Beginner and kid-friendly skateparks near Auckland, New Zealand
A skatepark is good for a first visit when it has low, gentle ramps, wide flat ground to practice pushing and turning, and few big features (tall ramps, handrails, deep bowls) that experienced skaters fly off. A fence between the park and the street and lights for evening visits help too.
We score every park from the features it lists. Gentle features such as a mini ramp (a small ramp to learn on), low banks and quarter pipes (short curved ramps) add points; lights, a fence, restrooms and staff on site add a little more; big features such as stairs, handrails, deep bowls and vertical ramps take points away, and a park with a handrail, vertical ramp, pool or large half-pipe is never labelled great. Parks that owners or skaters have marked beginner-friendly come first. Labels are great for beginners, mixed, or advanced. 18 parks near Auckland, New Zealand earn the great label; the mixed parks are listed further down for a grown-up to check first.
Great for beginners
- SonSk8 Indoor, East Auckland, New Zealand ยท low ledges; a small kicker ramp; quarter pipes (short curved ramps); restrooms on site; indoors, out of the weather
- Birkenhead Skatepark, Auckland, New Zealand ยท low ledges; quarter pipes (short curved ramps); a small kicker ramp; restrooms on site; smooth surface
- Marlborough Skatepark, Auckland, New Zealand ยท low ledges; quarter pipes (short curved ramps); a small kicker ramp; smooth surface; no big stairs, handrails or deep bowls
- Clarks Beach Skatepark, Auckland, New Zealand ยท low ledges; quarter pipes (short curved ramps); a small kicker ramp; no big stairs, handrails or deep bowls
- Panmure Skatepark, Auckland, New Zealand ยท low ledges; quarter pipes (short curved ramps); a small kicker ramp; no big stairs, handrails or deep bowls
- Valonia Skate Park, Auckland, New Zealand ยท low ledges; quarter pipes (short curved ramps); a small kicker ramp; no big stairs, handrails or deep bowls
- Victoria Park, Auckland, New Zealand ยท low ledges; quarter pipes (short curved ramps); a low manual pad; a small kicker ramp; lit at night
- Little Rangitoto Reserve, Auckland, New Zealand ยท low ledges; quarter pipes (short curved ramps); a low manual pad; no big stairs, handrails or deep bowls
- Lloyd Elsmore Park Skatepark, Auckland, New Zealand ยท low ledges; quarter pipes (short curved ramps); a low manual pad; no big stairs, handrails or deep bowls
- Marybeth Reserve Skatepark, Auckland, New Zealand ยท low ledges; quarter pipes (short curved ramps); a low manual pad; no big stairs, handrails or deep bowls
- Ngataringa Park, Auckland, New Zealand ยท low ledges; quarter pipes (short curved ramps); a low manual pad; no big stairs, handrails or deep bowls
- Nixon Park Skatepark, Auckland, New Zealand ยท low ledges; quarter pipes (short curved ramps); a low manual pad; no big stairs, handrails or deep bowls
- Orewa Skatepark, Auckland, New Zealand ยท low ledges; quarter pipes (short curved ramps); a low manual pad; no big stairs, handrails or deep bowls
- Owairaka Skatepark, Auckland, New Zealand ยท low ledges; quarter pipes (short curved ramps); a low manual pad; no big stairs, handrails or deep bowls
- Sister Rene Shadbolt Park, Auckland, New Zealand ยท low ledges; quarter pipes (short curved ramps); a low manual pad; no big stairs, handrails or deep bowls
- Stanmore Bay Skatepark, Auckland, New Zealand ยท low ledges; quarter pipes (short curved ramps); a low manual pad; no big stairs, handrails or deep bowls
- Swanson Station Park, Auckland, New Zealand ยท low ledges; quarter pipes (short curved ramps); a low manual pad; no big stairs, handrails or deep bowls
- Te Pai Park Skatepark, Auckland, New Zealand ยท low ledges; quarter pipes (short curved ramps); a low manual pad; no big stairs, handrails or deep bowls
Worth a look with a grown-up
These parks have some beginner features but also bigger ones:
- Barry Curtis Skatepark, Auckland, New Zealand ยท low ledges; quarter pipes (short curved ramps); a small kicker ramp; restrooms on site ยท watch out: has a bowl (a deep, curved pool-like area)
- Browns Bay Skatepark, Auckland, New Zealand ยท low ledges; quarter pipes (short curved ramps); a small kicker ramp; restrooms on site ยท watch out: has a bowl (a deep, curved pool-like area)
- Clendon Skatepark, South Auckland, New Zealand ยท low ledges; quarter pipes (short curved ramps); a small kicker ramp ยท watch out: has a bowl (a deep, curved pool-like area)
- Grey Lynn Pump Track, Auckland, New Zealand ยท small speed bumps; no big stairs, handrails or deep bowls
- Waterview Skatepark, Auckland, New Zealand ยท low ledges; quarter pipes (short curved ramps); a small kicker ramp ยท watch out: has a bowl (a deep, curved pool-like area)
Tips for a first visit
- Go on a weekday morning or early afternoon: the park is quiet and there is room to practice.
- Wear a helmet, and knee and wrist pads for the first few visits. Most falls land on hands and knees.
- Watch for a minute before you roll in, so you can see how skaters take turns, and let faster skaters pass.
- Start on the flat ground and the smallest ramp. Rolling, stopping and turning come before any trick.
