Four of the best: Spots for a school holiday treat

The Takapuna Bach Cafe is a great spot right by the beach. Photo / Babiche Martens

1. Takapuna Beach Cafe
22 The Promenade, Takapuna Beach. Ph (09) 484 0002. Daily 7am-6pm

Take the kids for a run along the beach or a hike around the rocks to Thorne Bay and finish up with a gelato (the coconut and lime curd won the supreme award at this year's icecream awards, kids voted for the double chocolate and honeycomb gelato, and the mango sorbet scooped a prize too).

2. Movenpick of Switzerland
75 Tamaki Drive, Mission Bay. Ph (09) 521 6166 Sun-Thur 10am-11pm, Fri, Sat 10am-midnight

Bike, roller blade, scooter or run the dog along Tamaki Drive then linger for the afternoon with a waffle cone of icecream, sitting on the beach. Who cares if it's winter?

3. Ruby Red Cafe
30B Coronation Rd, Mangere Bridge. Tues-Fri 7.30am-4pm, Sat-Sun 8am-4.30pm. Ph (09) 634 6454

After a cycle around the Esplanade (or all the way to Ambury Park if you have the energy) stop for home baking and good coffee in this vintage retro-inspired cafe. Play area, Smartie cookies - perfect.

4. Servo
458 Old Te Atatu Rd, Te Atatu Peninsula. Ph (09) 834 0222 Mon-Fri 7.30am-3.30pm, Sat, Sun 8am-3.30pm

Cycle the NorthWestern cycle path, or explore the Peninsula's beach promenades or Henderson Creek riverside then stop for fair-trade coffee, hand-crafted breads and home-made baking .