If you want to escape the city for a relaxing day out without having to drive for hours on end then Manukau Heads needs to be bumped to the top of your ‘must visit’ list. For a place with such rich history, character and natural beauty it is surprisingly still a hidden gem to many Aucklanders.

The view as you drive into the Awhitu/Manukau Heads area is truly breath-taking. The Manukau Heads Lighthouse sits proudly on the very tip of the Awhitu Peninsula and on a fine day if you look south you can see miles of the Tasman Sea, sometimes as far down as Mt Taranaki. Then straight across from the lighthouse are the stunning Waitakere Ranges and the last stretch of Whatipu Beach.

On arrival at the lighthouse we met with Manukau Heads Lighthouse Trust members Sue and Paul Dixon. Paul (a local author, historian and member of the Light House Trust) takes members of the public on guided tours of the light house and it’s grounds. This lighthouse is particularly special as it’s one of only a few in New Zealand you can actually climb to the top of.

The gates to the lighthouse are open between 9-5pm daily and a donation is greatly appreciated to ensure the lighthouse is around for many years to come. If a tour is not your thing then there’s plenty of signage around for you to learn all about the rich history of the region.

Awhitu Peninsula is a stunning spot for a short, big-city break and we returned to the big smoke vowing to be back soon –this time with the camera!

By Julia, Media Advisor, Tourism New Zealand.