East of Auckland Touring Route

The East of Auckland Touring Route wraps around the eastern bays south of Auckland City, encompassing Manukau City and part of the Franklin District. You'll discover lush green countryside, white sand beaches and a spectacular forest park.

Farming landscapes, gardens, forests, birdlife and charming rural villages give this touring route a special point of difference. You'll discover the country and coastal settlements of Howick, Whitford, Pine Harbour, Beachlands and Maraetai along the Pohutukawa Coast, then the road swings inland to the beautiful Clevedon Valley. The area offers a great fresh air experience with excellent accommodation, dining, wineries and a golf course. The east Franklin part of the route includes the forested Hunua Ranges Regional Park and the thriving country town of Papakura.

Suggested Itinerary

Day One

Church at Howick Village Howick village is a historic township known for the fencible or colony community that was settled by the British in the 1840s. The area is rich with history and houses New Zealand's second oldest church, the All Saints Church. There is also a historical village where it is possible to experience costume, buildings and lifestyle from the fencible era. Further south is Whitford, where you'll find a number of charming shops and beautiful gardens, including an exotic bird garden. In Clevedon Valley you'll discover another captivating country village, as well as vineyards and gourmet food producers.

Day Two

Bike riding East of Auckland Take the coastal Pohutukawa Coast drive through to Miranda, an area that's well known to bird watchers. A variety of migratory wading birds can be seen here, and there is an information centre to tell you all about them. Miranda also has several craft outlets and hot springs for swimming. Continue through to the Hunua Ranges Regional Park, the largest area of forest in the Auckland region. Well-maintained walking tracks let you enjoy the lush rainforest and beautiful birdsong - listen for bellbirds, fantails, tui, kereru and the endangered kokako. The route travels back to Auckland City passing the Auckland Botanic Gardens, where you'll find more than 10,000 plants and 65 hectares of parkland. Every November the gardens host the Ellerslie International Flower Show - the largest in the southern hemisphere. At this point, you can join the South of Auckland Touring Route or take the motorway back to central Auckland.

Highlights

Go windsurfing at Bucklands Beach
Visit Ayrlies Garden
Buy local produce at the Clevedon Village Market (Sundays)
Swim or kayak under the Hunua Falls
Watch the birds at the Miranda Shorebird Centre
Take a Warbird Dakota sightseeing flight from Ardmore Airport
Stop at Kaiaua for their famous fish and chips

Downloads

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