Auckland, New Zealand, Great Barrier Island, Goat Island, Auckland International Airport,

There are beaches at every area in Leigh, whether it's Omaha, Goat Island, Whangateau, or even Pakiri. There are great Fishing spots, seafood hunting areas, and so much more in Greater Leigh.

"Goat Island Marine Reserve", New Zealand's first marine reserve, provides the bulk of recreational leisure with features including Scenic Marine Observations, Glass-Bottom Boat trips, Scuba-Diving, and much, much more, however there is strictly NO Fishing! Leigh is the perfect base for Goat Island activities.

There is so much to do in Leigh including swimming, kayaking, canoeing, bush walking, fishing cliff climbing and more. Leigh also has a number of licensed cafes and restaurants.

Located just one hour’s drive north of Auckland, Goat Island is an attraction for all the family.  Stand knee deep, watching the fish swim around you or catch a ride on the glass bottom boat which takes you around Goat Island to the big caves and outer reef.

The more adventurous can dive the Leigh Coastline and outer islands where you will always find an abundance of marine life and fish. Goat Island is the gateway to a unique diving experience. You can enjoy New Zealand's 'Coastal Aquarium' by scuba diving, snorkelling and kayaking from the safe Goat Island Marine reserve beach.

Goat Island is New Zealand's first marine reserve. Its official opening took place in 1977. As a 'no-take' marine reserve, set aside for scientific study, the marine life is fully protected. It covers a coastline of about 5km, extends out in sea by 800m, and encompasses 5km2 or 500 ha.

Great Barrier Island shields the inner islands of the Hauraki Gulf. Pacific Ocean swells break against its eastern side, where the beaches of Awana and Medlands are popular with surfers; the western coast has sheltered deep water harbours and bays. The island has four main settlements – Port Fitzroy, Whangaparapara and Tryphena on the western side; Claris on the eastern side.

Hiking, mountain biking, fishing and diving are the main sources of adventure on the island. There are tracks leading to secluded hot springs and historic kauri dams. Great Barrier is a haven for rare birds and lizards. Accommodation ranges from basic hikers’ huts to luxury lodges.

The kauri logging industry was a profitable in the island's early days. Kauri forests however were well inland and there was no easy way to get the logs to the sea or other routes to saw mills. The logs were therefore dragged to a convenient stream bed with steep sides and a Kauri Dam was constructed of wood with a "trapdoor" near the bottom large enough for the logs to pass through. When the dam had filled (which might take up to a year) the trapdoor was opened and the logs floating above the dam were sucked down through the hole and swept down to the sea.

Poised at the edge of the Mahurangi River, Warkworth is a pretty town with an interesting choice of restaurants and accommodation. If you need a break from your journey, a picnic on the duck-populated riverbank is a pleasant diversion.

From Warkworth you can discover the wineries around Matakana, which are interspersed with artists’ studios and country cafés. There are two regional parks in the area – Tawharanui has a magnificent surf beach; Mahurangi is more of a harbour experience. Goat Island Marine Reserve is another coastal attraction – it offers excellent snorkelling straight off the beach.

The Warkworth Museum offers displays that give an insight into the lives and pursuits of pioneering families with a wonderful display of colonial history. Features of the museum setting are the magnificent McKinney and Simpson kauri trees standing in full view of the carpark. The largest trees of their kind to be seen on the east coast of New Zealand, these giants are a reminder of the days long gone when the kauri was known as "king of the forest".

The Kaipara Harbour is an inlet of the Tasman Sea located near the base of the North Auckland Peninsula on the western side of the North Island of New Zealand. The harbour is one of the largest in the world. It is a very broad shallow harbour covering an area of 530 square km and has more than 3200 km of shoreline. It extends for some 60 km from north to south, and has a 4 km wide entrance to the Tasman Sea halfway along its length. The Wairoa River has its outflow into the northern end of the harbour. Several large arms extend into the interior of the peninsula at the northeast of the harbour, one of them ending near the town of Maungaturoto, only 10 km from the Pacific Ocean coast.

Although officially called a harbour, the Kaipara is rarely used for shipping, owing to the treacherous tides and bars at its mouth. For this reason, no large settlements lie close to its shores, although many small communities lie along its coastline. The Auckland Region ends at the lower part of the harbour and the upper half is the start of the Northland Region.

Orewa is a sunny resort town, only half an hour north from the Auckland Harbour Bridge, with a glorious beach fronting the blue Hauraki Gulf, located just half an hour north of Auckland. The town of Orewa spreads inland from the edge of a magnificent three kilometre beach.

Orewa is a great destination if you like swimming, surfing, kayaking, windsurfing and kite surfing.

For coastal views, you can't beat a stroll along the Millennium Walkway. Beyond the beach, entertainment possibilities include golf at Gulf Harbour, wine trails, hiking in regional parks, ten pin bowling, cycling, mini golf, cinema, horse riding, go-carting, indoor skiing and thermal hot pools. Orewa has a comprehensive shopping centre and a wide selection of eating places. Accommodation is plentiful.

The Hauraki Gulf is a coastal feature of the North Island of New Zealand. It lies between Auckland, the Coromandel Peninsula, and the Hauraki Plains. The magnificent Hauraki Gulf, on the doorstep of Auckland city, is home to a multitude of remarkable islands. 

Rangitoto Island

Rangitoto, an island volcano, emerged from the sea around 600 years ago in a series of fiery eruptions. It’s Auckland’s most recognisable geographic feature - a wide triangle of jagged basalt lava, softened by the world’s largest Pohutukawa forest. If you visit in December, the island glows with crimson blossom. You can hike to the summit from the wharf on the island’s southern side, pausing to explore the lava tunnels along the way. The Kidney Fern Walk is another side trip – it leads to a soft green glen of delicate, translucent ferns. For those who are less fit, a tractor-trailer service provides transport to the summit boardwalk. The summit views are spectacular. 

Functional facts: No population, toilet facilities, daily ferry service. 

Motutapu Island

Motutapu is located in the Hauraki Gulf to the northeast of Auckland City. The island is now linked by an artificial causeway to the much younger volcanic island cone of Rangitoto. Prior to the emergence of the volcano, the island had been extensively occupied by Maori for over 100 years. The eruption, some 700 years ago, destroyed their settlements, but there is circumstantial evidence that some of the residents may have escaped the destruction, presumably by waka (canoe). Of the many archaeological sites recorded, one shows human footprints preserved in solidified ash. These were protected from erosion by a layer of ash from the next eruption. The volcanic ash provided a new layer of fertile soil, and settlements were soon re-established, although many of the archaeological sites found indicate that seabirds and shellfish were a more important part of the diet than anything provided by cultivated land.

There are the remains of a number of important pa (fortified village) on the island.

During World War II, the island was an important coastal defence position, and military tunnels and bunkers can still be viewed by visitors to the island. The causeway, which is actually quite broad, was built at that time to allow easier connection between Motutapu and Rangitoto.

Functional facts: Campsites (bookings through DOC). 

Kawau Island

Kawau Island was once a busy manganese and copper mining settlement; then it became known as the home of Governor Sir George Grey. The Kawau Island Historic Reserve was created to protect Sir

George’s historic stately home in Mansion House Bay, which is open for viewing. Friendly peacocks are a feature of the grounds around the house. The reserve includes sites and relics from the mining days.

Peaceful walking tracks lead through native forest to beaches, Maori Pa sites and old copper mines.

Another walk takes you to a grove of large redwood trees. Ferries for Kawau Island leave from

Sandspit near Warkworth; over summer you can a ferry from downtown Auckland.

Functional facts: Approx. population 300, café, limited accommodation. 

Tiritiri Matangi Island

Tiri, as this island is known locally, is a conservation success story. It has been entirely cleared of predators and reforested with native trees. For the many endangered birds that live here, it’s a safe and secure home. Visitors to the island can hope to see or hear rare species such as takahe, kokako, little spotted kiwi, stitchbird and brown teal. The island’s lighthouse, built in 1864, is open to the public.

There are regular ferry services to Tiri from Auckland and Gulf Harbour. An information centre and shop is located near the lighthouse, selling cold drinks and souvenirs. You’re advised to bring your own food, good walking shoes, binoculars and a camera.

Functional facts: No population, ferry service, toilet facilities. 

Motuihe Island

Motuihe Island is a short ferry ride from downtown Auckland. Ferries operate on weekends and public holidays. Water taxis provide access at other times. The island is part of the Hauraki Gulf Maritime Park and is maintained by the Department of Conservation as a recreation reserve. It has two superb beaches and a choice of walks. Motuihe has had a varied history. It has been a site of Maori settlement, a farm, a quarantine station and a prisoner of war camp. Currently, the island is being replanted with native trees, so that it can become a sanctuary for rare wildlife. 

Functional facts: Toilet facilities, campsites (bookings through DOC), limited ferry service.

Imagine an urban environment where everyone lives within half an hour of beautiful beaches, hiking trails and a dozen enchanted holiday islands. Add a sunny climate, a background rhythm of Polynesian culture and a passion for outstanding food, wine and shopping - you’re beginning to get the picture of Auckland.

In the Maori language, Auckland is known as Tamaki-Makau-Rau - ‘the maiden with a hundred lovers’. It earned this name because it was a region coveted by many tribes. Auckland is also known as the 'City of Sails'. Aucklanders just love to get out on the harbour.

Auckland’s blend of harbour, islands, Polynesian culture and modern city environment has created a lifestyle ranked amongst the best in the world.

The natural assets of Auckland have made it a dream destination for all kinds of travellers, from doing-it-on-the-cheap backpackers to cost-is-no-issue super yacht owners.

Auckland, New Zealand’s largest population centre (approximately 1.3 million), is poised between two enormous harbours and dotted with extinct volcanic cones. The region is a fusion of four cities – Auckland City, North Shore City, Waitakere City and Manukau City – with cultural elements that span from Polynesia and Asia to the United Kingdom and Eastern Europe. While Auckland acts as a gateway to New Zealand, it’s also a destination in its own right. Visitors can explore the islands of the Hauraki Gulf by ferry or charter boat, walk the forest tracks of the Waitakere Ranges, follow wine trails and enjoy the relaxing pleasures of urban life by the sea.

North Shore City

Experience the charm and splendour of a coastal setting at North Shore City - just a short ferry ride from Downtown Auckland or drive across the harbour bridge. Discover beautiful beaches (which offer perfect viewing of Auckland’s famous landmark, Rangitoto Island), lush native bush & spectacular views of the Hauraki Gulf. From lively cafes; restaurants to great sports; leisure pursuits, a thriving arts scene to walk in the park, you'll be sure to discover it all in North Shore City.

Auckland City

The city centre is alive with cutting-edge fashion, outstanding art galleries and excellent restaurants and cafés, many which specialise in Pacific Rim style cuisine. In the heart you can’t miss the imposing Sky Tower, at 328 metres it is the tallest tower in the Southern Hemisphere. The observation deck offers an incredible 360 degree view of greater Auckland. Stunning panoramas are also available from natural landmarks including Maungawhau (Mt Eden), Maungakiekie (One Tree Hill) and Rangitoto Island.

Waitakere City

Waitakere City is one of the premier eco-tourist destinations in New Zealand. More than 155,000 people visit the city every year, attracted by the vineyards, black sand at the wild West Coast beaches and ancient rain forests of the West Coast. Take a ride on the Waitakere Tramline.

Manukau City

Manukau is the third largest, most ethnically diverse and fastest growing city in New Zealand. It is home to more than 165 different ethnic groups, with the largest Maori and Pacific communities in New Zealand. The Saturday markets at Otara are an excellent way to immerse yourself in various cultures of the city. Manukau City is also the home of Auckland International Airport.

Just across Auckland harbour from the central business district, the historic suburb of Devonport is full of charm and character. Decades of relative isolation by road, followed by visionary town planning, has preserved Devonport's heritage. The streets are lined with wooden colonial villas built in the late 1800s and early 1900s. There are also some large stately homes along the shore facing the city centre.

From the ferry wharf, the main street leads inland towards the volcanic cone Mount Victoria. Preserved buildings along the street accommodate cafes and small shops selling crafts, antiques and collectibles.

The adjacent naval base was the main focus of Devonport for many decades. A museum at the base offers a wonderful collection of navy memorabilia and fascinating stories of New Zealand's naval history.

Take a walk around Torpedo Bay along the harbour's edge to North Head. This volcanic mountain is strategically positioned above the shipping channel which rounds the headland as it enters the inner harbour. For many years a closed defence position, North Head is now a public area managed by the Department of Conservation. The old gun emplacements and underground connecting tunnels are restored and open for you to explore - bring a torch. The grassy slopes of the hill offer numerous picnic spots with widespread views over the city, harbour and islands of the Hauraki Gulf. Ferries, the occasional ship and a steady stream of pleasure craft add to the entertainment.

A track around the base of North Head passes along a rocky ledge to a small secluded beach before heading down onto Cheltenham Beach, one of the North Shore's prettiest seaside suburbs.