Free fun in city with wide open spaces

Auckland is proud of its city parks and reserves, coastal beaches and more than 37,000ha of regional parks, from grassy, beachside areas to farmland and on to the bush-covered Waitakere and Hunua ranges on the fringes of the city.

They provide wonderful settings for activities that won't dent the pocket. Here's a sample from The New Zealand Herald Guide to Auckland 2004.

WANDER THE REGIONAL PARKS

Try Wenderholm, Auckland's first regional park, just north of the city, where you can check out a special grove of pohutukawa trees; or the Regional Botanic Gardens on Hill Rd just off the Southern Motorway at Manurewa - where 65ha have been planted with 30,000 native shrubs, plants and flowers.

To the west of the city the sprawling Waitakere Ranges Regional Parkland offers more than 16,000ha of native forest and coastline, including more than 200km of walking and tramping tracks as well as the west coast beaches.

Start at the Arataki Nature Trail (Arataki Visitors Centre, 6km along the Scenic Drive from Titirangi). Descend down a gentle slope on a 500m walk where giant kauri and tagged native plants give you a sense of the look of native flora.

To the south of the city, Hunua Regional Parkland has Auckland's largest forested landscape. Four dams in the ranges supply the greater part of Auckland's water. Check out the walking tracks, lookout spots with stunning views, and the Hunua Falls. For more information, phone ParksLine, 303 1530.

PICNIC

Grab your own style of food and head to any of many free and pleasant sites, including:

The Auckland Domain, Park Rd, Auckland Central. On the hill in front of the museum - great harbour views.

Victoria Park, Beaumont St, Auckland Central. On the grass beside the free petanque court - watch, or if you have the boules, play (rules are up on a board).

Mt Hobson Domain, Remuera Rd, Remuera. Climb the (small) mountain, and get the view from the northern slopes of wealthy Remuera home owners.

Takapuna Beach, from side streets off Hurstmere Rd, Takapuna. Swim, or gaze at Rangitoto and the passing shipping.

Cornwall Park, Manukau Rd, Royal Oak. Children's playground, plenty of trees and grass, explore more than 100ha. Around the other side of the park (drive through, or use Pohutukawa Dr entrance, off Greenlane Rd West) find barbecues ready-stacked with council-supplied wood.

Omana Regional Park. Walk the farm, feed the chickens, picnic under the trees.

Auckland Regional Botanic Gardens, 102 Hill Rd, Manurewa. Plenty of picnic tables among the 30,000 plants and 10ha of native bush.

Myers Park. Central-city peace a few metres away from central-city shopping. Asian foods available over the road in the varied shops along the upper reaches of Queen St.

Albert Park, access from Victoria St East or Princes St. Take a break from city sightseeing and join students lunching in the sun on the grass.

FEED THE BIRDS

Western Springs lake (Great North Rd, Western Springs) - ducks, geese, swans, pukeko.

The pond at the Auckland Domain (Park Rd, Auckland Central) - ducks.

Omana Regional Park (Omana Beach Rd, off Maraetai Drive, Maraetai) - chickens.

Lake Pupuke (Killarney St, Takapuna) - ducks, swans.

Watch the planes land and take off Park in the Puhinui Rd free viewing area (500 m east of the airport, open 5 am-10 pm).

Busy air traffic peaks at around 7am, 12-1 pm and 5-7 pm Mon, Tues, Thurs or Fri, and Sat around 7 am, depending on air traffic control schedules. Alternatively, there are good viewing areas in Auckland Airport terminals.

ENJOY

The coloured waters of the Mission Bay fountain playing at night. The charming display was devised and engineered more than 50 years ago. In the days before television, parents used to take their young children to watch from parked cars beside the Mission Bay reserve in the evening.

READ FREE

Auckland Central Public Library, Lorne St, Auckland Central. Open Mon to Fri 9.30am-8pm, Sat 10am-4 pm, Sun 12pm-4pm. Catch up with latest magazines and newspapers as well as books. Newspaper reading room is on the second floor. For the other 16 free libraries around the city, check the phone book under Auckland City Council.

TOUR THE PORT FREE

See the port at work from a free public boat tour. Every Wednesday at 11am, Ports of Auckland run a one-hour cruise that takes you alongside the container terminals where you can see the big cranes at work. A running commentary will also tell you about the general wharves, Westhaven Marina and the Viaduct Harbour. Tours leave from Pier 3 at the Ferry Building, Quay St.

To book ph 367 9111.

* The New Zealand Herald Guide to Auckland 2004 (Penguin $16.95, available all bookstores)