Latest fromBirkenhead

Birkenhead: Sweet as
Great scenery and a dollop of sugary history; Liz Light takes an autumn walk in Chelsea Heritage Park.

Review: Eight Point Two, Birkenhead
The message about locally sourced, seasonal ingredients has been hammered so repetitively that you almost wish a restaurant offer winter greens from Uzbekistan in February. Almost.

Getting CrossFit: Easy don't cut it
Crossfit is a quick, effective and fun way to beat the flab ... and challenge yourself.

Four of the best: Library school holiday programmes
Right across Auckland, libraries are doing their bit to keep the munchkins busy.

Four of the best: Ready to eat meals
Here's a list of the four best places to get your ready-to-eat meals.

Caffeine hit: Bungalo
It seems Birkenhead is spoilt for choice when it comes to good coffee.

Five of the best: Public libraries
The best thing to come out of Auckland's Super City amalgamation is that you can borrow 3.5 million items from 55 libraries from Wellsford to Waiuku. Here we choose our favourite handful.

Caffeine hit: Hinemoa Street Organic Cafe
It's a hard task finding a good coffee north of the bridge, but a select few cafes do offer top-notch brews, and the Hinemoa Street Organic Cafe is one of them.

Five of the best: Climbing walls
Climbing the walls this school holidays? Get them out climbing real ones instead at supervised walls around the region.

Weekend leisure: Backyard bees
Beekeeping is a simple and rewarding hobby which can become rather addictive, discovers Catherine Smith.

The dish: Tea time
The Tea Lady in Birkenhead Point is all retro charm, with china cups, a host of brews, chilled tea infusions and even 'coffee if you must'.

Gardening: Save your basil from a slug fest
Landscape gardener and Life columnist Justin answers your question.

Weekend leisure: Reeling in a great catch
Devonport wharf is a popular spot for land-based fishermen.If you can't get out on the harbour on a boat, try these land-based fishing spots. James Russell reports.

<i>Tongue & Groove Cafe</i>, Birkenhead
We came here because the cafe formerly known as Lounge had undergone a reincarnation and we were curious.

<i>Viva</i>'s 2010 Auckland takeout awards
Viva's team of experts gives its annual verdict on Auckland's best takeout spots for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Weekend leisure: Wrapping things up
With the festive season approaching, Catherine Smith finds there is more than one way to present a present.