Awhitu Peninsula.

 7 January 2009 - What a gorgeous day! I went into the local info centre yesterday and asked about local walks and cheap/free things to do with the boys. Awhitu Peninsula was suggested and man what a great suggestion that was.
  We had the best day just checking out various beaches and enjoying each other's company. The colours were so vivid with the gorgeous blue sky. First pic is Big Bay, and this one is Orua Bay.
 We got up to the lighthouse lookout a bit too late and the gate was closed so we kept driving and found this amazing view. I stayed very safely in car while the boys were out getting all the pics.
 The Manukau Heads, a great day trip and not really too far from Auckland. A beautiful drive that would have been stunning with all the pohutukawas out only a few short weeks ago. Try and time it for a high tide if you want to swim. The boys found that to get in the deep water they were standing in mud which wasn't so nice. They tried again just before we left and were able to swim very happily with a sandy bottom.