Explore the Tunnels at Maungauika/North Head

Spectacular scenery, a slice of history and an intriguing adventure for the kids. Oh yes, and some very nice, sunny picnic spots. You’ll find it all here at the Maungauika/North Head Tunnels. The Maungauika/North Head Historic Reserve can be found in Devonport, across the bay from Auckland city. It offers stunning views across the harbour, city, the North Shore and beyond. Kids of all ages will love to explore the gun emplacements (including a “disappearing gun”), old military buildings and the maze of tunnels (don’t forget to bring a torch or two – and no, there’s no risk of getting lost in the tunnels – they all come out into the open air again not far from where you go in). There’s a free 20 minute movie continually playing in the old stone kitchen that tells you all about the forts that were built here to protect Auckland from a perceived Russian invasion back in the 1880s. You can follow tracks down to Cheltenham Beach for a paddle or to explore the rock pools – and the Torpedo Bay Navy Museum (where you can find out even more about the area) is only a ten minute stroll. There’s plenty of free parking at the bottom or top of the hill (depending on how fit you’re feeling). In Summer, the vehicle gate is open 6am to 8pm, and in Winter from 7am to 7pm. The pedestrian gate is open 6am – 10pm in Summer and 7am – 8.30pm in Winter.

Relive history at the Torpedo Bay Navy Museum

Did I mention the Navy Museum just a few short sentences ago? My kids and I love always make a package tour of Maungauika/North Head and the museum, visiting the tunnels and getting a bit of exercise, then walking down to the museum to look at all the amazing displays in air-conditioned comfort. (If you’d rather drive down after seeing the tunnels, the museum has a car park or there’s plenty of parking to be had on the road.)

Entry to the Torpedo Bay Navy Museum in Devonport is free for New Zealand residents. There’s a $10 charge for international visitors aged 18 and over. The museum really brings our naval heritage to life with a range of interactive displays and activities. You’ll hear from veterans as they tell stories of endurance, courage, commitment and comradeship.

The museum also runs fun activities in the school holidays. They’re a great way to keep the kids entertained, and provide them with some useful knowledge along the way.

You can drive, catch a bus (the 807 bus from the Devonport Ferry Terminal) or take an easy 15 minute saunter along the boulevard from the Devonport town centre. There’s a café (with a great children’s menu) and a funky playground, so you can enjoy a refreshing beverage, snack or light meal and watch your kids have fun wearing themselves out.

The museum is fully accessible for visitors with restricted mobility. It’s open 10am to 5pm seven days a week (except for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and Good Friday).

Have a picnic on the Devonport waterfront

Fill up your picnic hamper and catch a ferry from Auckland city across to Devonport (the trip only takes around 12 minutes). There’s a playground, a treelined park and a couple of sandy beaches right next to the wharf. Or you can travel over empty handed and grab something to eat from one of the many cafes, bakeries, icecream shops or restaurants that make Devonport such a delight to visit, whatever your age. Stroll along the boulevard past elegant old villas and you’ll come across even more beaches, playgrounds and a massive sports field where the kids can really burn off some energy. Cheltenham Beach is only 15 minutes from Devonport town – North Head with all its fascinating tunnels is even closer.

Talk to the animals at Ambury Farm

Here’s a working farm right in the heart of Auckland, so your family can have a genuine rural experience without leaving sight of the skyscrapers. Ambury Farm sprawls along the shores of the Manukau Harbour and can be reached via a leisurely drive through the coastal suburb of Mangere Bridge (why not take a walk around Mangere Mountain on the way there and finish off with fish and chips by the beach to make a real day of it?)

There are paddocks full of friendly farm critters, including goats, sheep, cows, kunekune pigs, horses, turkeys and chickens. Plus there are a few hutches with guinea pigs and rabbits for toddlers who may find the prospect of patting a cow a tad daunting.  There are picnic spaces and a camping ground (so you can make really rustic weekend of it). And a short tree-lined stroll takes you to lookouts to see a variety of different seabirds. The farm is open 6am to 9pm in summer and 6am to 7pm in winter. There are car parks aplenty.

Walk with the Wetas at Arataki

Perched atop a ridge in the Waitakere Ranges, the Arataki Visitor Centre has been a popular destination for my kids since they were knee high to a Weta. When they were little it was the Visitor’s Centre itself that was the place to be, with fun activities, the beautiful Maori whakairo (carvings) and glass cases filled with geckos, stick insects and yes, Wetas. Now it’s the bush walks that keep them going back. And there are plenty to choose from to suit every fitness level, from short bush clad strolls to stunning lookouts, to longer hikes that take you deeper into the Ranges where you’ll find railway tracks and tunnels from the area’s past. The trails are designed as loops, so you always end up back where you started. The Centre is open 9 to 5 every day except Christmas Day and there’s ample parking for cars and campervans.

Climb a volcano or two

… or three or four… Auckland has no shortage of volcanic cones to choose from (there are 53 in fact, so even if you did one a day it would take more than a year to get around or over them all). Many offer stunning 360º views of Auckland – and likely as not there are some fun trails, bushwalks and playgrounds to explore on your way to the peak. For different views of the city and surrounds, we’d recommend you climb the following:

Mount Eden

One Tree Hill

Mangere Mountain (my kids love this one)

Owairaka (Mount Albert)

Mount Wellington

Ride the Pink Cycle Trail

The Pink Cycle Trail was originally known as the Light Path, but since it’s been painted pink all the way, the new name makes a lot more sense. It’s a bright way to spend an hour or so with the kids on bike, push bike, scooter or afoot. It winds its colourful way from Upper Queen Street to Quay Street. It’s become a must see (and do) with its startlingly architectural design that features glass walls, LED mood lighting and that dramatic pink toning (actually, the official colour is a variety of purple called telemagenta, but that doesn’t roll off the tongue nearly as easily).

Have a Pohutukawa tree adventure at the Parnell Rose Gardens

The massive Pohutukawa trees at the Parnell Rose Gardens are the perfect playthings for kids with imaginations. The huge, twisting roots that sprawl along the ground can be anything from spaceship to pirate ships, from elegant homes to rugged old forts. There’s plenty of safe space for picnicking, while your kids let off steam.

Cool off at a Splash Pad

Long hot summers seem to be getting longer and hotter, so an afternoon paddle at one of Auckland’s many Splash Pads is a cool way to keep the kids entertained (especially if you want to give them a change from one of the city’s many family friendly beaches). Park-based Splash Pads have the double benefit of having regular playgrounds, playing fields and plenty of spaces for picnics, so you can make it an extended family event. Here are a few Pads worth splashing at:

Lloyd Elsmore Park Pool and Leisure Centre (Pakuranga)

Stanmore Bay Pool and Leisure Centre (Whangaparoa)

Potters Park Splash Pad (Balmoral)

Waterview Reserve Splash Pad (Waterview)

Toia Otahuhu Pool and Leisure Centre Splash Pad (Otahuhu)

Walk from one side of New Zealand to the other (in less than 4 hours)

It’s not nearly as daunting as it sounds. In fact, the Coast to Coast walk is a great way to get a little exercise and pick up fun facts about Auckland along the way. Start in the city centre on the shores of the Waitemata, then head up through the city, past Mt Eden, over One Tree Hill and down to Onehunga, finishing up at the Manukau Harbour. The walk will take you through beautiful parks, spacious sports grounds and historic suburbs. It’s well signposted to keep you on track. And the next time, you can do it the other way round to get a whole new perspective on things. The walk is pretty easy and takes around three to four hours – my kids did their first Coast to Coast when they were ten. Don’t forget to take a picnic lunch for snack stops along the way.