Norfolk Avenue Playground

Locals with older kids have been pretty happy since this one went in — it’s a newer setup that actually caters to the 7-and-up crowd rather than just toddlers. The open grass field gives kids room to properly run around, and the picnic tables mean you can actually sit down and eat like a human instead of perching on a curb. What catches most people off guard is the view of the refinery — sounds odd, but it’s genuinely striking against the Whangārei Heads backdrop. Worth tacking onto a beach day in the area.