Auckland is the biggest city in New Zealand, so if you find yourself on the North Island, you’ll want to spend some quality time exploring the City of Sails.
But while the boats and harbour are very impressive, if you love nature, you’ll be well advised to check out further afield.
Within just a couple of hours driving distance are several beaches, spectacular national parks, and acclaimed wineries that will well and truly get your biophilic juices flowing!
In this post, we are not going to curate an itinerary for you, as it is better if you develop your own. But we would suggest procuring yourself a hire car with someone like GO Rentals Auckland and hitting the open road to any (or all!) of the following destinations.
Beaches
If you are into beaches, you should pencil in a visit to Piha Beach, Orewa Beach, and Oneroa Beach.
Piha Beach is probably the most famous of all the beaches near Auckland. It is situated on the west coast and resides on the fringe of the Waitakere Ranges. The beach is split in two by the iconic Lion rock and is a renowned spot for surfing.
Orewa Beach could well be the most beautiful beach in New Zealand, let alone Auckland. Despite being just a half-hour drive from the Harbour Bridge in Auckland, you’ll feel a world away from it as you lay on the smooth sands of this 3 km beach. It is situated in the pleasant coastal town from which it gets its name and has some nice cafes to check out when you are hungry.
If time permits, you should also make a point of heading over to Waiheke Island, where you’ll be able to check out the magnificent Oneroa Beach. It will take you about 35 minutes to get there via ferry and once there, you’ll be able to sunbathe, swim or enjoy a long walk in relative peace.
Incidentally, Waiheke Island is known as the ‘Island of Wine’, on account of there being about 25 vineyards there. (More about that later).
Aside from these beaches, Mission Bay Beach, Takapuna Beach, and Long Bay Regional Park Beach are also well worth going to.
Forests and National Parks
If you want to see a little more than the coastline, there are several national parks near Auckland you can head on over to.
We’ve mentioned Waiheke, which, aside from its beaches and vineyards, has some spectacular rainforests, whose lush landscapes are perhaps best seen via a zipline ride that gives you a unique perspective of them from high above the forest valleys at speed.
Other exceptional places you can visit include Tawharanui Regional Park and Tongariro National Park. The former is about an hour away from Auckland not far from Matakana and Warkworth. It is a brilliant place to come for hiking as there is a fabulous 4 km trail that showcases tremendous views of the coastline, beaches and interior woodlands.
Tongariro is New Zealand’s oldest national park and is set within the heartlands of the North Island. On account of its fascinating culture and outstanding natural beauty, it has been officially recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
If you do visit there, you’ll be able to see a fabulous selection of religious and culturally significant Maori sites. You can also embark on the world renowned Tongariro Alpine Crossing and see Tongariro, Ngauruhoe, and Ruapehu – three active volcanoes.
Other national parks you might want to look into are Shakespear Regional Park, Tiritiri Matangi Island, and, if time permits, Rotoroa Island.
Wineries
As you would expect from such a beautiful city and a spectacular country like New Zealand, the wineries near Auckland are breathtaking.
Even if you don’t drink wine, these venues are worth visiting purely for their settings, which will lift your soul just as much as a decent drop of red.
Surprisingly, Auckland’s wineries were only established in the 1990s by English, Croatian and Lebanese vinteurs. However, they are among the oldest in Aotearoa.
We mentioned before that Waiheke Island has a reputation of being the ‘Island of Wine’. So, that is definitely one place you should make a point of visiting to try the exceptional cabernets that are produced there. Mudbrick Vineyard and Restaurant, Tantalus Estate and Man O’ War Vineyards are all great options.
If you would prefer to stay on the mainland, the wineries in West Auckland around Kumeū are able to provide silk-like merlot and crisp chardonnays thanks to the region’s fertile plains. The Westbrook Winery and Hunting Lodge Winery are among the leading operations to check out.
Alternatively, the undulating hills of Matakana, just to the north of the city is a place where the production of deep reds and fruity pinot gris thrives.
Heron’s Flight Vineyard and the Matakana Estate and two of the most acclaimed wine producers. However, Brick Bay and Omaha Bay are also popular destinations oenophiles recommend making the effort to go to.
Final Thought
We hope this overview of the beaches, national parks and wineries near Auckland provide you with plenty of inspiration of where to go on your nature loving road trip.
If you do hire a car to see these places, you’ll experience the magic of the North Island beyond its biggest city. Just make sure you get travel insurance to cover you for most eventualities.
