They are only a short drive to the west of Auckland, and are staggeringly beautiful forest-clad hills leading down to black sand beaches that stretch for miles.

There are walks from the short nature trail at the Arataki Visitor Centre, to longer tramps. If that's not enough, the market at Titirangi is recommended for arts and crafts and good coffee - as a bonus if you miss the market!

www.destination-waitakere.com

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Discover multicultural Auckland, avoid the touristy Victoria Park market and head out to Otara (Saturday) or Avondale (Sunday) fleamarkets for a bit of Pasifikan flavour.

Everything from fresh produce, music and goodies from the Pacific Islands, cheap tat from China, unique clothes, secondhand items and pretty much anything else you can think of.

Both have excellent, cheap food stalls too.

Otara is south of downtown and Avondale is west. Can be reached by bus or taxi (or rail if you're game enough).

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While in Auckland city:
If you'd like to see some beautiful old villas wonder in the suburbs of Herne Bay, Ponsonby, Grey Lynn, Parnell and Mt. Eden. All these places offer a great mix of clothes' shops and cafes especially Ponsonby Road and Jervois Road.

Around Auckland:
If it's a fine day, get on the ferry to Waiheke island [only takes 20 minutes], and visit some of the famous vineyards [Stoneridge is one of my favourites]. Have lunch at spectacular Te Whau restaurant.

On a weekend, head North of Auckland and visit Warkworth, Matakana and Leigh. There is a farmers' market in Matakana on Saturday mornings from 8am - 1pm and plenty of small vineyards producing excellent wine. Stop and eat at the Sawmill Cafe in Leigh and burn it all off afterwards with a long walk on breathtakingly beautiful Pakiri beach.

Useful links:
www.purenz.com
www.cuisine.co.nz
www.sawmillcafe.co.nz/
www.stonyridge.co.nz/
www.tewhau.co.nz

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