Tāmaki Makaurau is one of the first parts of Aotearoa to enjoy spring. Whether you believe that the season kicks off on the meteorological start date of 1 September or on the 21 September equinox, Mother Nature has other ideas – signs of spring have been springing up all over Auckland for a few weeks already.
Whether you’re after a serene experience enjoying the blossoms, want to fawn over baby animals, or simply looking to spend some time in the best of the region’s outdoor spots, there’s plenty of spring cheer around so get amongst it!
1. Cityside spring experiences
You don’t have to leave the inner city to enjoy the best spring offerings.
Get your skates on and enjoy Auckland’s rejuvenated outdoor spaces such as Silo Park.
If you simply want to enjoy the outdoors in the central city, why not explore Auckland’s magnificent coastline? Tāmaki Drive is an excellent spot for roller skating – as is Silo Park – or if you prefer team sports, enjoy a game of basketball with friends. Take in the views from Silo Park’s gantry before making your way to Westhaven Promenade.
2. Plan a mini spring break
If you really enjoy Auckland’s regional parks, why not make one of them your home for a short time? Summer is not too far away, but you can get a head start on the holiday season by taking a spring vacation.
Many regional parks feature bookable baches and camping spots, such as Te Kuiti Cottage, located on Umupuia Beach at Duder Regional Park. While you’re at it, why not book ahead for summer, too?
Most campgrounds reopen mid to late October.
Fancy a spring escape? Book one of Auckland Council’s holiday accommodation baches such as Te Kuiti Cottage at Duder Regional Park.
3. Park life: Explore Auckland’s parks
There are more than 4000 parks in Tāmaki Makaurau, so whether you’re after a playtime adventure with the kids, a place to eat your lunch while soaking up the sunshine, or a lengthier weekend hike, this region has it all. Some of Auckland’s park highlights include:
Emily Place Reserve is part of the Coast to Coast Walk, a 16km adventure that’s great to tackle over a weekend.
Great lunch spot
Myers Park is an inner-city sanctuary between Karangahape Road, Greys Ave and Queen Street, and is a great lunch spot for city workers. Step away from your desk and enjoy the sun, palm trees, sculptures and statues, including a replica of Michelangelo’s Moses and the new Waimahara public artwork.
Created by artist Graham Tipene (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Hāua, Ngāti Manu), this fantastic light and sound installation is interactive and responds to the sound of a waiata sung into a kauri cone.
Great dog walk
Waiatarua Reserve is a gem near Stonefields and Remuera. Follow a buggy-friendly walkway around a restored wetland area, where there are bird-watching lookout spots. There’s an off-leash area for dogs, but owners should be warned that this park can get muddy so don’t forget to bring a towel!
Great playground
David Lange Park in Māngere is colourful and packed with activities for kids of all ages, including a playground with a flying fox, a skate park, and courts for basketball, volleyball and netball.
Great weekend walk
Not many cities have more than one harbour, let alone two that you can walk between in one day. The 16km Coast to Coast Walkway takes you from Waitematā Harbour to Manukau Harbours, with with Pukekawa / Auckland Domain, Outhwaite Park, Maungawhau / Mt Eden, Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill and Jellicoe Park along the way.
It’s a wonderful way to see Auckland’s treasures in one day, or split the walk into three parts and complete the mission over three weekends.
4. Small animals and birds around Auckland
Come along to see young animals in person. Want a photo - take it from a distance and make sure you get the beautiful park background!
If you see lambs or calves, remember they might stray, but their families are close by. To keep everyone safe, be cautious and avoid disturbing them as they can be protective. Let’s help them enjoy this precious time together! And please leave gates as you find them.
If you visit the Ambury Regional Park, why not do a little bird-watching on the Foreshore Walk? It’s nesting season for many of New Zealand’s native birds, and there are more than 80 species of birds in the area.
While you must keep clear of nesting birds, one place to get up close to native species is at Auckland Zoo, where you can meet a ruru. Visitors can experience ruru within Te Wao Nui (in Te Pō / The Night) and also at the zoo’s daily Hidden New Zealand keeper talk. The ruru, or morepork, is Aotearoa’s longest established native owls and is a wee cutie, only weighing about 175 grams on average (and also vying for Bird of the Year).
They are most often heard around Auckland but not seen during daylight hours. To encourage ruru in your backyard, maintain mature trees and trap rats and mice – you could even build a nest box. Here are some tips from the Auckland Council-funded conservation group Urban Ark – Manawa Taiao.
Zoo visitors also have the opportunity to experience another stunning bird of prey, the barn owl (which colonised New Zealand from Australia) – either at Hidden New Zealand or by opting for a special personal experience.
Auckland Zoo visitors can also experience New Zealand’s native barn owl either at Hidden New Zealand or by opting for a special personal experience.
5. Flowering Auckland in praise
For every month of the year, there’s a flower that’s in bloom in Auckland. But in spring, the blossoms and flowers are showing off their beauty big time. While nature can sometimes be unpredictable, here’s what you’re likely to see in flower when in Auckland this spring:
- Magnolias – July - September
Magnolias are some of the earliest blooming flowers, popping up in late winter and early spring. Many streets in Auckland feature spectacular magnolias, and the Magnolia Garden in the Auckland Botanic Gardens will be a shower of pink in August and September.
- Tulips and daffodils – September
If you’d like to tiptoe through the tulips, check out the displays at the Auckland Domain Wintergardens, and while you’re there, check out the darling daffodils growing around Pukekawa / Auckland Domain. If you’re feeling inspired, head along to the Learn to Draw Daffodil and Narcissus class on 15 September, one of the Wintergarden Sunday art sessions.
- Cherry blossoms and kōwhai – September and October
In September, Spring Blossom Valley at the Auckland Botanic Gardens is an eruption of colour with stunning pink sakura, the white pom pom blooms of tree rhododendrons, yellow daffodils and golden kōwhai. Nectar-loving birds such as tūī love the blossoms and the valley echoes with their calls this time of year. Pro-tip: Plant nectar-rich plants in your own backyard to bring the birds to your place.
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Roses – November to summer and early autumn
The best times to enjoy roses in Tāmaki Makaurau are late spring and early summer. The Parnell Rose Gardens at Dove-Myer Robinson Park contain more than 5000 rose bushes, and it’s a delightful spot for a late-spring outing. If you need inspiration for your own garden, visit the Rose Garden at Auckland Botanic Gardens.
There's even an annual event celebrating these colourful beauties. This year Parnell Festival of Roses will see the rose gardens full of stalls, entertainment and family fun on Sunday 10 November.
All the roses featured there are trialled for three years to prove they are suitable for growing in Auckland and resistant to disease. They also hold regular workshops and supply brochures for budding rose growers.
The Parnell Rose Gardens feature more than 5000 rose bushes. Catch these gardens in full bloom in November and early summer.
