[YouMeAndThree]

Met up with a friend at Lloyd Elsmore Park, Pakuranga where we had to make a payment at the swimming pool (very nice and FREE to use :nice1). Afterwards we decided to have a walk around the park as both of us always forget what a large site it covers. There is a bowls/badminton/cricket club and many others too. But one of the best things to discover with all our 5 daughters in tow was a marble run in the grounds - kept them amused for ages. It's just near the Howick Historical Village (where you can buy a bag of 5 large marbles for $1) which has a rather nice coffee shop. Spent a pleasant while sipping lattes watching the girls have a ball.

Any hidden gems you've discovered?

[Alan]

There's a website in the Air New Zealand magazine that I have seen when flying domestically and it gets people to put down exactly this kind of personal gem, but for the life of me I can't find it..........AHHHHHHH!!!! :wah :wah

[Arwen]

It's lovely when you come across something 'special' like that. :)

[AliIsmailNZ]

Met up with a friend at Lloyd Elsmore Park, Pakuranga where we had to make a payment at the swimming pool (very nice and FREE to use :nice1). Afterwards we decided to have a walk around the park as both of us always forget what a large site it covers. There is a bowls/badminton/cricket club and many others too. But one of the best things to discover with all our 5 daughters in tow was a marble run in the grounds - kept them amused for ages. It's just near the Howick Historical Village (where you can buy a bag of 5 large marbles for $1) which has a rather nice coffee shop. Spent a pleasant while sipping lattes watching the girls have a ball.

Any hidden gems you've discovered?

Hi, do you intend to have such a small meetings in some stage?

Some of the sites that we enjoyed visiting:
The Zoo (in western springs)
Kelly Tarltons
Botanic Gardens
Cockel Bay Beach

:o)

[Flutterby]

we were going to go to the zoo today but opted for finding an xmas tree instead, i will have to look for the marble run next time we go swimming LO would love that.

[AliIsmailNZ]

Some of the sites that we enjoyed visiting:
The Zoo (in western springs)
Kelly Tarltons
Botanic Gardens
Cockel Bay Beach

:o)

Hi there, Happy 2010. Update on the list for the sites that we visited recently
- Butterfly Creek (near Auckland airport)
- Mt Eden Summit
- Devonport (the city and the summit)

[AliIsmailNZ]

Hi another update for pleasant places that worth to have a picnic:
- Western Spring park.
- Cornwell park (in Greenlane)

[pcsourcepoint]

I recall visiting bell house in the mid 70's (to try visit the Aussie band "Sherbet") at Loyld Elsmore Park, and was at the park a few weeks back. Still very nice, including the Hockey fields/stadiums - near the kids play park.

"Nearby" Areas to visit include: Point View Drive (I use to look out from the summit);
Top end of Cockle Bay Beach/Shelly Beach (thinks it's called that) by walking down steep bush steps from sandspit road to a little boat/yacht shed; Musick Point/Buckland's Beach - at Golf Course End - some steps to the beach near the exposed "England Rock" at low tide;