12 Volcano Walks

Glover Park is featured in our book “Volcanoes”. Available from AmazonShort Walks in Auckland: Volcanoes (and on Kindle)

Remuera and Hobson Bay Walkway Circuit

Walks in Auckland

I really enjoy the diversity of Auckland at large and it is also a pleasure to find a walk that contains diversity within a small area. This walk in Auckland, takes us from the ridge of Remuera Village,  down to the edge of Hobson Bay walkway, onto a boardwalk amongst the mangroves via reserves and the Remuera mansions. You really get to know a city when you walk – we miss so much when we travel by car. This walk reveals some hidden Auckland gems.

Waiata Reserve is tucked in between Victoria Avenue and Orakei Road – a beautiful large space –  this is a dog friendly walk with an off-leash area.

Walks in Auckland

Cafe Greenfingers at Palmers Garden Centre on Shore Road is a great little cafe – the coffee is very good and so is the food.

This walk is one to do if fitness is a criteria – there is a decent uphill.   It can also be done in all weathers as all the paths are paved.

Description:A mix of level and steep paths. Suitable in all weather. Suitable for most ages and levels of fitness and mobility, designed with flat shoes or running shoes in mind. Not suitable for wheelchairs.
To see: Remuera mansions, park with mature trees, character shopping street with cafes and restaurants, mangrove trees, water views, ducks.
Time: approx. 60-90 minutes depending on pace.
Start: Waiata Avenue off Victoria Avenue. MAP

Stay on track…get your detailed guide and map brochure (AC-015  Remuera to Hobson Bay) over at our Walks Store and our Book Store (one of 12 walks featured in our books “Coastal part 1” and “Dog Friendly Walks part 2”).

Walks in Auckland – Victoria Park and Markets

How do you recover after last night’s fabulous TV screening of the wedding of Prince William and Catherine?  Go for a walk in Auckland of course!

Today’s walk begins at Victoria Park Markets and takes us through the suburban streets of Freemans Bay up to Ponsonby Road via the well-hidden gem of Western Park and the sculptural installation by John Radford on Ponsonby Road.

Tunnel under construction

Victoria Park Markets have been upgraded and the last time we were there (2014), they were starting to look interesting.   Did you know that these buildings started life as “The Destructor; Auckland’s first rubbish depot”?  Read more at Suite101: History of Victoria Park Market

Western Park is a delight.  There is a comprehensive children’s playground that includes a flying fox and long slide, a fitness trail and wonderful trees such as the massive Moreton Bay Fig trees and Kauri trees and Cyprus trees to name a few. This is a dog friendly walk with an off-leash area. (See other Dog Friendly Walks)

This video gives a taste of Western Park.

Colourful Ponsonby Road is worth exploring and there many cafes and restaurants to choose from.  This area is also full of heritage buildings and places of interest.  Choose from four Ponsonby Heritage Walks.

A mix of level and steep paths. Suitable in dry and wet weather. Suitable for most ages and levels of fitness and mobility, designed with flat shoes or running shoes in mind. Not suitable for wheelchairs. To see : City dwellings, City tourist market, park with mature trees, character shopping street with cafes and restaurants. Dogs: Off leash area. Children’s Playground=Yes Time : approx. 60 minutes. Allow extra time to explore.
Start Point: Victoria Park Market


Find this walk and other walk brochures in Central Auckland here.

Parnell markets and urban bush walk in Auckland

Another beautiful autumn day and todays walk in Auckland Central is one of contrasts – from the quietness of secluded reserves to the noisy Parnell farmers markets. This Auckland urban bush walk is great to do all year round.

There are two markets:

Walks in Auckland

Parnell Farmers Market – behind the Foundation for the Blind off Parnell Road. It is open from 8am to noon every Saturday. Today there was quite a variety of stalls from cheese to bread, to unusual pumpkins. The stall holders are very friendly and enjoyed giving us a taste of their products.

French Style Farmers Market at La Cigale, off St Georges Bay Road. This is a bigger market with more variety. There is a wide range of delicious looking and smelling foods for humans plus an interesting looking stall of dog food. These markets are open Saturdays 8am to 1.30pm and Sundays 9am to 1.30pm. La Cigale cafe was busy with people catching up for coffee with friends and staying on for lunch. Again, everyone is friendly and happy to share a taste of their tasty produce. It is all locally produced so you know that it is fresh and in many cases organic.

We walked from the busy bustling markets to the peacefulness of reserves with birdlife, nikau palms and New Zealand native ferns, past quaint cottages and the massive Holy Trinity Cathedral and the more modest St John the Baptist Church.

Parnell Village is a popular shopping strip with many cafes and restaurants to choose from. To make this a full day outing, you may wish to stay and explore Parnell Village and learn about its history.

This is a great walk if you wish to take in both markets on a Saturday or you can exclude them if you prefer a quieter walk. Dog walk friendly with off-leash areas.

Short Walks in Auckland: Urban Bush

Description: A mix of level paths and steep paths/steps. Caution: Muddy and slippery when wet. Suitable for most ages and levels of fitness and mobility, designed with flat shoes or running shoes in mind. Not suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs.
To see: NZ native ferns palms and cycads, Waitemata Harbour views, farmers markets, old cottages.
Time: approx. 60 minutes. (about 3.92kms)
Start: Stratford Street (off Gladstone Road) MAP
Suggested Cafés: la Cigale, 69 St Georges Bay Road,     Rosie’s Café, 82 Gladstone Road



Stay on track…get your detailed guide and map brochures over at our Walks Store  (AC-009 Parnell Markets and Reserves) and our Book Store (one of 12 walks featured in our books “Urban Bush” and “Dog Friendly part 3”).