Auckland is a large region that within its boundaries has 48 volcanic cones, 22 regional parks, 50 islands and two harbours. Suffice to say that there is a heck of a lot of outdoors to explore. New Zealand has a very out-doorish tradition so there are all sorts of amazing adventures and experiences waiting for you. Auckland's east coast has many white sandy beaches that are good for swimming, windsurfing and kayaking. The west coast is much more rugged and favours surfing, rock fishing bodyboarding and bodysurfing. More often then not you can find some good waves to play in. Be sure you swim and play between the flags though! The west coast’s most famous beach is Piha, which has some great surf at times. The whole west coast area has many beautiful walks and remarkable scenery that makes it a must to visit! Take a walk at the surreal shipwreck beach of Watipu, or venture into the lush sub-tropical native bush of the Waitakares Ranges. There are some amazing trails and brilliant cascading waterfalls in this area, and its only 30 mins from the city! Muriwai is another beautiful west coast beach and has a thriving gannet colony. Head out for a sunset, grab some fish and chips and marvel at the graceful and effortless flight of these magnificent sea birds. There are also a number of top class vineyards and cafés in the area so check out some of our listings. If you like animals, visiting Auckland Zoo will be time well spent. The gardens are really pleasant to wander around and the enclosures are modelled on the animals' natural surroundings and are on a par with the world's best zoos. The seals are particularly captivating as they frolic and play and generally look like they’re having a great time. Make sure you visit the Kiwi House, where you can catch a glimpse of NZ's national icon the flightless Kiwi. Just next to the zoo, is the western springs reserve where you can have a pleasant stroll around the lakes and watch and feed the swans and ducks. A hop and skip down the road is Motat, the Museum of Transport and Technology. If you enjoy old planes, cars, trains and steam engines Motat is the place to go. If you feel like a picnic or a stroll the place to head to is One Tree Hill. Unfortunately the lone tree that the hill got its name from is no longer there. However it still has one of the best views of the city. The surrounding park is also beautiful and a great place to relax and picnic. At the foot of the hill is the Auckland observatory and if you’re interested in astronomy the Stardome planetarium is a great place to visit. Another volcanic cone that offers three hundred and sixty degree panoramas of the city, is Mt Eden If you want a bit of excitement, Rainbow’s End is NZ’s premier theme park with rides and attractions for the whole family. There are millions of outdoor activities you can get up to in the land of the outdoors. Whether its bungee jumping, scenic flights, gliding, fishing, diving, sailing, parachuting, paragliding, fishing, horse treks, abseiling, golfing, caving, snorkeling, if its outdoors, there will be experienced and qualified experts to show you the ropes. Have a look at some of our listings to find something you would like to try. Get out and do it! | | | |