h North Auckland LEFT: Takapuna playground © Takapuna Bussiness BELOW: Long Bay © Getty Images
Takapuna
i TIP: Just two minutes PūhoTOP by car from Long Bay
& Milford
Beach, Long Bay Village offers a compact collection of gentrified dining options and a small but tidy retail plaza.
Orewa
gaparāoa Whan Seaside Good Vibes Everyone loves Takapuna, the gentrified seaside town with a lovely swimming beach, myriad of topnotch eateries, a pristine high street, playgrounds and deep sense of community spirit.
Takapuna Beach The locals frequent this long, golden stretch of sand morning, noon and night; come winter and summer, rain or shine. With top notch Rangitoto views, it’s a heavenly place for beach walks, socialising and swimming. There’s an excellent playground and Takapuna Beach Café is mere metres from the sand.
The Strand Sitting opposite Takapuna Beach, a series of seafronting restaurants spill out onto terraces, affording spectacular beach views and beyond to ships on their way to and from Auckland, and Rangitoto Island.
Takapuna-Milford Heritage Walk The shore-hugging Takapuna-Milford Heritage Walk (also known as the lava trail) requires a reasonably steady foot to navigate 2km of volcanic ledge, small bays and rocky outcrops.
Lake Pupuke A fantastic place to picnic in summer, or enjoy a brisk, crisp walk in winter. This is a large lake, just 1km from central Takapuna, popular with dog walkers, windsurfers, kayakers and water-loving birdlife.
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Takapuna Beach Sunday Market Open every Sunday 6am12pm. Pick up your fruit, veges and baked goods, then top up on your bric-a-brac, handmade oils, crafts and soap.
Shopping It’s a pleasure to languidly browse the shops and boutique stores along Hurstmere Road in this relaxed, beachy town, then to pop into Shore City Shopping Centre for high street brands, fashion and homeware. The PumpHouse Theatre This former water pumping station is now a thriving theatre venue. The calendar is packed with adult drama, musicals and children’s plays.
Smales Farm Bringing together Auckland’s finest food and drink artisans, this is a modern melting pot of global flavours and culinary talent. Housed in a contemporary precinct, it’s part of a co-op of businesses and shared workspaces. TOP TIP: Combine your Browns Bay beach trip with the town’s Sunday Market. Open every Sunday yearround (minus Easter Sunday, ANZAC Day and two weeks following Christmas) from 7am until midday.
East Coast
Bays Milford Beach is a good, clean beach that is safe for swimming and family friendly. The sand banks onto a gorgeous stretch of grass and when the ice cream van rolls up, there’s no better place to be.
beaches at Campbells Bay and Murrays Bay (via Mairangi Bay) this is a rewarding 5km walk utilising staircases, coastal rock and boardwalks. Allow an hour each way.
Birkenhead
yet lively seaside town has it all. The large, sweeping beach backs onto a string of decent places to eat and the main road jostles with a tidy collection of cafés and shops. The playground will be a hit for the littlies.
Torbay This seaside suburb instantly pleases. You simply cannot dislike the seaside joviality and family oriented community. Less than a kilometre from both Waiake Beach and Winstones Cove, Torbay is also by Long Bay Regional Park where there is safe swimming, picnic areas and a playground.
Mairangi Bay Idyllic for a
Ōkura Marine Reserve Here
Birkenhead
Browns Bay This compact
swim, is rarely overcrowded. On weekends, the beach is patrolled by the Surf Life Saving Club. You can also walk to other nearby beaches using connecting walkways.
Campbells to Murrays Bay Path Connecting the
you’ll enjoy an attractive coastal habitat combining sandy beaches, rocky reefs, estuarine mudflats and mangroves. The birdlife is impressive, the walks are beautiful and all sorts of activities are encouraged, from swimming and snorkelling to scuba diving and sailing. PAGE 9 - REGIONAL MAP
