Diana Balham shares five of Auckland's secrets from her new book Undiscovered Auckland.
KEY POINTS:
The trouble with writing about a "hidden gem" of any sort is it immediately loses its "hidden-ness" and can become just another mass destination for weekend wanderers. So apologies in advance for possibly blowing the gaffe on your personal sanctuary.
As somebody who thinks a beach is crowded
if there are more than three other people on it, I do understand, but there really is plenty of this gorgeous region to go around.
Just to further enrage a select few, here are my top five "secret spots" around Auckland. They are not necessarily the most spectacular but all offer special surprises. Four out of five are either in or very close to urban areas.
1 - Opanuku Walkway, Henderson
"Hendy" sometimes gets a bad rap: it's Westie Central: Outrageous Fortune country where Holdens roam free and T-shirts are black. Cheryl West could stalk around any corner with her cleavage heaving out of a tight top. St Heliers it ain't. But with a stiff dose of attitude, this part of West Auckland boasts a green belt that runs from the northwestern motorway all the way to Henderson Valley Rd. The Opanuku Walkway section is a heavenly oasis of parkland and native bush, moments from the commercial centre of the west.
2 - Waikowhai Coast, Waikowhai
Another haven in the city, the Waikowhai Coast is a thick buffer of reserve that separates the unfashionable suburbs of Lynfield, Waikowhai and Hillsborough from the Manukau Harbour. It has kilometres of bush-filled walking tracks and tranquil beaches that the rest of Auckland seems unaware of. A true urban wilderness. So quiet you can almost hear what the herons are thinking.
3 - Karaka Bay, Glendowie
A fine community of original folk a stone's throw from the city, but a million miles away from Queen St. Karaka Bay boasts its own porcine star: Piglet, 11. On the day I visited, she was on her way to the Hokianga with her friend Tony Watkins, peacenik architect and Bay identity. How, I'm not sure. Perhaps she has her own car seat.
4 - Scott Point, Mahurangi East
Simply splendid scenery on the lovely Mahurangi Peninsula with the added bonus of a very handsome historic building (Scott House, 1877) to look at. But wait, there's more. You can take a little free trip to Casnell Island if you go at low tide. Check out the well-preserved pa - the harbour waters would have kept the local tribe perfectly protected from attack, but don't snooze in the long grass or it might turn into an overnight expedition.
5 - Murphy's Bush Scenic Reserve, Flat Bush
This part of South Auckland is destined to change, with a whole new town planned for the Flat Bush area, but at present Murphy's Bush is still in the semi-rural outskirts. It boasts the largest stand of kahikatea in the region, one of our prettiest native trees. This is a delightful reserve with several tracks that lead to a large circular picnic spot that positively begs you to plonk yourself down with a book and a picnic.
- Detours, HoS