Pukeiti Gardens is roughly 30 minutes drive from New Plymouth but feels like it’s a whole world away! It went through a major redevelopment in 2017 which has totally transformed this place into a great family attraction with things to do no matter what the weather is like. Access is…
Being up close to a wind turbine isn’t an everyday experience for most people. The size of these machines is awe inspiring and it’s bound to prompt some interesting conversations! West Winds is home to 62 wind turbines that make use of Wellington’s famous wind to potentially power all the…
This is a beautiful area of bush in the Tararua Forest Park but it isn’t quite as close to Carterton as Google Maps makes it out to be! So the first thing to note is that from the SH2 turn off (approximately halfway between Greytown and Carterton) it’s about 17km…
There are actually 2 lighthouses at Pencarrow heads, one old and up high, the other one is new and still operating. Both have helped guide boats around the rocky outcrops at the entrance to Wellington harbour since 1859. It’s an almost 7km trip out to the new lighthouse, about a…
Kawau Island, in the Hauraki Gulf to the North East of Auckland is only accessible by boat with ferries and water taxis going across from Sandspit. Kawau doesn’t have any roads or cars making it very peaceful but also problematic to get around if you don’t have your own water…
Just outside of Matakana on the road to Leigh, this is a huge space with options for all weather although most attractions are better suited to days without rain. The playground is large with various wooden structures like a pink castle, fire truck, buzzy bee ship lighthouse and then more…
With wide paths that are either sealed or shingle, the tracks in Wainuiomata Recreation Area are great for all ages and abilities of walkers and cyclists. If you park on Reservoir Road (see below for directions) there are a couple of different route options. The road to the lower dam…
This is a great family activity if you go prepared with some old pieces of cardboard (one for everyone that wants a turn is preferable!) Head to the grassy hill to the west of Harling Park armed with your cardboard, trudge to the top of the hill and enjoy a…
Right off SH2 en route between Auckland and Tauranga/The Mount, the Karangahake Gorge is a very accessible area to explore whether you’re having a holiday in the Coromandel or taking a break during a car journey. The gorge is the site of an old gold mine which began work in…
Updated at the end of 2016, this playground has a huge amount of interesting equipment for lots of different ages, packed into a fairly small area. This makes it reasonably easy to keep a check on several kids that might be playing on different things. The playground is set to…
