Omaha Beach Playground

Right next to one of Auckland’s best beaches, this little playground punches above its weight for family days out at Omaha. The gear is kept in good nick — you can tell someone actually looks after the place — and the open grass field gives kids aged 2 to 10 plenty of room to tear around between beach sessions. There are public toilets on site, which honestly makes or breaks a day trip with small children. The BBQ area is a solid bonus if you want to make a proper afternoon of it rather than just a quick stop.