Daylight savings has been warmly welcomed on the Shore, with an extra hour of daylight making the perfect excuse to get outdoors with family and friends after the work day ends.
For this month's magazine, I have scoured the streets to find some hidden and beloved summer hotspots that are perfect for enjoying an evening of fish and chips and perhaps a glass of wine or two. Pack the picnic blanket, round up the kids, and admire the views at a few of these 'secret' locations in your neighbourhood...
Kennedy Park is located near Castor Bay at 137 Beach Road, a quick Google Maps search will direct you to it’s unknown treasures. A fantastic playground with a centrepiece climbing structure is waiting in front of the car park, along with a large grass area for rugby games and dogs to run around on. Travel down the path even more and come across historic tunnels from WWII, with a wooden walkway just beyond them that encompasses coastal views on one side, and beautiful native trees on the other. Find a park bench along the way and take in the stunning views of the water rolling onto the beach, and Rangitoto Island in all its glory.
Rothesay Bay Beach Reserve is a gorgeous area with a cluster of picnic tables that overlook the beach, so the kids can build sandcastles or run around on the field behind the shore. There are easy access ways from the reserve onto the surrounding beaches and walkways, so if anyone feels adventurous there are other areas to explore throughout the space. The sun beams down beautifully on this area and it is the perfect hot spot to visit for lunch with the family with the guarantee of a good summer’s day of fun.
Browns Bay cliff top walkway that hides away near the Browns Bay boardwalk is a gem for those that love a bit of exercise throughout the summer months. After the journey up a series of steep and sweat-inducing stairways, you’ll hit a sign that points towards Dan Jones Bluff. Follow the path to the right and find yourself immersed in a quiet little area with a few park benches that look upon the ocean. This stop is good for a well-needed break after jogging up all those stairs, or is the perfect place to take in the sounds of the coastal areas, with a hot cup of coffee bought from the beautiful range of cafes in the Browns Bay area.
O’Neills Avenue is the ideal spot to visit if you aren’t up to tackling the entire Milford-to-Takapuna coastal walk, but still want to discover a serene snapshot of the gorgeous beaches that line our suburbs on the North Shore. Drive (or walk) down to the very end of this street and follow the directions for the walkway, which is a short path that opens out to the middle of the coastal walk and a small, but stunning, beachy hideaway. This is one for the people who don’t enjoy the chaos that a busy summer day brings on Takapuna Beach, as O’Neills Avenue provides a quieter option for a place to swim, tan, or set up a picnic on the sand. Pack the chilly-bin and the beach chairs and be prepared to totally relax for the afternoon. Or, if you are looking for a bit more of an active approach, try to accomplish the whole coastal walk and discover all of the many similar hideaway areas that are dotted among the path.
Birkenhead Wharf is definitely among my favourite views of the Auckland Harbour Bridge. It can be enjoyed all year round, but this area’s star moment is definitely when the weather gets hotter. Everyone in the family can enjoy something at the spot, located at the end of Hinemoa Street, after travelling through the quaint little township of Highbury. The area by Birkenhead Wharf has so many elements that the kids will love, with a big impressive playground and a wharf that is perfect for jumping off when the heat becomes unbearable. This is a great place to spend the evenings in too, as the Harbour Bridge is on full display with its breathtaking light show to top off an eventful day.
Island Bay Road leads to an incredible wharf, which is the perfect setting for a dinner of fish and chips with a panorama of the harbour circling the boardwalk. At sunset, this place turns into a picture-perfect spot with the light touching the horizon, and calming sound of waves rolling in underneath you. This place really makes you feel at peace, with a landscape that is nothing short of perfectly picturesque.
The Shore has so many of these wonderful spots and it was hard to choose only a few of them. It doesn't take long to discover places like the ones I've mentioned, with every suburb on the Shore having their own hidden secrets that are worth trying to seek out as the days keep getting warmer!
