We may not be able to travel overseas this summer, but there’s plenty to do right around the country – and a slew of events and activities if you opt for a staycation on the Shore. Make the most of summer and the outdoors exploring the North Shore’s walking tracks, beaches and cycle ways, or by using your local park for a picnic. In between, make sure you get out and support our local events and hospitality venues.
You can start with Takapuna Beach Business Association’s annual I Love Takapuna Christmas Carnival on Saturday 5th December. It’s free and it’s a great day out for all ages: family-oriented fun from 10am-4pm with interactive performances and kids’ entertainment and activities, alongside some wonderful boutique craft, food and beverage market stalls. Live music starts at 4pm; the stalls remain open until 8pm.
Sports and Outdoors
Of course, the big event that’s available to all of us on the Shore is the 36th America’s Cup and the prelude events: pre-Christmas, the action starts with the America’s Cup World Series (ACWS) regatta from 17th-20th December, where teams are likely to race their second AC75s for the very first time.
Following the ACWS racing, a Christmas race marks the next stage of the summer of America’s Cup action. And from 15th January – 22nd February, racing notches up in the Prada Cup. Organised by the Challenger of Record, the PRADA Cup Challenger Selection Series determines which of the Challenger teams will take on the defender Emirates Team New Zealand in the “36th America's Cup presented by PRADA” match: to win the America’s Cup first you have to win the PRADA Cup. And finally, the big event itself – the America’s Cup, with Emirates Team New Zealand and the successful challenger whipping across (and above) the waves in their super-high-tech machines, from 6th-21st March.
Best viewing spots for all these races are likely to be North Head and Fort Takapuna, but Kennedy Park will also offer great views. Takapuna Beach Business Association also invites everyone to watch the ACWS from Takapuna’s natural beachside grandstand – and enjoy live music on either side of the racing, which you can also see close up on live screen.
ATEED has organised the Summernova Festival to offer a range of shore-based events for before, between and after races – or for those (few) who couldn’t care less about super-speed yachting. Events take place all over Auckland, but notable highlights here on the Shore include Sunsetter Food & Wine Festival at Smales Farm, which once again promises the best international (Covid-19 restrictions permitting, no doubt) and local acts, New Zealand wineries and craft breweries, popular eateries and food vendors, spectacular performers and more, in a unique urban environment.
Based at Takapuna Beach is long-distance (though not marathon or half iron distances) stand-up paddle boarding, as part of Waterbourne, the biggest watersports and beach festival in New Zealand. This combines music, water sports and public activities suitable for all ages. On Sunday 14th March an 8km race and a 16km race start off of Takapuna beach at 9am. If you’re an experienced SUP-er, register to enter; if not, get on down to the beach and cheer the racers on as they leave and finish.
Read more about Summernova events in our separate article on pXX.
Also on the water, from 19th-21st of February, is the Takapuna Beach Cup, New Zealand's premier three-day waka ama paddle festival which takes place starting from the boat club end of Takapuna beach but with crews disappearing completely from view before finishing off the beach on the epic 42km marathon race on a course out and around Rangitoto, Motutapu and Rakino Islands, and the gruelling 21km half-iron race in which a six-person crew paddles the full distance out and around Motutapu Island.
Off the water, the Harcourts Cooper & Co Run Series races, with 5km (and for the uber-keen 15km, three lap) runs held on January 24th, February 21st and March 21st, are the perfect excuse (reason?) to keep training over the Christmas period. This year, the North Shore Series takes in three awesome locations. The series kicks off in January at Run Devonport at the Navy Fields with a flat and fast course. Race Two visits Hobsonville Point (ok, technically not within the “North Shore” boundary, but close enough!) with another flat course that is almost totally off-road with inner harbour views throughout. Finally, the series returns to the popular and well-worn course of previous years at Albany Lakes Civic Park.
Junior Shore-ites are not forgotten in this bonanza of outdoor experiences. Waterworld, a floating cornucopia of slides, jumps and general watery mayhem is moored at Browns Bay from Saturday 2nd January to Thursday 7th January for bookable one-hour sessions for over-fives from 10am-6pm. It’s back on the Shore, at Lake Pupuke, from 1st-6th February and then again at the end of summer from 1st-6th April.
If you need respite from all these outdoor activities, the performing and visual arts are also alive and well on the Shore over summer.
Performing Arts and Music
NZTrio performs at its venue of choice on the Shore – Mairangi Arts Centre – with a concert titled Constellations, on 10th December at 7pm, while the next day at 7.30pm the Royal New Zealand Ballet launches a three-day season of Sleeping Beauty at the Bruce Mason Centre.
Also in December The PumpHouse Theatre hosts The Vagina Monologues (2nd–6th December), and the next day runs the last of its free Creative Talks for 2020, featuring playwright Tanya M Wheeler. A week later, prime your vocal chords and join the annual sing-along Christmas Carols in the Amphitheatre, on Sunday 13 December at 6pm.
In 2021, Auckland Shakespeare in the Park takes over the PumpHouse amphitheatre for a month with performances of Hamlet and Much Ado about Nothing from 23rd January.
In early 2021, music performances return to the Bruce Mason Centre. Canadian alt-country pioneers Cowboy Junkies visit New Zealand for the first time in 20 years, with An Evening with Cowboy Junkies on 29th January featuring the group’s career-spanning repertoire. A month later, on 27th February, Howard Morrison Jnr, Russell Harrison, Chris Powley and Andre King celebrate and recreate the magic of the New Zealand entertainment phenomenon that was the original Howard Morrison Quartet in The Howard Morrison Quartet Take 2. They promise vocals and entertainment to match the original and first-hand family stories, in what’s sure to be a memorable two-hour show. Another month, another nostalgia show. On 27th March, 'Leaving Jackson, The Johnny Cash and June Carter Show' invites you to “fall into the ring of fire” in a concert dedicated to the music, love and lives of Johnny Cash and June Carter, who, for more than 40 years, enthralled audiences around the world with their songs of life, love and heartache.
Visual arts
During the summer holidays (in January) both Lake House Arts and Mairangi Arts Centre offer adult and school holiday art classes of all kinds for all ages – check out their websites for details. Lake House Arts also has a string of exhibitions and events throughout summer, (see the accompanying calendar) culminating in March with Activation Aroha as part of Auckland Arts Festival. It is closed from 24 December – 12 January. Northart Gallery in Northcote closes for the summer break from 23rd December 2020 - 19 January 2021, but exhibitions by Tracey Tawhiao and Rachel Walters starting in November carry through until early February.
Best local walks and rides
Back at the beginning of this article we referred to North Shore walks and cycle ways. Full marks to Auckland Council: it has overcome the issues that beset Le Roys Bush and caused the closure of some tracks over the last couple of years. As well as installing new sanitation stations for boots and walking shoes, they’ve done a massive job of creating boardwalks and stairways throughout the bush so kauri are not endangered by careless footprints. For a rewarding 6km walk, try starting at Little Shoal Bay, head across Little Shoal Bay Reserve, and follow the path that wanders beside and across the stream that runs through the centre of the bush to Birkenhead. From there, take a short stroll through the town centre, and then down Colonial Road to Chelsea Estate Heritage Park. If you have time, visit the sugar factory for a guided tour, or stop off at the waterside café before turning east to walk along the beach and up the track to (the almost vertical) Telephone Road to Rugby Road, along Hinemoa Street and back down Maritime Terrace to your starting point.
For cyclists, there’s always the well-established Takapuna to Devonport/Stanley Bay shared path, that takes you through the back streets and parks. From Devonport, you can return to Takapuna via Duder’s Beach, Narrow Neck and the cycle lanes on Lake Road, or continue over the harbour on the ferry and head off along Tamaki Drive or up Nelson Street to the Pink Path.
Another good ride starts or finishes in East Coast bays. If you start in the bays, enjoy a leisurely ride down the shared path on Forrest Hill Road, then endure a short section along busy Taharoto Road before taking the shared path along Northcote Road and up Northcote’s Queen St to the ferry terminal. Try taking the ferry across to town, transferring to a Devonport service, and complete the ride on one of the shared path routes from Devonport to Takapuna and beyond. Or for a real endurance test, start in Northcote and bike uphill to the bays.
Auckland Council cycle network maps are available from Auckland Council or in hard copy from selected cycle and sports retailers, libraries and Auckland Council service centres..
Some key event dates:
Date |
Time |
Event |
Location |
Nov - 31 Mar |
|
Wood Sculpture Symposium Exhibition |
Lake House Arts grounds |
5 Dec |
10am-8pm |
I Love Takapuna Christmas Carnival |
Hurstmere Green / 38 Hurstmere Road |
6-24 Dec |
|
'It's a Very Mahi Toi Kirihimete' – Christmas market; and The Great Arts Sale |
Lake House Arts gallery |
7 Dec |
11am |
Morning Melodies |
Bruce Mason Centre |
10 Dec |
7pm |
NZTrio, Constellations |
Mairangi Arts Centre |
11-13 Dec |
7.30pm; 1.30pm |
Royal New Zealand Ballet Sleeping Beauty |
Bruce Mason Centre |
12 Dec |
10am; 11.30am |
Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, APO 4 Kids Christmas |
Bruce Mason Centre |
17-20 Dec |
|
America’s Cup World Series Regatta |
Hauraki Gulf/ Waitemata Harbour |
17-20 Dec |
3-4pm Live music on stage 4-6pm racing on screen 6-7pm more live music |
Beachside Grandstand at Takapuna beach – America’s Cup World Series Regatta |
Takapuna Beach |
20 Dec |
6pm |
Carols in the Amphitheatre |
The PumpHouse |
2021 |
|
|
|
5 Jan |
|
Great Art Sale |
Lake House Arts |
15 Jan-22 Feb |
|
The Prada Cup |
Waitemata Harbour |
23 Jan |
10am-7pm |
Summer Days Festival |
Takapuna Beach |
23 Jan-20 Feb |
7.30pm |
Auckland Shakespeare in the Park – Hamlet & Much Ado about Nothing |
The PumpHouse amphitheatre |
31 Jan-13 Feb |
|
Chinese Community Exhibition |
Lake House Arts |
Sat 13 Feb |
|
Lake House Arts Centre Open Day |
Lake House Arts |
Sat 13 Feb |
|
Sunsetter Food, Wine & Music Festival |
Smales Farm |
Sun 14 Feb- 28 Mar |
|
Exhibition by Hye Rim Lee, Black Rose / Crystal City, opens
|
Northart Gallery, Northcote |
14-26 Feb |
|
Emergent: SEE winners and runners up |
Lake House Arts |
19-21 Feb |
11am start on 19th; 7am start 20th & 21st |
Takapuna Beach Cup – waka ama racing |
Takapuna Beach, Gould Reserve |
21 Feb |
|
Auckland Plant Market |
Smales Farm |
25 Feb – 20 Mar |
|
Beneath the Surface – group exhibition on traditional tattoo by 'Lost Space project collective ' |
Lake House Arts |
26 Feb- 20 March |
|
Emergent: See exhibition - highlighting Art School graduates |
Lake House Arts |
5-20 Mar |
|
Activation Aroha (Auckland Arts Festival) |
Lake House Arts |
6-21 Mar |
|
36th America’s Cup – Team New Zealand versus the successful challenger |
Waitemata Harbour – courses off North Head and Fort Takapuna |
14 Mar |
9am |
Stand-up paddle board racing, as part of Waterbourne |
Takapuna Beach (and beyond) |
21 Mar-19 Apr |
|
Emergent: SEE III |
Lake House Arts |