Day of Action
Head out for an action-packed morning and unleash your inner monkey at award-winning Woodhill Tree Adventures. [12] (approx 45 mins from central Auckland).
Head through the Historic Township of Helensville, [15] maybe drop into the Red Door Cafe for a coffee and snack before heading north through Kaukapakapa.
The perfect relaxation after this drive is to the east side of the Kaipara Coast Highway between Kaukapakapa and the Makarau River to Omeru Scenic Reserve [17] At the reserve there’s a series of three waterfalls: Waitangi Falls, Omeru Falls and Waitangi Stream Cascade where you can cool down with a serene swim in a gorgeous green environment.
As you head back along State Highway 16 a five-minute detour to Parakai takes you to Auckland’s only thermal springs where you can relax your muscles at either Palm Springs or Parakai Springs [13] pools.
On the way home, a short trip east from Waimauku takes you to The Hunting Lodge [A] for an early dinner. There’s casual dining at the Lawn Bar, enjoying the evening sun with a local wine, or maybe a glass of beer from Helensville based Liberty Brewing. If you’re after a more formal dining experience there is the a la carte restaurant with dishes featuring local produce.
