Whether you’re enjoying a family get-together, romantic picnic or simply soaking up the Kiwi sun, there are a multitude of idyllic parks around Auckland ideal for barbecues and outdoor gatherings. Tāmaki Makaurau is packed with perfect picnic locations and sizzling barbecue spots – whether you’re enjoying a long summer lunch, an outdoor dinner or beachside breakfast.

Here are five of the best barbecue spots and outdoor celebration locations around the Auckland region.

Central perks

You don’t need to travel to far flung locations for a beaut barbecue – there are many central suburb spots that are great for gatherings. Potters Park, on the corner of Balmoral and Dominion Roads in Mt Eden, has a little bit of everything: a playground with a splashpad, basketball courts, sports fields and even chess boards engraved into a concrete picnic table. The barbecue area is near several picnic tables and a band rotunda, making it ideal for family get-togethers. Art lovers will enjoy Ronnie van Hout’s 5.6m sculpture Boy Walking, which explores the notion of a child growing into adulthood. The striking artwork has become a popular landmark since its 2019 installation.

The barbecue sites at Potters Park in Mt Eden are near the children’s playground and splash pad – a great location for family outings.

Wild at heart

For staycation inspiration, try Cornwallis in Waitākere Ranges Regional Park, less than an hour from the central city. This destination barbecue spot has a white sand beach that’s a slice of heaven that beckons for summer swims. There are picnic tables dotted under pōhutukawa trees alongside this beach and there are also two undercover barbeque spots which can be booked, each with a capacity of 60. Big celebrations such as weddings can book both barbecues, which are adjacent to one another, although please note a permit could be required.

Lock it in

When planning an outdoor celebration, it’s best not to leave it to chance. Ambury Regional Park in Māngere Bridge features bookable barbecues for a guaranteed grilling (except on public holidays when barbecues are available on a first come, first served basis). For larger gatherings, the flat barbecue area at Site 1 has a capacity of 500 people and can even be booked for bigger celebrations such as weddings (although event permits may be required and structures such as bouncy castles must meet Worksafe NZ regulations and comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015). For family festivities such as children’s parties, the Felt Room near the park’s farm areas can also be hired. A perk of this park is the ability to wander through the farm and see animals such as sheep, goats, cows, pigs, chickens, turkeys, rabbits, peacocks and horses.

Hankering for hāngī

Hāngī is always a crowd-pleaser and now you can enjoy the delicious earthy flavours of traditional Māori cuisine at Te Pane o Mataoho / Te Ara Pueru / Māngere Mountain. The hāngī pit based at the whānau ātea space can be booked (for a fee), where you can enjoy a delicious meal prepared by celebrated chef Rewi Spraggon and his team of hāngī masters in partnership with the Tūpuna Maunga Authority. Cooked in an innovative earth-style oven, this hāngī is ideal for feeding between 200- 400 people.

The hāngī pit at Te Pane o Mataoho / Te Ara Pueru / Māngere Mountain can be hired, and the hāngī can feed up to 200-400 people.

The Authority and the hāngī master team offer the opportunity to host a fundraising hāngī for marae kaupapa, sports clubs and charities with the potential for groups to fundraise up to $4000. In 2025, Rewi and his team are introducing a Sunday Hāngī on the last Sunday of the month, where kai will be available for the community to purchase.

Paul Majurey, chair of the Authority, says, “The hāngī pit at the whānau ātea embodies cultural revitalisation, community connection and the shared values of the Tūpuna Maunga.”

For fundraising and Sunday Hāngī enquiries, contact maunagevents@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Northern exposure

With views to Kawau Island and a free-to-use Auckland Council barbecue with perfectly poised picnic table, Algies Bay Reserve is a dreamy location for a romantic date or family feast. It’s also a stone’s throw from many northern attractions. The sleepy bay Algies Bay is only 10km from Warkworth, a four-minute drive from Snells Beach and 9km from Sandspit Ferry terminal to Kawau Island. It’s also close to the Highfield Garden Reserve donkey sanctuary – a favourite with kids – and six minutes from the coastal forests of Scandrett Regional Park.

Algies Bay Reserve features an electric barbecue with a picnic table at arm’s length. The spot has views of Kawau Island and is close to many northern attractions.

Guidelines and rules for barbecuing in the Auckland region:

Don’t leave barbecues unattended and make sure children and pets stay clear of hot surfaces.
Ensure you turn off the barbecue once you are finished and clean up the site, taking your rubbish with you.
You can take your own gas barbecue into parks and reserves, but you mustn’t use them under trees, and all open-flame barbecues should be elevated 30cm off the ground. Coal or wood burning barbecues are not permitted in parks, reserves or beaches. Visit the Fire and Emergency website for more information about using outdoor gas cookers.