Make it your mission to watch the world go by at Mission Bay

What I love about Mission Bay is that it never changes, except for the weather, of course. This is one to do if you find yourself in Auckland on a sunny day, as that's when the magic happens down here. It's all about relaxing in a beachside café, grabbing an ice cream from one of the shops or a dairy, and sitting on the beach wall to relax and watch the world go by.

Another fun thing to do is to grab some fish and chips from the iconic Mission Bay fish and chip shop and find a spot of grass to sit down to enjoy them on. Watch out for flying rugby balls in the summer months and the pesky seagull thieves, though!

Mission Bay also boasts a fountain for paddling in if you are brave enough or you can just jump right on into the sea – it's right there! From here you can explore the other bays that stretch in both directions and a stroll from one to another is a favourite pastime of the locals. There's a playground for the kids too, and in summer you can rent kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and more for a day at the beach.

People playing beach volleyball.

Great choice of restaurants around Mission Bay.

A great spot to just chill or jog around.