Mellons Bay Beach is a beach pavilion on the calm shoreline of Mellons Bay in Auckland's eastern bays, and it carries a 4.6 Google rating from visitors. A good beach pavilion is the working heart of a swimming beach — changing space, toilets, a tap for sandy feet and a patch of shade where families regroup between swims. On this side of the city the tide shapes the day: at low water the bay opens out into sandflats that suit paddlers and ball games, while the swimming is best in the couple of hours around high tide, when the sheltered water stays flat and gentle for children. Regulars also know that fine summer weekends fill the foreshore parking early, so the quiet visits happen in the morning. For an easy, family-friendly swim close to Howick, this well-rated little bay is hard to beat.