This walk at Half Moon Bay explores the parks and reserves to the east, and then heads down to Eastern Beach. On a sunny day at high tide it is quite beautiful! The new-ish boardwalk, is a great finishing touch as you return to Half Moon Bay.
It was very busy at the Half Moon Bay cafes today – with many people out making the most of the sunny, warm weather and Mothers Day.
Description: Mainly level paths, steep steps and steep slopes. Suitable for users of average fitness and mobility. To see: Views of Tamaki Estuary, marina, Eastern Beach Esplanade; views of Rangitoto, Mount Wellington and One Tree Hill Time: approx. 75 minutes. (about 6.0 kms) Start from: Half Moon Bay Marina MAP
Stay on track…get your detailed guide and map (AE-072 Half Moon Bay East) over at our Walks Store and our Book Store (one of 12 walks featured in our books “Coastal part 2” and “Best of the East”).
One of my favourite short bush walks in Auckland is the Dingle DellReserve 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”).
Today’s discovery walk was at Hobsonville Point. A good friend of mine had already told me about how wonderful the Catalina Cafe is on a sunny day. And then today I read about Hobsonville Pt Park children’s playground which is quite unique – made from sustainably sourced materials.
The family friendly walk explores the former air base with the very few remaining old buildings. There is a great deal of development going on with new housing and a planned ferry service to the CBD from ‘The Landing’ (which used to be the launching and landing place for flying boats, including Sunderland and Catalina planes). The historic buildings are being demolished at a fast pace to make way for new housing, so if history is your thing, get down there before it is completely gone.
The walking route is also suitable for prams/buggies and dog walkers (on leash only as of August 2014).
This walk takes about 60-80 minutes and is ideal for spring and autumn (too hot in summer and too muddy in winter). There is a lot to explore if you haven’t been here before. This is a dog friendly walk with an off-leash area and is a mostly flat walk.
Please note: As this area is under constant development, the walking route and the off leash dog exercise area, may be subject to change.
Description: Level sealed paths and bush track. Suitable for users of average fitness and mobility. May require boots in wet weather, running shoes suitable in dry weather. Suggested spring/autumn walk. Caution: Muddy and slippery when wet. To see: Hangars, barracks, officers housing, seaplane slipway, Auckland harbour views, weekend markets. Time: approx. 60-80 minutes. (about 5.5 kms) Start: Opposite Catalina Café off Buckley Avenue MAP
You may wish to download our free Hobsonville Point walkway brochure when you enter your contact details here or find your own route here.
Stay on track…get your detailed guide and map (AW-013 Hobsonville Point) over at our Walks Store and our Book Store (one of 12 walks featured in our books “Dog Friendly Walks part 3” and “Best of the West“.
It turned out to be a beautiful sunny Mothers Day in Auckland. And time for a relaxing walk in Auckland Domain, the home of the Auckland War Memorial Museum.
The Domain has a variety of landscapes from open fields, to formal gardens and statues, to native bush walkways and waterfalls (you could almost imagine that you are in the Waitekere Hills).
We dropped into the Winter Garden Pavillion Cafe for coffee and we plan to go back to try the food. It was lovely sitting in the sun overlooking the duck pond.
After a quick look at the Winter Gardens, we headed for the Columbus Cafe inside the Museum. But when we saw their high prices for their cabinet food, we left.
It was an enjoyable amble on a beautiful day.
Main Entrance: Park Road, Grafton MAP
Dog off leash exercise area: Gum Tree Hill Auckland Domain Sculpture Walk: Map available here Auckland Domain Self guided heritage trail: Map unavailable (includes Auckland Domain bush walking tracks (not named on the map)). Auckland Domain Volcano Walk: Map available here (includes Auckland Domain Forest walks)
To download a complete map of the Auckland Domain paths (shows steps) click here.
There is so much to discover when you take a walk in Parnell! One moment you can be in the solitude of a reserve and the next looking at large cranes moving shipping containers with a helicopter nearby warming up to take off, and a train swiftly moving along the tracks.
The weather did not look the best today with low grey clouds in the sky after a day of rain yesterday. So we took our raincoats and didn’t need them…
However, we chose a walk that would not get our feet too wet. But if you do want to get wet when it’s a lovely sunny day, then this walk takes you along Judges Bay and around the Parnell Baths via the Parnell Rose Gardens in Dove Myer Robinson Park (named after Auckland’s longest serving (18 years) Mayor – Dove Myer Robinson). The walk takes us out along the end of Solent Street. The Council planted a row of native pohutukawa trees along the path in 2008 and a few years later they have grown significantly. We wondered how much they will grow in another few years and if they will hinder walkers…
The roses today were looking bedraggled because of all the rain. However, the fernery was stunning and a great place for children to wander around safely.
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, roses, Waitemata Harbour views, City views, helicopters, cranes, big trucks, container wharf, Parnell Baths Time: approx. 60 minutes. (about 5kms) Parking: Gladstone Road or Stanwell Street, off Gladstone Road, Parnell
Stay on track…get your detailed guide and map brochures over at our Walks Store(AC-012 Parnell and Judges Bay Loop) and our Book Store (one of 12 walks featured in our book “Coastal part 1”).
Self guided short circular walks in Auckland for health, fitness and fun
