Shelly Bay Reserve is a park in Beachlands, Manukau City, on Auckland's eastern shoreline, and it holds a strong 4.8 rating on Google. A good neighbourhood reserve does simple things well: mown grass, shade, a seat facing the view, and space for walkers, dogs and children to share without getting under each other's feet. Around Auckland's coastal settlements the tide shapes the visit — high water for the outlook, low tide for poking about on the foreshore — and regulars time their walks for early morning or the last hour of daylight. Summer weekends fill quickly, so a weekday visit usually means easier parking and a quieter outing. Hats, shade and water are worth bringing, since many reserves offer little shelter from the sun. Set in Beachlands, a seaside village east of the city, Shelly Bay Reserve makes an easy stop on a day out along Manukau's coast.