The walk starts at Queen Street and finishes at St. Heliers bay village. From there the buses #767/768/769 can be taken back to city.
From Queen street head up Wellesley Street and cross into Albert Park (see image) which is almost all year round full of beautiful flowers.
From there cross into the University of Auckland and admire the old Registry build in Victorian style (left) and the Old Government House (right).
Walk down Grafton Road and you will come to the Auckland Domain. This is largest park in the Auckland city area and it boasts plenty of sports fields, a running track, a small botanical garden, a winter garden (top left) and the Auckland museum (top right) [it is free, although staff will push for a donation.] Our walk goes up Centennial Walkway and then along the winter garden to the museum. From there head down through the small botanical garden until you hit the Lower Domain Drive. Follow the Domain Walk until you see on the left a small walkway with a large tube forming a tunnel under the railway track. Cross the tunnel and you will come to Parnell, a very hip suburb which boasts plenty of art galleries, restaurants, and bars. A recommendable shop along our walk is "Elephant House" which sells lovely moderately pricey handcraft.
Cross Parnell road and walk down Denby road and through the Scarborough reserve to Georges Bay road. Walk up Cleveland road and you will come to the Dove-Myer Robinson park, which contains the beautiful Parnell Rose Garden. This is a great place for a lovely brunch - bring yourself food and drinks or buy them in Parnell. Explore the park and check out the Fred Amber lookout at its northern tip.
We next head down the walkway to Judges Bay and up along St. Stephens church to Judge Street. From here you get to the Point Resolution park which offers great 180 degree views among others of the city, the Harbour, the Parnell baths, Devonport, Rangitoto island, and Hobson Bay.
Cross the Point Resolution footbridge and you come to Tamaki drive. From We follow the popular walk/cycle way along Tamaki drive which on a nice weekend is full of walkers, joggers, cyclists and Roler Bladers. The walk passes Okahu Bay (left) and Orakei domain, which has a big playground and frequently full with friendly Maori and Pacific island families having a picnic and BBQ. Continuing along Tamaki drive you have great views back to Auckland city (right).
Next you pass Kelly Tarltons Underwater world. This medium size aquarium was built under the road and contains among others a large fish tank with sharks and rays and an "Artic World" with Emperor penguins. Continuing along Tamaki Drive you see Hapimana street on the right, which you turn into and head up the Michael Savage Memorial Park. This beautiful park offers some of the best views of Auckland city, the North Shore and Waitemata Harbour!
Soak up the view and head down the walkway on the other side to popular Mission Bay. Here you will find lots of excellent (and expensive) restaurants, coffee shops and for a treat Moevenpick ice-cream. The grassy area under the shade of the Pohutukawa trees is great place for a lunch/picnic.
After regaining your energy continue along Tamaki drive to Kohimarama beach. The beach is as nice as Mission Bay, but has a smaller grassy area, less restaurants and is less busy and more peaceful.
Continuing the walk we finally come to St. Heliers Bay, the end of our walk. This place is most popular with young families
and retired people. It's much more peaceful than Mission bay (no boy racers at night), has a lovely beach and opposite the street
a great grassy domain and tennis courts.
A couple of recommendable side trips start from here,
e.g. up Cliff Road to Achilles point and Ladies Bay
(currently [January 2009] closed because of storm damage).
Another lovely side trip is to the Dingle Dell reserve which is a large, densely vegetated gully crossed by several small rivers and lots of lovely walking track crossing it. It's much cooler than the neighbouring beach and also contains a nice grassy area for picnic and play.
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