Auckland Off the Beaten Path Tips by Robdaz

If you have the time take a drive towards the west ,heading towards Kumeu where you can stop at a number of vineyards and head to Muriwai.

It is one of the nicest beach around and you get to see the Muriwai's gannet colony. It is a short walk from the beach car park to Takapu Wildlife refuge on Otakamiro Point. There are viewing platforms where you can get great views of the nesting birds.

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This a protected area is near Leigh which is about half an hour drive from Warkworth north from Auckland. On the way you can stop at Warkworth for breakfast or lunch and their is a very nice winery cafe at Matakana.

You can swim/snorkle with mainly snappers and other fishes or if you preferred get on the glass bottom boat which goes round the island. Their is a nice picnic area and beach as well.

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Phone: NZ 09-422 6334
Website: www.glassbottomboat.co.nz

Piha is one of the most beautiful beach in Auckland and has a unique feature of a peak in the middle of the beach as you can see from the photo.

When I climbed up there sometime ago, I found a carved wooden Maori Statue there looking down at the surrounding areas. It give you a great view of the surrounding areas.

It's a surfing beach so the wind and surf can be quite strong. There is no cafe that I know of but there is a fish and chips shop selling drinks ,ice-cream, sausages near the main car park.

My recommendation buy some nice food and drinks in the city before you make the 30mins drive there.

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The Island we visited was Motuihe Island, one of the many islands around Gulf. As auckland is surrounded by waters , it was great opportunity to enjoy themselves on this very well organised company family day. Everyone assembled at the Subritzky cargo wharf
near the tank farm early in the morning. We were all take a slow cargo barge to the island.
There were lots of drinks and a Jazz Band to entertain us on the way to the Island and the kids were kept busy ( and quiet) by magicians, clown and face painters.

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If you are from Asia , you will find this an interesting activity , mainly because you get to pick you own strawberries or Plums. You don't get those farms there if you come from a tropical countries. This is seasonal activity in the summer.

You can pick your own strawberries in a farm at Coatesville near Dairy Flats, Albany.
Fresh strawberries taste a lot sweeter than those you find in the supermarket or fruit stalls.
There is no entrance charge, you get a tray at the entrance and start picking ( and eating) and pay for what you take home.

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