Kennedy Park

Fantastic park and walkway that I got to introduce to friends who had never heard of it or been before! So glad they know of it now, especially the one who has a dog whose allowed on this track.
Just next to Castor Bay, Kennedy is home to gun emplacements as well as tunnels from the Second World War. The tunnels are only open second Sunday of every month between 11am and 2pm for guided walks by volunteers from the Kennedy Park WWII Trust. There is also ample green grass and shade from trees next to the wooden coastal walkway. There is a sturdy wooden staircase leading to Back Beach where several people were doing up and down stair-​runs and other fit-​stuff. Good on them.
Unfortunately we came at high tide so couldn’t make it full all the way around the cliffs but definitely coming back at low tide to do more walk exploring and go for a swim! Having said that though, we instead did the coastal walk, noticed the spiderweb-​centred playground that looked like fun as well. A proper dedicated car park space you can turn into after the main sign.
Such a great park space– must see.

JF Kennedy Park is one of those fantastic spots that has somehow managed to remain relatively unknown — well, unknown enough at least to ensure it’s not overcrowded or anything. You get there a little turnoff into a carpark off Beach Road which reveals a wide expanse of park complete with a quality playground. At first you don’t quite realise how high up you are, but then you notice the water of the Hauraki Gulf on the horizon out to the east, walk to the edge of the park, and see that you’re actually on a high clifftop. You can follow a wooden staircase all the way down the cliff-​face, revealing a beautiful beach mercifully free of direct car access which makes gives it a nice secluded feel. It is a favourite of the fitness/​dog walking crowd, but most of the time this beach is pretty well empty so it’s a great place to come for a swim, enjoy some Vitamin D, and marvel at the golden rock of the cliff. My favourite time to come is just before sunset — it’s especially peaceful around this time, and in summer the water’s still lovely and warm.