Walk, run or cycle to Auckland’s vibrant waterfront, through inner-city parks and up volcanic cones from The Hotel Britomart. We can’t promise these routes will be flat, but they will be rewarding.
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Walk or cycle the vibrant waterfront, and check out Westhaven marina and the Harbour Bridge.
Read MoreExpect: A vibrant waterfront cycleway, marina and the Harbour Bridge
Difficulty: Easy. Mostly flat with a nice wide boardwalk
Distance & time: 8km, 30 mins
Directions: This harbourside circuit is a breeze, following a mostly flat route that takes in seaside dining precinct Wynyard Quarter, Silo Park, the Westhaven marina, and Auckland Harbour Bridge. Begin the loop on Quay St and head left along the eastern edge of the Viaduct Harbour to carpark-turned-shared-space Te Wero Island, and onto the Wynyard Crossing that lifts to let the occasional boat through. Across the bridge is Wynyard Quarter, the Auckland Fish Market and the concrete silos of park-and-event-space Silo Park. Follow the cycle path/boardwalk on Westhaven Drive as it winds its way alongside the marina towards the Harbour Bridge. From here, cyclists can loop around Curran St through Pt Erin Park to follow the bike path on the other side of the motorway, or return the same way.
Expect: An exciting urban loop along a dedicated bike path
Difficulty: Moderate with an extended uphill climb on a busy main road
Distance & time: 6.7km, 20 mins
Directions: The City Cycle Loop is an exhilarating, bike-friendly introduction to Auckland, with protected bike lanes, clear road markings and even a drink bottle-filling station. This route features a long uphill stretch along a busy main road but the reward is a longer downhill jaunt with some surprises along the way. Awaiting at the top is the award-winning Lightpath Te Ara I Whiti, which has turned a disused motorway offramp into a vivid pink walking and cycling route that connects the Nelson St Cycleway with Upper Queen St. From here, cruise downhill along the swish new Grafton Gully shared path, past the mature trees of the Symonds St cemetery and beneath historic Grafton Bridge to Alten Reserve, delivering riders all the way to Britomart Lane where it’s home sweet home.
Enjoy glittering harbour views along a winding waterfront cycleway.
Read MoreExpect: Glittering beaches along a winding waterfront cycleway
Difficulty: Smooth sailing, it’s flat all the way
Distance & time: 7km, 25 mins (one way)
Directions: Roll your way to Quay St to begin this route. This circuit is a cruisy bike ride along Auckland’s waterfront, past inner-city beaches to the seaside suburb of Mission Bay. It’s one of the city’s busiest off-road shared paths, so keep an eye out for pedestrians and joggers, especially on weekends. At Mission Bay, stop for a beach picnic or mosey down the promenade for an ice cream. From Mission Bay, continue along Tāmaki Drive for another three kilometres to St Heliers Beach for another, slightly quieter, white-sand beach, harbour views and a sprinkling of cafés and bars.
Wander along this regenerated seaside precinct, one of Auckland's favourite city spots.
Read MoreExpect: A regenerated seaside precinct, a green space, and harbourside living
Difficulty: Flat-out easy
Distance & time: 4km, 40 mins
Directions: The Wynyard Quarter precinct is a lively mix of restaurants, offices, shared spaces, parks and markets on reclaimed land at the water’s edge. Walk there along Quay St to the Wynyard Crossing, a footbridge that delivers pedestrians across the water to the North Wharf Promenade. Head down Daldy St past the Auckland Fish Market and a shared community garden to get to Victoria Park. Loop around this inner city green space, popular with office workers on lunch breaks, fitness fans and sports teams - and take Halsey St to get to Viaduct Harbour Ave. Follow the water’s edge past the apartments, restaurants, bars and shops of the Viaduct, back to Britomart.
Stroll through this historic inner-city park and the university precinct’s heritage buildings.
Read MoreExpect: A leafy inner-city park and the university precinct’s historic buildings
Difficulty: Easy. Uphill on the way there
Distance & time: 3km, 30 mins
Directions: Follow Britomart Place onto Emily Place to begin this walk, which loops around Albert Park and the university campus taking in green spaces and historic buildings. The walk forms part of the University Heritage Trail, so expect a few architectural marvels along the way. Princes St has a row of Victorian merchant houses (built in 1887-1888), the vine-covered Northern Club (1867) and the impressive Clock Tower building. Albert Park is a favourite with students and city dwellers and the ideal spot to read a book under the shade of a centuries-old ombu tree. Walk along its formal paths, past manicured gardens, a fountain, and tall swaying palm trees. Cut through the campus past Old Government House, set on its own stately garden. Amble down Parliament St past the Auckland High Court to return to the hotel.
Walk and explore this huge park with walking tracks through native bush.
Read MoreExpect: A diverse park with walking tracks through native bush
Difficulty: Moderate. Uphill on the way there, with some off-road paths
Distance & time: 6.7km, 1 hour
Directions: Head up Anzac Ave and down Alten Rd to Auckland Domain, a beautiful park set on the slope of an extinct volcano with panoramic views and a mix of native bush, gardens, ponds and green fields. There are several walking trails to choose from at the base of the park. Try the romantic Lover’s Walk, a 500-metre uphill track through nikau palms and established trees to the duck pond. Circle around the park by turning right onto Domain Drive, heading past the impressive art deco entry gates, the grandstand and playing fields, to the Auckland War Memorial Museum with its lush green surrounds, ideal for a quick pitstop. Mix up the return journey by following the Domain Walk bush trail into Parnell, to get a glimpse of some of Auckland’s original villas and Edwardian townhouses.
An efficient jog that takes in some grit and some scenery.
Read MoreExpect: A steady climb on the first half, downhill on a shared path
Difficulty: Moderate with an uphill stretch
Distance & time: 5.5km, 35 mins
Directions: This isn’t the most scenic route in this guide but it’s the most straightforward, following a main road to the highest point and a shared path on the way back, so there’s little chance of getting lost. Runners will need to cut through the Symonds St cemetery (or take Karangahape Rd) to get to the Grafton Gully Cycleway’s entrance on the corner of Upper Queen St and Canada St - it’ll be signposted. The shared path is a joy to run down, with smooth, newly laid concrete that winds under bridges and the motorway overpass and guides runners all the way back to the hotel - just keep an eye out for bikes.
A pleasant jog with harbour views, an urban beach and a garden of roses.
Read MoreExpect: Harbour views, an urban beach and a garden of roses.
Difficulty: Mostly flat footpaths, with some hilly sections.
Distance & time: 7km, 40 mins.
Directions: Run through a seaside slice of Parnell, past the waterfront, parks and stately historic homes. Begin this run on Quay St and head along Tāmaki Drive, past the Ports of Auckland until the road traverses the water at Judge’s Bay, an urban beach that’s been regenerated into a vibrant recreational park. Climb the stairs of Judge’s Bay Footbridge for a great view of iconic salt water swimming pool The Parnell Baths. Head up Saint Stephens Ave, with its beautiful historic homes, and turn right onto Gladstone Rd. Cut through Parnell Rose Gardens’ rows of blooming flowers for an amazing harbour view near the bottom of Gladstone Rd. Take The Strand and Beach Rd back to the hotel.
A run with one of the city's best views as a reward.
Read MoreExpect: An uphill bush run, suburban roads and a mountain.
Difficulty: Challenging, long uphill stretches
Distance & time: 10km, 65 mins
Directions: This route is a steady uphill climb to the top of a volcanic cone rewarding runners with Auckland’s best view from its highest vantage point. To get to Mount Eden/Maungawhau, run along Beach Rd, cross to the far side of Stanley Street and turn right to run along it for a couple of hundred metres before turning left into the Auckland Domain to begin the first stretch of uphill running. Take one of the walking trails through native bush (such as the Domain Walk track), or follow the road to the south-western corner/Park Rd to get to the mountain. At the end of Clive Rd, a pedestrian-only road gently winds its way up Mt Eden/Maungawhau, allowing 360-degree views on the way to the top. Enjoy the glorious vista before returning via Normanby, Nugent and Grafton Rds, busy inner-city streets with nice wide footpaths.
