Formerly known simply as Waiwera Hot Pools, this holiday attraction just north of the North Shore has undergone some huge changes in recent years. It’s always been popular with families and groups of teens for a weekend or evening outing, and now there’s even more reasons to visit. They’ve had the movie pool for some time, running two sessions each day (4pm & 7pm) of family movies. Click here to see what’s screening today. There are a number of pools to suit your age and temperature preference. The hydoslides have always been a big hit with the kids, both big and small, and some super duper new slides are being installed.

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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.

Just moved house, and we’re exhausted,  so we look for somewhere cheap and cheerful to have dinner on a Monday night. A quick stroll down the main street of Milford takes us to Kashmir of India. We’ve eaten here a few times before and always been happy with the food and the service. The decor feels authentically Indian, with lots of ornamentation, pink serviettes and carved mahogany dining chairs.

The owners are away and a couple of young women are in charge – they are quite attentive and friendly, and they don’t mind that we duck across the road to grab a bottle of BYO wine. A jug of water and complimentary poppadoms -  smartly delivered to our table – keep our hunger at bay while we peruse the menu. Samosas, lamb cooked in a spinach sauce, and paneer with tomatoes, capsicum and onions are all delicious and satisfying. We take a doggy bag of leftovers for tomorrow’s lunch. All this for just $37, plus the cost of the wine, makes for a happy evening. We’ll be back!