Looking for Family Friendly Options for Long Summer Days?

The weather has certainly changed and it is warming up out there. With the change in weather, it means there is now no excuse to not venture outside and explore the great wonders of the NorthWest. There are so many free options as well as some that charge, but they all provide a phenomenal view of a different side of Auckland city.

Located between Muriwai and Waitakere you will find the Mokoroa Falls. Getting to the falls is easy with a gentle 40 minute bush walk along Mokoroa Falls track, which features no stairs and leads to the waterfalls upper viewing platform. From the platform, there are steps that take you down into the base of the falls showing you a different side to the falls. Parents and children alike enjoy exploring the area around Mokoroa Falls, and the track into the falls joins up with other walks such as the Goldie Bush Walkway or Mokoroa Stream Track if you are looking for a longer walk. It is also a perfect location for a picnic on a summer day.

Not far from the falls is Muriwai, which provides a gorgeous backdrop if you want a lovely stroll along the beach for as far as the eye can see. If you want to explore more of the rugged west coast, there is a popular walking track that takes you over Ōtakamiro Point and on to Māori/Maukatia Bay. Starting at the car park in Muriwai, where there is a children’s playground, follow the signs towards Maukatia Bay, which takes you through a short section of bush and two lookout points. The lookout points provide great views of the gannet colony.

Dropping down into Maukatia Bay, when the tides are favourable, there are a number of caves to explore. These sea caves and blowhole were formed by waves eroding along vertical fractures in the rocks and will have everyone looking for sea life. On the low end of the king tides (also called spring tides), areas of the beach become exposed that allow visitors to see fascinating marine life in the tide pools that are normally hidden under the sea.

Rather than walking, if you are looking at venturing into the sea, Muriwai Surf School offers "introduction to surfing" lessons daily at 10:30am and 3:00pm. They are 2 hours long and include surfboard & wetsuit hire, or if you don’t need a lesson, you can hire all your gear including surfboards and wetsuits.

For something slightly less exerting, consider visiting Riverhead by water. Departing from downtown Auckland, and dependent on tides, catch a boat and cruise up the waterways of the upper Waitemata harbour. The cruise takes approximately an hour and a half, taking you under the Harbour Bridge, past the Chelsea Sugar Factory, Kauri Point and Herald Island and past Auckland suburbs you may never have seen from the water. It is a lovely way to see the city, especially sitting on the top deck of the boat enjoying the sunshine. Enjoy a leisurely lunch at The Riverhead, before catching the boat back into the city.

So whether you are looking for some gentle physical exercise with the family, or a new place to explore, there are many options to occupy your time.