1. Grab a fishing rod - and a kid
Luckier people than us reckon Auckland is a fishing heaven, and even without a boat you can get something pretty impressive from the wharves and rocky headlands on the Manukau and Waitemata. On the North Shore, you can go up as far as Hatfields Beach, or try your luck at Castor Bay, Birkenhead or Northcote Pt wharves. South, try off Duders Beach, or near Kawakawa Bay or Maraetai. City fishers hang about below the Harbour Bridge at Westhaven, around Tamaki Drive or even Mission Bay. Probably best not to head to West Coast beaches (or even the tidal Manukau) with inexperienced fisher people - those waves or incoming tides can be vicious.
2. Make a kite, go fly it
Might as well make a happy outing of the spring winds. A kite can be as simple as a plastic shopping bag, two sticks and some string (or Google how to make some pretty sophisticated upgrades), then all you need is a breezy park or beach or paddock. You'll be surprised how quickly your best flying technique comes back to you. Kids, stand back.