Some more of our faves

Bastion Point is a great place for children to fly a kite. Photo / Greg Bowker

To celebrate Auckland's 175th birthday we printed 175 reasons the City of Sails is awesome.

But we know the country's biggest city has a lot more to offer and asked Herald on Sunday readers for the things they love most about Auckland.

And the great outdoors and the many beaches that dot our coastline featured highly.

Here are some of your highlights:

• The generosity of spirit of Franklin Rd at Christmas.

• Totara Park, near the Gardens, Manukau has it all: bush walks, pool, barbecue areas, flying fox and great playgrounds.

• The walk from Bucklands Beach to Musick Pt to take in views as far as Coromandel, Waiheke, Browns Island, North Head and the Sky Tower, while watching a huge cruise ship slowly sail out.

• The Howick Historic Village and walk from there through bush-clad gullies via Golflands to Botany Town Centre.

• The artwork under the north side of the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

• Old-fashioned shopping and the Saturday market in Howick.

• All the beautiful East Coast Bays beaches.

• Stand-up paddleboarding from Wilsons Beach around Hobson Bay.

Thank you for the Christmas lights, Franklin Rd. Photo / Neville Marriner

• Walk or cycle on Auckland's many concrete walkways such as Panmure Beach, along Tamaki Estuary to Pigeon Mountain in Half Moon Bay.

• The often-overlooked Voyager Maritime Museum.

• Birkenhead Wharf with the large old trees, the band rotunda and the children's playground.

• Little Shoal Bay, which has a children's playground and is next to adults' exercise gear.

• Triathletes' Corner swim run series every second Wednesday evening, and then the prizegiving in the Takapuna Boating Club. Fun, social and a great location.

• Taking the children to West Wave Aquatic Centre for a hydroslide and waves, without the risk of sunburn.

• Cycling on Sundays, along the waterfront before 9am. Beautiful views if you are up early enough. Buy a doughnut and sit on the bench seat looking out on Kohi Beach while you munch.

• A gem in Devonport is The Officers Mess restaurant. Fabulous location, food, service and views.

• The Vic at Devonport - a fully digital three-screen cinema and has the title of the oldest purpose-built cinema in New Zealand.

• Flying kites on a windy day at Bastion Point.