Tony and I have kayaked to Rangitoto on 2 occasions – once in tandem kayaks  and then in our own individual kayaks, and I can really recommend it for a great day’s outing. If you’re not feeling super energetic, then grab a mate and go tandem. It’ll take roughly 45 minutes to get across to Rangitoto (watch out for big boats as you cross the channel). While it’s great to do this during the summer months, and have a swim when you get to the island, the winter days are often sunny and settled, and the trip can be just as satisfying.

You must take a picnic lunch and plenty of water with you, and relax on the beach when you get to Rangitoto (there are no shops!) We generally walk to the top and enjoy the views over the Hauraki Gulf. It’s a pleasant walk and can round off the day very nicely.

If you’re new to kayaking, and you don’t own one, you can hire a kayak from Canoe and Kayak North Shore (based in Constellation Drive) and you can even take kayaking lessons from them if you want to build up some confidence first.

Tennis is often described as a “Sport for Life”. It doesn’t matter what age you are; as long as you can move, you can play tennis. Whether you’re a complete novice,  like to have the odd game, or you’re seriously contemplating getting into club tennis, there are plenty of options available on the North Shore. Local tennis clubs always welcome new members, and they sometimes have complementary coaching included in the subscription price.

I’ve been a member of Takapuna Tennis Club for the past 6 or 7 years and enjoy a fairly low-key approach, with midweek ladies’ day my session of choice. It’s not at all serious and we have a good laugh. There are other adult sessions available on the weekend and in the evening, as well as the more serious interclub competition.

If you’d like to get the basics right first, you can contact TennisLife for private or group coaching lessons. But if you just want to get onto the court and have a hit around, you can usually get access via club members that are onsite, and play for an hour or so for a nominal fee (around $5, although club members always have priority).

Find your local tennis club here:

Albany

Beach Haven

Birkenhead

Campbells Bay

Devonport (Ngataringa)

Forrest Hill (Becroft Park)

Glenfield

Lake Pupuke

Mairangi Bay

Milford

Takapuna

Passion Cafe

Passion by name, passion by nature. Owner Julene Payne has plenty of it and it shows in her cafe. The food is cooked onsite – all the old favourites, presented with flair, like cheese scones, sweet and savoury muffins, friands, brioche, club sandwiches and pies, as well as daily specials like mince on toast and quiche. Every time I’ve eaten here, the food has been delicious. The coffee is also superb – supplied by local roastery Planet Espresso.

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One of Auckland’s largest metropolitan parks, originally called The Takapuna Domain, Centennial Park in Campbells Bay incorporates a number of tracks, a tennis club and a golf course within a total area of 160 hectares. Weeds and exotic species are gradually being cleared from the area and more natives planted thanks to the great work being done by the Centennial Park Preservation Society. The bush is alive with birdsong and the area boasts some rare birds such as the long tailed cuckoo. You’ll see wood pigeons, white eyes and fantails and many more native and introduced birds. There are maps available from the city council, or you can view the main map at the Beach Road entrance to the park. View a map of the park on Google Maps. Read more about Centennial Park and its history here.

Stand Up Paddling (SUP) is the latest thing in waterbased sport and recreation and it’s growing in popularity as punters realise the health benefits as well as the joys of this pursuit. What better way to enjoy a beautiful day on the North Shore than to paddle a long board around the bays? You can do it any time of year (some of the most beautiful, calm days are in the middle of winter), and you set your own pace.

Mark Jackson is a local boy who has spent the past 25 years perfecting and competing in this sport all over the Pacific. He has set up a business importing the special boards for SUP, and you can check out the goods on offer on his website. Mark has recently written an article on SUP in the first issue of Channel magazine which gives a good insight into the sport.

Possibly the highest value apartment at $5.2million, in New Zealand has just been sold by Harcourts Cooper and Co on the North Shore. with an area of 668m2 on three level atop the Sentinel in Takapuna, the young Asian businessman who has purchased it will have an envied lifestyle. See more here. And here’s more evidence of Takapuna’s growing style and metro flavour…a sleek spacious 350m2 apartment for sale.

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