Vellenoweth Green is a public park at 355 Tamaki Drive in St Heliers, Auckland, rated 4.5 on Google, with its listing on Auckland Council's find-a-park pages. Waterfront greens live or die on the basics: open grass you can actually use, some shade, and a view to do the rest. Along Tamaki Drive the best of them double as picnic spots and ball-game space, and on fine weekends they fill quickly, so arriving earlier in the day pays off. A harbour breeze can be sharper than a sunny forecast suggests, which is why regulars bring a windbreak and a thermos. It is worth checking the council's park page before setting out, too, since facilities, dog rules and event closures vary from reserve to reserve. Set on Tamaki Drive in the bayside suburb of St Heliers, Vellenoweth Green makes an easy stop for anyone picnicking or strolling their way around Auckland's eastern bays.