In summer, black sand can get extremely hot – enough to penetrate your jandals! Having a pair of thicker soled shoes is always a good idea for the walk back to the car.
West Auckland
Helensville
Helensville Railway Museum The magic of rail travel never ceases to enchant. This is a charming old railway station run by a passionate group of enthusiasts. The museum includes a working model and train set of Helensville in the 1950s. Open every Sunday from 10.30am to 3pm.
Hobsonville
Palm Springs Geothermal Pools The newly refurbished pools in Parakai are an easy 50-minute drive from central Auckland. Enjoy three steamy pools, a kids’ pool and café. Open late – so you can unwind under a starry sky.
Kumeū
Sweet Red Strawberries Lock lips with juicy red strawberries,
Black Sand
Beaches WHATIPU Windswept, moody and memorable. Swimming isn’t l fhistoric advised, but with vast dunes, caves oresMāori hiland t sites, there’s wood still plenty to do. Access is via an unsealed road. KAREKARE This is a dramatic beach that has inspired many filmmakers and was most notably used in Jane Campion’s The Piano. Defined by its iron-rich black sand, it’s mesmerising to watch sulky waves thrash the shoreline.
avondale
ANAWHATA Just a few kilometres north of Piha with impressive rock formations. Accessibility is by foot only, making it one of the (gloriously) less populated beaches on this coast.
Helensville
WARNING: Although beautiful, these beaches are dangerous – only swim when lifeguards are on duty, and only between the red and yellow flags. Check www.safeswim.org.nz for more information.
surrounded by lush hills and berry fields. From Boxing Day until early February, PYO strawberries is a must, as is a scoop of the fresh strawberry ice cream.
Kaipara Coast Sculpture Gardens What an unexpected treat. Pick
forwildly hillvarious est up a garden map and follow the path snaking in d between woo different sculptures. Then grab a bite to eat at the café and browse the plant nursery.
Muriwai
ndale hill foarveo st wood
Te Henga
Woodhill Forest Public access
a Wednesday night for night riding. The park is staffed until 10pm and they’ll even rent you some lights.
lensville
He avondale
is permitted in designated areas of the forest. Horse riding, mountain biking, tree climbing, paintball, 4WD and off-road motorcycling can all be pursued in here.
Tree Adventures Located in
Forest, challenge your Piha Woodhill dexterity and head-for-heights with
Woodhill Mountain Bike Park Find more than 100km of
a series of exhilarating ziplines and
obstacle nviinlthe soelevated b sv le lcourses le Hio Heaslentreetops. purpose-built trails and jumps well as gear rental. Head here on
Hobsonville Hobsonville Point Cycleway A 5km neighbourhood loop track that traces the peninsula’s shoreline, slicing its way through Hobsonville township from coast to coast. Made even better with various green spaces, pubs, cafés and playgrounds.
of Hobsonville Point, this market runs three days a week from Friday through Sunday, 10am to 2pm. Buy fresh bagels, artisan bread, meats and cheese and then fill your boots with handmade candles, oils and more.
The Catalina Coastal Walkway
Little Creatures Brewing
Kumeū
Located on the water’s edge in an ai Muriw enormous air force hangar, several
Hugging handsome coastline, this 5km walk in Hobsonville Point loops its way past native bush, large parks (including an off-leash green for your pooch), the harbour and an old rifle range. Cyclists are welcome too.
eateries and the Little Creatures brewery rub shoulders under one roof. Dine indoors or out – and bring your dog along for the fun. Furry friends are welcome here and water bowls are readily available.
Te Henga
Secret Fairy Houses Twenty
tiny fairy cabins climb the trees at Te Onekiritea Point (Bomb Point), Hobsonville Point. Made from every material imaginable, the workmanship is commendable and they even light up at night.
ferry service to and from the downtown Auckland ferry terminal to Hobsonville Point, running seven days a week and sailing several times a day.
Teetering on the northern-most part See Map Section - pages 66 to 71
RIGHT: Fruit picking, Kumeū © Getty Images
Kumeū
Hobsonville
Wine Kumeū is Auckland’s oldest
wine region, dating back to the onYou’ll find some of the Henders1930s. riw aZealand best-known in New i Munames
wines such as Soljans Estate Winery, eū Creek Vineyard, Westbrook KumCoopers
n and The Hunting Lodge new lynWinery Winery & Restaurant, as well as
Te Henga A converted er dai outbuilding with a rivM w uhreia smaller boutique producers.
The Tasting Shed, Kumeū coveted sharing menu. You can’t go wrong with the $60pp Chefs Suggestion and a decadent cocktail.
Piha
PYO Strawberries Find
TOP TIP: There’s a commuter
Piha
Catalina Bay Farmers’ Market
Titirangi
refreshment in Kumeū, home to ample PYO strawberry fields. Prime strawberry season falls between December and January, with homemade ice cream stalls popping up with contagious frequency.
Te Henga
TOP TIP: Phil Greig Strawberry Gardens has a humungous real fruit ice cream called ‘the Mega’.
Piha
Titirangi
55
