The best garden bars to visit this summer

Marcus Crawshaw, Jeremy Thornton, Nicky Park and Sara Crawshaw in the King's Arms garden bar. Photo / Jason Oxenham.

You’re on holiday – kick back and relax outside. Nicky Park selects her picks for a pint

When the sun is shining and the cheerful summer vibes are flowing, nothing beats getting outside and sharing a drink with old mates or new-found holiday friends. It could be a jug of beer at a big grungy pub, a nostalgic tipple at one of the oldest spots in the country or a glass of rose at a nautical delight. We have picked six of our favourite watering holes - one in Auckland, some a driving distance from the City of Sails and one that couldn't be missed in the capital. Keep the list for the summer and try to tick off each one. Cheers!

The Kings Arms, Newton

This is one of the biggest beer gardens we've ever pulled up a pew in. It's a grungy looking pub and an awesome live music venue. This Newton institution claims to be the only authentic beer garden in Auckland city. Whatever the case, the massive, grassy space out the back, the ample seating in the sun, the entertainment line-up for summer and the fairy lights strewn through the trees make the Kings Arms one of our favourite spaces, day or night.

• The Kings Arms, 59 France St South, Auckland, kingsarms.co.nz

The Southern Cross Hotel, Wellington

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This place has won worldwide accolades for its perfect pub space. The Southern Cross Hotel was named in the top five outdoor drinking spots around the globe by a British newspaper a couple of years back. Our warm-hearted patriotism aside, we reckon it's one of the best as well. First, the menu is bloody good and features one of the best burgers we've tried. There's plenty of wooden booths and tables, some sheltered and others in the open. The friendly staff are ready to brace you for the Wellington wind if need be with blankets and heating. This place also gets five stars from those seeking a family-friendly location. Not only does it have a kids' kai menu but there's a whole section dedicated to whipper snappers on its website.

• Southern Cross Hotel, 39 Abel Smith St, Te Aro, Wellington, thecross.co.nz

The Filter Room Ale and Cider House, Hawke's Bay

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Looking out over the hectares of orchards, sharing a big, square wooden bench out the back of the Filter Room with your mates makes for a beaut afternoon at this boutique brewery. We recommend playing around with the beer and cider tasting trays. The beers and ciders on tap are made from local produce and crafted just a few metres from the kitchen door. Delightful Hawke's Bay wine is also available if that's your tipple. It can get packed, especially when there's a live band keeping crowds clapping on the weekends, but the staff and locals have always been super friendly so we don't mind waiting.

• The Filter Room Ale & Cider House, Awatoto Rd, Meeanee, Napier, thefilterroom.co.nz

Salt Bar, Whitianga

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Pretty posh for a beer garden but Salt, sitting on the water's edge of Whitianga Marina, is one of our favourite outdoor drinking spots in the Coromandel. Relaxing in the sunshine on its massive deck, sipping a fruity cocktail and catching up on the holiday cheer sounds pretty good to us. Salt's chef, Alfred Hivatoa, sources some of the freshest local produce to make one of the best menus on our beer garden list. Salt is where we would like to head for a long late lunch that eases us into sunset. It's also worth mentioning that this place rates as an ideal spot for a summer date night - take your sunkissed plus-one, head there on a lady date or maybe show off to a holiday fling.

• Salt Bar and Restaurant, Whitianga Hotel, 1 Blacksmith Lane, Whitianga, salt-whitianga.co.nz

Leigh Sawmill Cafe, Leigh

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Just an hour or so out of Auckland you will find the Leigh Sawmill. The building is, as the name suggests, part of the sawing pit operation set up at the head of Leigh Harbour in 1863. It was relocated to its current position and opened in the 1990s but rustic elements of the original fit-out and working equipment are still visible in the cafe. There's a lush lawn out the back and covered seating with dappled sunlight, perfect for sipping a craft beer brewed at the Sawmill Micro Brewery. We also love the live music line-up. Call ahead and book a bunk so you can make a night of it.

• The Leigh Sawmill Cafe, 142 Pakiri Rd, Leigh, sawmillcafe.co.nz

Duke of Marlborough Hotel, Russell

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It would be rude not to give The Duke a mention. This Northland watering hole in Russell opened in 1827 as Johnny Johnston's Grog Shop. Owned by an ex-convict who turned his life around and embraced the Maori culture, The Duke is one of the first pubs in New Zealand. Well worth getting to during your summer break as it always feels a few degrees warmer up north. The drive to Paihia from Auckland will take you about four hours then catch the 10-minute ferry across the bay to nostalgic Russell village. Find a seat overlooking the water at the front of the Duke and order from its well-praised menu. There's room to stay so, if you don't want to boat back to the mainland, spend the night.

• The Duke of Marlborough Hotel, 35 The Strand, Russell, Bay of Islands, theduke.co.nz

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