Best beer gardens in New Zealand

"Sale Street is a great place to catch up for lunch - especially in the summer, as they have a decent sized garden. The bar menu is reasonably priced and portions are large - try the Sale St burger - pretty massive and comes with hand cut fries."

"The Puhoi Pub is an Auckland institution. Located in the historical Puhoi village (very pretty), it's a very popular stop on the trip up North. You'll often find a bunch of  motorcycles outside, but don't worry - its more lifestyle bikers than Hells Angels! Food is very much what you'd expect from a country pub. A great place for a beer or two in the sun, especially if you're not the one doing the driving. As an alternative, you can tie up your kayak at the river over the road."

"The Kings Arms is an Auckland drinking and live music institution. Whether you want to catch a band or have a few drinks with some mates in the large beer garden, this is a great place to come. Also has an on-site TAB (if you want some gambling to go with your alcohol). The beer garden and live music space can be hired out for private functions."

"More of a garden bar than a beer garden, The Britomart Country Club brings a stylish take on drinking outside. The space is large and it right in the centre of all the action, in the Britomart dining precinct. A key advantage here is the weather-proof roof that protects you from the rain, while still making you feel that you're drinking outside."