Pikiniki

Picnics

Picnics in our regional parks

There are many places you can picnic in our regional parks. Find a picnic table or a picturesque spot to picnic.

If you have a large group or want exclusive use of a site, some of our regional parks have picnic sites you can book.

Bookable picnic sites in parks

Most bookable picnic sites have:

a picnic table
an electric, gas or wood-burning barbecue (you will need to bring your own wood)
space suitable for games
drinking water.

When you book a picnic site you must be on the site by 9am. Otherwise the public may use it.

On these public holidays, the bookable sites cannot be booked - they are available on a first come, first served basis:

Christmas Day
Boxing Day
New Year's Day
day after New Year's Day
Waitangi Day
Auckland Anniversary Day.

Where you can have a picnic

Central Auckland and Hauraki Gulf

Mutukaroa / Hamlins Hill Regional Park

A green oasis amid Auckland's urban and industrial sprawl with lots of places to find a place to picnic.

Groups of more than 50 people will need a discretionary event permit. Conditions apply and a permit is granted on a case-by-case basis.

Read more about Mutukaroa / Hamlins Hill Regional Park.

Glenfern Sanctuary Regional Park

This regional park has many sites suitable for picnicking.

Keep to the public access areas only.

Read more about Glenfern Sanctuary Regional Park.

Whakanewha Regional Park

Find your own spot or book the bookable site at Whakanewha Regional Park.

Groups of more than 100 people will need a discretionary event permit. Conditions apply and a permit is granted on a case-by-case basis.

Read more about Whakanewha Regional Park

North Auckland

Ātiu Creek Regional Park

Ātiu Creek Regional Park is a great place to picnic and it is easy to find a picturesque spot of your own.

Feel free to bring your own gas barbecue.

Groups of more than 75 people will need a discretionary event permit. Conditions apply and a permit is granted on a case-by-case basis.

Read more about Ātiu Creek Regional Park.

Long Bay Regional Park

Long Bay has a number of fantastic places to have a picnic, including on the beach.

There are free-to-use electric barbecues around the park or you can bring your own gas barbecue.

If you have more than 100 people in your group, you must book one of the six bookable sites at Long Bay Regional Park.

Mahurangi Regional Park

There are no designated picnic areas but it is easy to find a great spot to picnic.

Feel free to bring your own gas barbecue.

Groups of more than 75 people will need a discretionary event permit. Conditions apply and a permit is granted on a case-by-case basis.

Read more about Mahurangi Regional Park.

Scandrett Regional Park

Scandrett is a great place for a picnic and it is easy to find a picturesque spot of your own.

Feel free to bring your own gas barbecue.

Groups of more than 75 people will need a discretionary event permit. Conditions apply and a permit is granted on a case-by-case basis.

Read more about Scandrett Regional Park.

Shakespear Regional Park

Find a picturesque and secluded spot for a small group. Larger groups can book one of the three bookable sites at Shakespear Regional Park.

There are free-to-use barbecues available in the park or you can bring your own gas barbecue.

Groups of more than 100 people will need a discretionary event permit. Conditions apply and a permit is granted on a case-by-case basis.

Read more about Shakespear Regional Park.

Tāwharanui Regional Park

There are no bookable sites but it is easy to find a spot to picnic, and you can bring your gas barbecue.

Groups of more than 50 people will need a discretionary event permit. Conditions apply and a permit is granted on a case-by-case basis.

Read more about Tāwharanui Regional Park.

Te Rau Pūriri Regional Park

A great place for a picnic - it's easy to find a picturesque spot of your own.

You can bring your own gas barbecue.

Groups of more than 100 people will need a discretionary event permit. Conditions apply and a permit is granted on a case-by-case basis.

Read more about Te Rau Pūriri Regional Park.

Wenderholm Regional Park

Find a picturesque and secluded spot for a small group or book one of the three bookable sites at Wenderholm Regional Park.

There are free-to-use barbecues and shelters around the park or bring your own gas barbecue. You will need to bring your own wood if you are using the wood-fired barbecues.

Groups of more than 100 people will need a discretionary event permit. Conditions apply and a permit is granted on a case-by-case basis.

Read more about Wenderholm Regional Park.

West Auckland

Arataki, Waitākere Ranges Regional Park

There are some great casual picnic spots available around the Arataki Visitor Centre.

Groups of more than 50 people will need a discretionary event permit. Conditions apply and consent is granted on a case-by-case basis.

Cascade Kauri, Waitākere Ranges Regional Park

There are many great casual picnic sites in the Cascade Kauri area, such as Falls Road, Lake Wainamu, Pae o Te Rangi Farm and Pukematekeo.

Groups of more than 50 people will need a discretionary event permit. Conditions apply and a permit is granted on a case-by-case basis.

Cornwallis, Waitākere Ranges Regional Park

The great places to picnic include four bookable picnic sites at Cornwallis, Waitākere Ranges Regional Park.

Groups of more than 50 people will need a discretionary event permit. Conditions apply and a permit is granted on a case-by-case basis.

Huia, Waitākere Ranges Regional Park

Huia has a number of great picnic spots.

Groups of more than 50 people will need a discretionary event permit. Conditions apply and a permit is granted on a case-by-case basis.

Read more about Huia, Waitākere Ranges Regional Park.

Karekare, Waitākere Ranges Regional Park

It's easy to find a great space to have a picnic in this regional park.

Groups of more than 50 people will need a discretionary event permit. Conditions apply and a permit is granted on a case-by-case basis.

Muriwai Regional Park

There is plenty of space and a beach, so it is easy to choose your picnic spot.

Groups of more than 100 people will need a discretionary event permit. Conditions apply and a permit is granted on a case-by-case basis.

Piha, Waitākere Ranges Regional Park

If you are planning a beach picnic, take a sun umbrella as there isn't any shade along the beach.

Groups of more than 50 people will need a discretionary event permit. Conditions apply and a permit is granted on a case-by-case basis.

Read more about Piha, Waitākere Ranges Regional Park.

Te Henga / Bethells, Waitākere Ranges Regional Park

Find a picnic spot near or on Te Henga / Bethells Beach.

Groups of more than 50 people will need a discretionary event permit. Conditions apply and a permit is granted on a case-by-case basis.

Whatipū Regional Park

Whatipū Regional Park has great picnic spots throughout the park.

Groups of more than 50 people will need a discretionary event permit. Conditions apply and a permit is granted on a case-by-case basis.

East Auckland

Duder Regional Park

There are no designated picnic sites, so you can find your own spot to picnic.

Groups of more than 100 people will need a discretionary event permit. Conditions apply and a permit is granted on a case-by-case basis.

Hunua Ranges Regional Park

Hunua Falls has a large, flat area with picnic tables and toilets beside the large car park.

There are also picnic tables at Wairoa and Mangatawhiri, but you can picnic anywhere you find a good spot.

Groups of more than 100 people will need a discretionary event permit. Conditions apply and a permit is granted on a case-by-case basis.

Read more about Hunua Ranges Regional Park.

Ōmana Regional Park

Find a picnic spot near the beach or playground or, for a large group, you could book one of the four bookable sites at Ōmana Regional Park.

The park also has a number of barbecues that are free to use on a first-come-first-served basis.

Groups of more than 100 people will need a discretionary event permit. Conditions apply and a permit is granted on a case-by-case basis.

Tāpapakanga Regional Park

There are designated picnic sites behind the beach at Tāpapakanga Regional Park.

Groups of more than 100 people will need a discretionary event permit. Conditions apply and a permit is granted on a case-by-case basis.

Read more about Tāpapakanga Regional Park.

Tawhitokino Regional Park

Find your own picnic spot along the secluded stretch of white sand beach.

Groups of more than 25 people will need a discretionary event permit. Conditions apply and a permit is granted on a case-by-case basis.

Read more about Tawhitokino Regional Park.

Waharau Regional Park

There are picnic tables in the main park or you can find your own spot.

Groups of more than 100 people will need a discretionary event permit. Conditions apply and a permit is granted on a case-by-case basis.

Waitawa Regional Park

Waitawa Regional Park offers some great sites for picnics, including Mātaitai or Waitawa bays.

Most of these areas have picnic tables, and there are five gas barbecues at Mātaitai Bay.

Groups of more than 100 people will need discretionary event permit. Conditions apply and a permit is granted on a case-by-case basis.

Whakatīwai Regional Park

Find a picturesque and secluded spot for your picnic.

Groups of more than 100 people will need a discretionary event permit. Conditions apply and a permit is granted on a case-by-case basis.

Read more about Whakatīwai Regional Park.

South Auckland

Ambury Regional Park

There are many great places to picnic, as well as one large bookable picnic site at Ambury Regional Park.

Groups of more than 100 people will need a discretionary event permit. Conditions apply and a permit is granted on a case-by-case basis.

Āwhitu Regional Park

There are many picturesque and secluded picnic spots for small groups, as well as one bookable picnic site at Āwhitu Regional Park.

There are free-to-use electric start gas barbecues dotted around the park, or you can bring your own.

Groups of more than 100 people will need a discretionary event permit. Conditions apply and a permit is granted on a case-by-case basis.