The changing face of Auckland

Computer generated image of the proposed Skypath. Photo / Supplied

Sometimes, amid the crankiness about rates increases or housing prices, Aucklanders forget the city has been transformed in the past few years. Only five years ago the waterfront around Wynyard Quarter was an unwelcoming mess, Britomart was barely a twinkle, only the brave would cycle around town, train and bus travel was an irregular nightmare. While there are still bugs to iron out (electric trains, we're hoping for efficiency) and a lot more chaos to come as the city is dug up for the city rail link, there are some enticing new treasures that will transform the way we can enjoy our town.

We spoke to the futurists at Auckland Council, Auckland Transport and New Zealand Transport Authority to find the best new ways we'll be spending our weekends, 2016-style.

1. Over the bridge and away

While the few local objectors get their final squeak in the environment court, the rest of Auckland (and excited visitors) are hanging out for the much awaited SkyPath across the eastern side of the harbour bridge.

The good news is that NZTA has already begun investigations for SeaPath, the connection from the Northcote exit of SkyPath across to the rest of the shore. Consultation begins later this year for the project, estimated to cost between $17-$21 million, which will provide safe (read, off-road) connection to Akoranga Drive, Esmonde Rd, Takapuna and Milford beaches or the long running Devonport green path.

Computer generated image of the proposed Skypath cycleway and pedestrian footbridge to be built on the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Photo / Supplied

While cycle commuters will love the ease of whizzing past stationary cars, the rest of Auckland will have a terrific new way to get to the beach at weekends: enthusiasts can ride all the way from Tamaki Drive, or even Glen Innes (see below) around Beach Rd, to the Westhaven boardwalks and over the bridge. With ferries from Devonport, Northcote and Birkenhead, daytrippers can walk or ride as much as they like before heading back to the south shore. The finishing touches are being made to the refurbished Devonport Wharf (hospitality spaces are being let), with new, modern boardwalk and an upgrade of Marine Square from a pedestrian-unfriendly carpark to a beautiful new gateway connecting the wharf with the transformed new library and environs of Victoria St.

Designs for SeaPath are still being scoped for routes on either the eastern (seaward) or western (landward) side of the motorway, with consultation and investigation for local communities along the project corridor planned for later this year.

2. Round and round we go

The international rule of thumb for a liveable, cyclable city is one where anyone -- from 8 to 80 - feels safe enough to cycle.

Folks who try to walk or, more scarily, cycle around the city now will realise that though we now have some attractive bits of protected off-road paths, they are disjointed, and riders are soon turfed back into battling with cars, buses and trucks.

Motorists may have noticed some exciting new works at the side of Spaghetti Junction, building am important connector for the new city centre cycle loop.

Work has started on the Nelson Street Cycle Route linking Upper Queen Street to Quay Street via the disused Nelson Street off-ramp. Photo / Supplied

The old Nelson St motorway off-ramp is being converted to a segregated 3.5km walk and cycleway connecting the Northwestern cycleway exit at Upper Queen Street all the way to the waterfront. This bridge - which has spectacular views across to the sea and harbour bridge - joins a new cycle lane along the western side of Nelson St to Victoria Street West, and is slated for completion in December.

Phase two, finishing in mid-2016, extend from Victoria St West down to lower Hobson and Sturdee St and into the Viaduct which in turn connects to Quay St to Beach Rd.

On the city side, a link along Pitt St to join Karangahape Rd, Vincent and Union Streets is part of a longer term urban redesign of K Rd precinct.

A weekend circuit will be to return via the Beach Rd and Grafton Gully paths completed last summer, in turn connecting all the way along Tamaki Drive to the east coast beaches and villages or up to the Tamaki-Glen Innes cycleway. Next month another section of the Beach Rd cycleway opens, including a pocket park and street seating.

Heading west, your outing will take you through the new Waitemata Plaza on the edge of the Viaduct, newly renovated to include greenery, climbable sculptures and more.

3. Into the centre

One of the lesser known projects is one of the most transforming - 7km of shared cycle path from Glen Innes Station (Merton Rd) to Tamaki Drive via the Orakei Basin boardwalk.

The Auckland Transport-NZ Transport Agency project follows the eastern rail line so you can get all the way from the eastern suburbs to the Waitemata, and connect with cycle routes to Pt England.

Glen Innes to Tamaki Drive shared path. Photo / Supplied

Glen Innes to Tamaki Drive shared path. Photo / Supplied

At Glen Innes there'll be new local feeder routes from the transport hub to nearby suburbs and schools, and through to the Auckland Manukau Eastern Transport Initiative (Ameti) area.

There is a stunning flyover video of the proposed route, which is being completed in four stages from now until 2018: even on Google Earth, it is easy to see how magnificent the views are along the route.

4. Go west young people

It's not hard to miss the scale of work on the motorways of Highway 20 connecting Hillsborough, Waterview and beyond. But less well known is that the project includes nearly 15km of separated cycling paths connecting to the city. They'll also link to the Waterview shared path. Nearly 5km of local cycleways will improve connections to the New Lynn public transport interchanges along the rail corridor connecting to New North Rd. Construction will start early next year.

Looking back from Whau River to the Waterview Connection. Photo / Auckland Council

The Waterview shared path will run 2.4 km from Alan Wood reserve beside Oakley Creek to connect with Great North Rd, joining access paths from Phyllis Reserve, the Unitec campus and paths to Onehunga and New Lynn.

Local groups are also investigating funding a loop path around the landmark Whau River, the beautiful Waitemata Harbour estuary that reaches from the Te Atatu waterfront through West Auckland suburbs almost to the Manukau Harbour, to connect the Waterview path to Northwestern cycleway, including the Portage Rd paths.

5. The great outdoors

With Auckland's rocketing property prices, and increasing density, greenery is important. The latest piece in Auckland Council's parks puzzle is Te Arai Park, 50 hectares of land on Te Arai Point between Pakiri Beach and Mangawhai Heads, adjoining the inland Tomarata Lakes. The land was bought in 2008, and the council's Manager of Regional Parks, Mace Ward, says the purchase "activates" the entire coast on the northern edge of the city. There will be facilities for motorcamps and caravans.

Te Arai Beach, between Pakari and Mangawhai Heads. Photo / Auckland Council

The council has visions that the whole of South Kaipara, including Helensville and Parakai, will become a visitor destination. The recent conversion of the old Parakai Pub to Te Whare Oranga -- an education and food centre, with a monthly Sunday farmers' market and community gardens -- is just the beginning of the area's revitalisation.

Kawerau, Ngati Whatua, Hauraki and Ngati Wai (Ngati Manuhiri) claim the right to exercise kaitiakitanga over Te Arai.

Te reo travel

Auckland Transport is helping youngsters learn the Maori history of Tamaki Makaurau with its new app, launched for last month's Maori Language Week. Called "Whanau Fun Day on the Train", the app features the story of a family trip by train from Pukekohe to Eden Park, sharing stories about sites along the way, including traditional names. The interactive book is acted by children from Te Raki o Pukekohe/Pukekohe North School, who also helped develop the characters. Free for download to Android and IOS devices from Google Play Store and iTunes (search: whanau tereina). at.govt.nz

Dream on

The visionaries at the City Centre Integration Group are thinking a decade ahead, when walking and cycling connect with Newmarket and Parnell, turning The Strand from thundering motorway into people-friendly avenue, improving pedestrian access across from Wellesley St and the University to the Domain.

Even better, in 20 years time, the plan is to connect the big three parks -- Auckland Domain, Albert Park and Victoria Park -- with the waterfront as part of a blue-green open space network. From north to south, Wynyard Quarter's Headland Park will connect from Daldy St, across Fanshawe St (details how are vague) to Victoria Park.

Check out Auckland Council's beautiful images of a green link - called a long park - that will run all the way along Victoria St to connect Victoria and Albert Parks ("to hold hands" as they charmingly put it). Westhaven Drive will connect back to Pt Erin, we'll be wandering over the bridge, the city will come alive. Can't wait.