Achilles Belvedere is a lookout above the Waitematā Harbour at St Heliers, Auckland, and it holds a 5.0 Google rating from those who make the trip. The name honours HMS Achilles, the cruiser crewed largely by New Zealanders that fought in the Battle of the River Plate, and the outlook reaches across the harbour towards the Hauraki Gulf.
A good coastal lookout is all about timing and conditions. The longest, clearest views usually come on still days after rain, when haze lifts off the water, and photographers favour the hour before sunset for the changing light. Headland sites are exposed to the sea breeze, so a windproof layer earns its place even on fine afternoons. Because many lookouts sit at the end of quiet residential streets, regulars know to park considerately and keep their stop short when others are waiting for the same view.
An easy detour from the St Heliers village, Achilles Belvedere pairs that big-water outlook with a quiet piece of the city's naval history.