St Heliers is a good base to visit the Auckland and the beautiful beaches. It is set around an attractive bay in a quiet, leafy neighbourhood with many parks and our home is a short walk to the sandy beach. Come closer and enjoy the bohemian atmosphere at one of the many cafes and explore the boutique shops while you're here. The village shopping area has a good mix of shops, food, cafes and services including a library and travel agents. Our favourite restaurants and cafes have views across the water to Rangitoto Island and there are many more restaurants in the adjoining bays at Kohimarama and Mission Bay as well as a movie theatre.

Attractions nearby include Kelly Tarlton's Sea-life Aquarium and Antarctic encounter with penguins and sharks. Achilles Point is a short walk up Cliff Road from St Heliers Bay where there is a viewing platform with commanding views of The Hauraki Gulf, Brown's Island and Rangitoto Island. Neighbourhood walks include Dingle Dell native bush Reserve and Tahuna Torea nature walk which follows the estuary edge through native bush alive with native Pukeko and Fantails. Check out secluded Karaka Bay accessible from a steep path down to the sea via Peacock Street. Or take a picnic over to the west coast beach at Piha or visit the Gannet colony at Muriwai beach.

The regular bus service departs from the village shops and travels along the waterfront to downtown Auckland for shops, art galleries and the ferry terminals and viaduct. Or you can cycle or walk the five miles (8 km) around the waterfront to downtown museums, galleries and the Auckland viaduct and ferries. There are several ferry services across to Devonport, or further to the sandy beaches and vineyards on Waiheke Island, Rangitoto Island (hike to the top of the dormant volcano) and the protected gulf island of Tiritiri Matangi (exquisite wildlife & revegetation). Apart from the Tongariro Crossing, most of the Great Walks are located in the South Island https://www.newzealandwalks.com/