Auckland is located on the north island of New Zealand and is the country’s most populous area. It is nicknamed the City of Sails and has a charming atmosphere to it with luxurious harbors and a beautiful skyline set on a Pacific backdrop. Its incredible location is ideal for beach lovers as you’re never far from waves and sands. In fact, being in Auckland means you are in the position to take a high number of fascinating day-trips to stunning locations. The people are extremely friendly and diverse as Auckland is the world’s biggest Polynesian city meaning a range of cultures and cuisines. There are also over fifty volcanoes in and around the greater area giving visitors the chance for a unique hiking experience and incredible views of the city. It should also be mentioned that when visiting Auckland, you are actually able to walk from an ocean to a sea – the Pacific Ocean to the Tasman sea. The city itself has a number of beautiful Colonial style architecture rich in history while also a cool urban vibe seen in the numerous street arts all across the city.
There’s a host of things to do in Auckland ranging from luxurious wine and yacht trips to the cheapest of options of simply being outdoors that are no less stunning. If you’re an outdoor person then wildlife is in abundance and there are a number of tours of the surrounding areas available for booking. Also if you’re into surfing or just lounging at the beach then there are many locations perfect for a fun day out. As Auckland is the city of sails you should try and check out the three main harbors and maybe even charter a yacht for a champagne sun down, the city is known for its breathtaking sunsets. Island hopping is a must and perfect for full day excursions of hiking, biking, fishing and exploring these incredible lands. There is no shortage of culture both Western and Indigenous and there’s some amazing museums definitely worth checking out during your visit. When visiting New Zealand, you are sure to be blown away by Maori culture with many tours and guides available to teach you about their ancient ways, showing you New Zealand from a unique and native perspective.
Visiting Auckland will give any traveler a huge number of possibilities. It’s an ideal place to enjoy the outdoors, take in shopping and learn about a new culture. You’re spoilt for choice in Auckland because it’s not confined simply to one city but rather natural forests, volcanoes, beaches and number of surrounding islands each with their own unique qualities. Of course, being a major city there’s loads of museums and galleries filled with fascinating anthropological and cultural artefacts. And for the more thrill seeking there’s of course surfing, mountain biking and even bunjee jumping from the Sky Tower!
Some of the top visitor attractions are as follows:
If this is your first trip to Auckland it may be worth investing in an Auckland Multipass. This grants the family access and flexibility to leading attractions, you simply show up and present the card for easy access. The card is valid for up to three months and costs $75 for a Child and $135 for an Adult. The card is only valid one time for each of the 9 attractions sponsored but saves $46 each time for an adult and $35 for a child, so perfect if you plan on doing a lot during your holiday!
You can purchase the card online or at a number of tourist offices. The mulitpass card is your ticket to the sites allowing much smoother access and ensuring readily available tickets to all the amazing attractions Auckland has to offer.
There are numerous booking offers so be sure to check with your hotel or other accommodation if they have any deals. Some tours offer more of an adrenaline rush such as skydiving, the sky walk and bunjee from the sky tower as well as beach trips with great surfing. However, the number of relaxed, interesting and simply stunning day trips are also in abundance. Here is a selection some of the most popular day trips available around Auckland.
The Hobbiton Movie Set: Arrive into the imagination of J. R. R Tolkein by exploring the Hobbiton Movie Set. Take a look at The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit filming locations at this popular New Zealand attraction. You will most likely start with a morning pickup from your hotel in Auckland, and board a comfortable coach for the 2.5-hour drive to Matamata, nestled in the stunning farmland of the Waikato region. At the Hobbiton movie set, you can have a personal tour of the Shire. Snap photos of recognizable landmarks such as Bilbo Baggins’ house, the Mill and the party tree. Crouch in front of the five hobbit holes and even have a look inside some. There’s even a chance of stepping into the Green Dragon Inn for a sizable breakfast of morning staples such as scrambled eggs, bacon, fruit, creamy mushrooms, grilled tomatoes and a specially made breakfast mince.
Bay of Islands: This day trip from Auckland to the Bay of Islands covers the historical sites of New Zealand’s Northland. You’ll learn about the Waitangi Treaty Grounds and the seaport of Russell. Visitors can see the Waitangi Treaty House and take a ferry from Paihia to the first European settlement. Opt for lunch, and venture into the shops, museums and cafes of Russell during your free time.
Rotorua: Rotorua, a town set on its namesake lake on New Zealand’s North Island, is a cultural centre for the indigenous Maori people. See all the highlights of the Waitomo Caves and Rotorua in one day. You’ll take a guided tour of Waitomo Caves stalactites and glowworms, and see Rotorua’s bubbling mud pools and geysers, and make many other interesting stops along the way. You have the option to end your tour in Rotorua or return to Auckland.
The food in Auckland ranges greatly from fine Indian cuisine, French bistros, steakhouses and much more. Here are just a few of highest recommended and award winning restaurants found in Auckland.
Apero: Apero’s a new casual eatery owned and operated by dining professionals. They have high standards of cooking, drinks selection and service — the restaurant is dedicated to relaxation and pleasure. The menu is traditional French with three new specials every day. The wine list is excellent and always offers tasteful new things to try, while the beer list also has a wide range.
Artwok: This bustling Asian style restaurant has a bar downstairs with plenty of craft beers on tap and incredible bar snacks. It holds a lovely airy dining room and a small terrace. The service is upbeat and charming, and at the same time tremendously helpful and obliging. The food is primarily classic dishes, and it comes fast. Dumplings are very popular at Artwok: the guotie are sticky with flavourful fillings, and the xiao long bao are worth trying, too. Be sure to make reservations first.
Cassia: A high-class Indian restaurant with a long list of g&ts, each made with different gin, tonic and botanicals. Patrons consider the lamb chops as almost unbearably succulent, and the pork vindaloo, made with apple and ginger, is a unique take on the popular dish. Cassia is a concrete bunker with a low ceiling, made luxurious with glimmering lights, very comfortable seating and secluded alcoves. It’s the labor of owner/chef Sid Sahrawat’s heart, and when you walk in it’s like discovering something no one else knew about. A very special place.
There are many shopping districts, boutique shops and markets in Auckland. You’ll be sure to find many designer brands some unique to New Zealand as well as fine crafts and traditional items from Maori culture.
Queen Street: The main street running through Auckland’s CBD offers hundreds of stores, including luxury retailers as well as New Zealand chain stores and international brands. Shop for the latest fashions, sporting gear, electronics, souvenirs, books and almost anything else you’re looking for. You’ll also find metro supermarkets and Auckland’s premier department store, Smith & Caughey’s.
The Historic Britomart Precinct: Located on Auckland’s waterfront this area is has some of the city’s finest shopping. It’s an alluring network of streets, lanes and open spaces where you can explore and shop at your leisure, browsing Britomart’s incredible selection of fashion, homewares, gift and specialty stores.
The precinct’s beautiful heritage buildings house a collection of quirky fashion boutiques, stocking some of the world’s most exciting and cutting-edge designers as well as the best of fresh and established local design talent.
The Auckland night markets offer around 200 stalls including 70 to 80 amazing food stalls cooking up tasty street snacks and delicacies from around the world. Also on offer are arts and crafts, jewellery, clothing, fashion accessories, mobile phones, fresh produce and more. There’s also live entertainment, toy stalls and henna tattoo stands for the children. The location changes but occurs every night so be sure to check its location with your hotel or at an information point.
There are a number of farmers’ markets but a local favourite is Rodney’s. Located by the Orewa Beach it offers fresh food at a beautiful location. Another to try is La Cigale French style Farmer’s Market. Wonder around and pick up gourmet supplies for a delicious lunch or picnic.
The Britomart Precinct is a fashionable and stylish place for nightlife in Auckland, with a number of new bars and restaurants. Don’t miss Mexico and Ortolana with their beautiful décor and live music down the cobbled lanes at Orleans. Catch up with friends over a beer or cocktail at Britomart Country Club, Tyler Street Garage and Northern Steamship Co. The nightlife heats up at around 10pm and a great place to dance the night away is at 1885.
For an alternative experience in Auckland try Karangahape Road – more commonly named K’Road. This bohemian area is filled with bars and specializes in dance and DJ nights as well as hip hop concerts, together with contemporary art and music events. Catch live concerts and DJs at Studio, the Venue, and Galatos Bar, dance all night at Family Bar or for something different, enjoy a drink while watching a colourful cabaret or drag show.
Head to Ponsonby Road for hip bars and the finest dressed in Auckland. Known as Auckland’s coolest strip, Ponsonby has a huge range of eateries, cafes and bars for diverse and different tastes. The area’s newest spot, Ponsonby Central, is a filled with new restaurants, pubs and bars as well as coffee spots. Incredible places for the clubbing are the Ponsonby Social Club and Revelry, you can also check out live music at Grand Central and The Crib or lay back with cocktails amongst the most fashionable people in town at SPQR and Longroom.
The best time to visit Auckland is at the end of fall (May) and the beginning of spring (September). These shoulder months offer pleasant temperatures and thin tourist crowds. During peak season (November through March), you’ll contend with swells of visitors and high airfare and room rates
There are many major airlines that fly regularly to Auckland including British Airways, Virgin, and Emirates so prices can vary. Flights from London Heathrow is 30h, from Los Angeles it’s 13h, from New York it’s around 24h and from Sydney is around 5h flight time.
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