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Last updated
Sept 26th, 2024
© 1999-2024
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Home > Things to Do |
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| Helensville
and the surrounding area offer the visitor a huge variety
of things to do and places to visit. Attractions range from peaceful
garden visits to heart-stopping sky diving, insightful museum visits
to horse trekking along stunning beaches. There are cruises, natural
hot pools, golf, tours, walks - check the listings below and come
enjoy Helensville!
And don't forget to check out What's
On for special events.
The links below will take you directly to the section of this page
you are interested in:
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Arts
The Art Centre
Basement, Helensville War Memorial Hall, Commercial Road, Helensville.
Monday: 10am to 2pm; Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 2pm to 4pm; Friday closed; Saturday, Sunday: 11am to 3pm.
Ph 021 158 6859, email: |
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Entertainment
Helensville A&P Show
The biggest event on Helenville's annual calendar,
the Helensville A&P Show has run for more than a century and
is held on the last Saturday of every February.
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Flight Training & Flying
West Auckland Airport
Introductory flights, flight training, aircraft hangarage, aircraft maintenance, recreational flying, sport aviation & skydiving.
76 Green Rd, Parakai. Ph 09 420 8010.
Email:
Website: |
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Garden Visits
Greenlaw
Garden visits and homestay.
29 Rogan Ave, Helensville. Ph 09 420 8915 Fax 09 420 8839 [ ]
Kaipara Coast Plant Centre & Sculpture Gardens
Stunning sculptures set is beautiful gardens
1481 Kaipara Coast Highway,
Kaukapakapa,
Auckland 0843 (4km north of Kaukapakapa on SH16, approx 15 mins north of
Helensville).
Ph 09 420 5655, fax 09 420 5654, mob 027 272 3604
Web:
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Golf Courses
Helensville District Golf Club
Peak Road, RD 2, Helensville. Ph 09 420 5454
South Head Golf Club
South Head Road, RD 1, Helensville. Ph 09 420 2838.
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Harbour and River Cruises
Kaipara Harbour and River cruises, from three hours to two days.
Phone: 09 420 8466 or
Email:
Website:
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Horse Riding and
Treks
Tasman Rides
Fabulous horse riding over a 300 acre working farm and Woodhill Forest. We offer a fun-filled, safe horse riding experience for all levels of riding ability.
Fordyce Rd, Helensville. Ph: 09 420 8603 Mob: 027 2222 601
Email:
Website:
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Hot Pools
Parakai Springs
Parkhurst Rd, Parakai. Ph 09 420 8998 Fax 09 420 8909 [ ]
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Library
Helensville Public Library
Commercial Rd, Helensville (in Helensville War Memorial building).
9.30am - 5pm weekdays, 9.30am - 4pm Saturdays. Internet
access
available.
Email: |
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Miscellaneous
Helensville Railway Station
Features cafe, specialty shops and occasional steam train visits
Railway St, Helensville. |
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Museums
Te Awaroa Museum
Riverside Reserve, 98 Mill Rd, Helensville.
Phone: 09 420 7881
Email:
Features historic South Kaipara buildings plus a hugely varied collection of
historic memorabilia.
Website:
Helensville Railway Museum
1 Railway Street, Helensville (adjacent to rail station). Purpose-built museum displaying Helensville's rail heritage. Static displays and large working Helensville rail model. Open 11am to 3pm, Saturday and Sunday. Website:
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Nature
Beaches:
Maori Bay - turn left at bottom
of Muriwai Beach Rd. Surfing, views.
Muriwai - access through Woodhill
Forest via Rimmer Rd 3km south of Helensville. See 'Forestry' below for access details.
Muriwai - turn-off into Muriwai
Beach Rd at Waimauku on State Highway 16. Swimming, gannet colony,
typical wild west coast beach.
Shelly Beach - off South Head Rd,
South Kaipara Head, 20 minutes north-east of Helensville. Boat ramp,
fishing, camping, swimming.
Forestry
Woodhill Forest
There is a public easement to the 10-mile carpark for access to Muriwai beach (Rangatira). The forest however is on private property and is an operational forest. All access must be permitted by Ngā Maunga Whakahii o Kaipara.
Visit for further information.
Phone: 09 420 9566, Email:
Gannet Colony
Follow directions above to Muriwai Beach
Picnic Areas:
Kaipara Harbour Lookout, Kaukapakapa
Maori Bay, Muriwai (see 'Beaches' above)
Muriwai Beach
Omeru Reserve - on Kaipara Coast Highway (SH 16),
20 minutes north of Helensville.
Parakai Domain - Parkhurst Rd, Parakai. Camping,
hot pools.
Shelly Beach - Shelly Beach Rd, off South Head
Rd, 20 minutes north-east of Helensville. Camping.
Woodhill Forest (see 'Forestry' above)
Walks:
Goldie's Bush, Constable Rd, Muriwai
Helensville River Reserve, Mill Rd, Helensville.
Approx 10 minute walk.
Helensville Heritage Walks - trace Helensville's
past and how it relates to present day. Brochures with directions
available from the Museum, Visitor Bureau and New Horizons.
Mt Auckland, Kaipara Coast Highway (SH 16), 30
minutes north of Helensville. Approx 3 hour track one-way.
Muriwai/Maori Bay Headland - turn off near Muriwai
Beach (see above)
Omeru Reserve (see 'Picnic Areas' above)
Woodhill Forest - There are currently no walking tracks in Woodhill forest, though a safe area for walking, dog walking, running etc is planned and will be clearly sign posted. Maps will be available at: . There are various other licensed recreational activities within Woodhill forest.
A brochure on most walks is available from the Helensville Visitor
Bureau.
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Shopping
Retail in Helensville
There is a broad selection of retail outlets in Helensville, from giftware and fashion, jewellery to antiques. .
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Skydiving
Skydive Auckland
76 Green Road, Parakai. Ph 0800 921 650. Email:
Website:
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Walkways
Helensville-Parakai: Mill Road to Parkhurst Road.
Starts with a circular track around the Helensville Riverside Reserve,
Mill Road, then follows the cycle/walkway to Parakai. Turn right
into the reserve by Te Moau Stream, follow stream around to Wharf
Reserve and back into Parakai Ave. 45 min one way.
Helensville Riverside Walkway: Southern entry in Mill Road (opposite Mitre 10); central entry point at Creek
Lane (beside Unichem, Commercial Road); and the Northern entry is between the historic Post Office and the old Bank of New Zealand buildings, Commercial Road. Features tracks, boardwalks and bridges, plus a lookout
over the Kaipara River and extensive planting of native trees and
shrubs.
Lake Ototoa: South Head/donovan Roads, South Head.
Short track to dune lake stocked with trout. Can walk around lake
shore depending on level.
Mosquito Bay: at end of South Head Road, South
Head. Steep track to small bay near head of Kaipara Harbour. Beware
strong currents close inshore. 15-30 min. Views.
Omeru Scenic Reserve: Kaipara Coast Highway, 5km
north of Kaukapakapa. Bush reserve with two streams, waterfalls,
pa site and picnic area. 30-40 min.
Point of View: Very scenic native bush walks (including
glow-worms at night) on private property. Approx 1km of very well
established (mostly mown) tracks with many bench seats and fabulous
birds-eye views over Helensville, the Kaipara River and valley and
Kaipara Harbour. Suitable also for mountain biking. A donation towards track maintenance is appreciated.
Tea or coffee available. Please phone first, 09 420 7331. Email:
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Website:
Shelly Beach Reserve: Kaipara Harbour Beach Road,
Shelly Beach. Large reserve on harbour shore featuring informal
walks around tracks and clifftop clifftop stairs and foreshore.
Pa site at north end. Views, historic site, toilet, playground,
store, boat ramp. 45-60 mins.
Waionui Inlet ‘The Lagoon’: South
Head Peninsula. Trig-Tasman Rd.
Beach walk, low tide
only. Go right towards
lagoon entrance. (1-3 hours return)
Woodhill Forest: There are currently no walking tracks in Woodhill forest, though a safe area for walking, dog walking, running etc is planned and will be clearly sign posted. Maps will be available at: . There are various other licensed recreational activities within Woodhill forest.
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