The 20 Explore City Guides

Northland

Whangārei Falls, Mount Parihaka, the Hātea River Walk, Kiwi North and Matapouri Bay. Short and longer walks, day trips around Northland, and the best spots for sunrise and sunset.

Auckland

From Piha and Muriwai to the Hūnua Ranges, One Tree Hill and MOTAT. The biggest of the guides, with regional park tracks, beaches and playgrounds across the North Shore and East, South and Central Auckland.

Franklin, Auckland

Pukekohe Hill, the Glenbrook Vintage Railway, Karioitahi Beach, the Bombay Hills and Hūnua Falls. Local schools, the Franklin villages and the nearby North Waikato towns.

Waikato

The Waikato River and Te Awa River Ride, Hamilton Lake Domain, Waikato Museum and the gardens. Parks, playgrounds and gully walks around the suburbs, plus day walks and towns across the Waikato.

Bay of Plenty

Tauranga and Mount Maunganui: The Strand, Minden Lookout, McLaren Falls, Pāpāmoa Beach and Kaiate Falls. Beaches, bush and river walks, nature reserves and the towns of the Western Bay of Plenty.

Bay of Plenty

Wai-O-Tapu, Waimangu Volcanic Valley, Kuirau Park, Ohinemutu, the Redwoods and the lakes. Lake tracks and lake fishing, forest and waterfall walks, and the lakeside communities around the city.

Waikato

Huka Falls, the Great Lake Pathway, Wairakei Terraces, the Mine Bay rock carvings and Mount Tauhara. Lakefront and river walks, forest parks and fishing around Lake Taupō.

Tairāwhiti

Wainui and Makorori beaches, Rere Rockslide, Titirangi on Kaiti Hill and Tairāwhiti Museum. Surf beaches and breaks, East Coast settlements and day trips to Mahia.

Hawke's Bay

Art Deco streets, Marine Parade, Ahuriri, Bluff Hill and Mission Estate. Lookouts and hill walks, forest walks, hot springs further out, and neighbourhood playgrounds.

Hawke's Bay

Hastings and Havelock North: wineries, Te Mata Peak, the walk to Cape Kidnappers, Ocean Beach and the cycle trails. Parks and playgrounds, beaches and coastal villages, and the settlements across the plains.

Taranaki

The Coastal Walkway, Pukekura Park, the Len Lye Centre and Puke Ariki. Tracks on Taranaki Maunga and the Kaitake Range, mountain and waterfall day trips, and the coastal beaches.

Whanganui

The Whanganui River Road, Sarjeant Gallery, Durie Hill Tower, Virginia Lake, Kai Iwi Beach and the Royal Whanganui Opera House. River and city walks, forest reserves and trips up toward Ruapehu.

Manawatū

The Square, Te Manawa, Victoria Esplanade and the He Ara Kotahi Pathway. Forest parks, river and stream walks, tracks in the ranges and the towns around the Manawatū.

Wellington

Te Papa, Weta Workshop, Space Place, the waterfront and day trips to Martinborough and Cape Palliser. Lower Hutt and the northern suburbs too, with beaches, harbour spots, bush walks and libraries.

Nelson Tasman

Tahunanui and Rabbit Island beaches, the Maitai River, the Botanical Reserve and the Great Taste Trail. Kahurangi and the national parks, backcountry walks and the Tasman towns.

Marlborough

Wineries, the Wither Hills, Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre, Whites Bay and the Wairau River. Walks around Picton and the Marlborough Sounds, coastal trips, beaches and freedom camping.

Canterbury

The Antarctic Centre, the tram, Riccarton Bush, Sumner Beach and day trips to Akaroa. City and Port Hills tracks, Banks Peninsula walks, beaches and the towns around Christchurch.

South Canterbury

Caroline Bay, the South Canterbury Museum, Aigantighe Art Gallery and the Botanic Gardens, with Peel Forest and Geraldine nearby. District towns, rivers and fishing spots, wetland walks and freedom camping.

Otago

Larnach Castle, Toitū, Tūhura Otago Museum, Sandfly Bay and the Taieri Gorge Railway. Coastal and harbour walks, peninsula reserves and every part of the city from the centre out.

Southland

Bill Richardson Transport World, the Water Tower, Anderson Park and Bluff, with day trips to Riverton and the Catlins falls. Western Southland and the Fiordland gateways, rural areas and city playgrounds.