Auckland

Go West

If you enjoy your craft beers then you’d be smart to plan a visit to the Hallertau Brewery and Biergarten – with some responsible planning in mind, of course.  Take SH16 from Auckland through Massey to the ‘fruit bowl of Tamaki Makaurau’ that is Riverhead and check out a local brewing success story. The restaurant’s mastered natural flavours and fresh produce, and it’s a great place to learn about the brewing process.

You’ll want to burn off your fill in the Waitākere Ranges next, so get back on the road and drive the 40 minutes via Waitākere and through the Opanuku Road Reserve. Like so many of our roads, as you wind through the stunning native bush you’ll find plenty of opportunity to chop through the gears.

Park your car and head out on a walk. There’s around 40,000 acres of pristine native bush with scenic waterfalls and over 250km of tracks, so be ready to blow out some cobwebs. Take the trip on a gin-clear day and you’ll be welcomed with some incredible views – but first be sure to check on the Auckland council website to see which tracks are closed to prevent kauri dieback.

If you’re not sold on the bush walk, then head a further 10 mins west to Piha Beach. Pack the towel and the sunblock and set yourself up on the black sand with some crisp fish and chips from Murray Piha on Marine Parade S. Better yet, bring your board and get some surfing in on what might be our most famous beach.