NORTH ISLAND

SOUTH ISLAND

TRAVEL PLANNING

ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES

ATTRACTIONS

ROMANTIC

FOOD & WINE

SHOPPING

NZ TRAVEL FAQ's

SPECIAL INTEREST

BOOKS & STORIES

SITE RESOURCES

[?] Subscribe To This Site

A Guide to Auckland

the "City of Sails"

Whether you arrive or leave from Auckland the gateway city to New Zealand, you will almost certainly want to spend a few days sightseeing and enjoying some of the special attractions on offer as part of your holidays in New Zealand.

Straddling an isthmus between the Manukau and Waitemata Harbours, the city is surrounded by 50 extinct volcanic cones, and 65 picturesque islands dotting the sparkling Hauraki Gulf. Water based activities are a noticeable feature of the city. 1.25 million people..... a third of the New Zealand population, live in Greater Auckland, which covers over 637square kilometres.

Enjoying a temperate climate with warm summers from December-March averaging 24 degrees, we also have quite a high rainfall at 1200mls annually. Winters average 13 degrees and are generally mild.

City Attractions and Activities

We are spoilt for choice when it comes to deciding on attractions and activities. There is an abundance of organised concerts, shows, exhibitions, theatres, and sporting opportunities.

Looking for some outdoor fun? You can visit any of dozens of beautiful beaches and parks. Our Regional Parks which are dotted around the city, usually on the periphery or in semi rural areas are expansive.... and often adjoined to a beach. Enjoy the choice and sample a variety of life in this beautiful city.

Within the central city you can easily explore by foot, or by using the Free Red buses that do a circuit to get you from point to point. Or get a pass for the Auckland Explorer Bus

Queen St is the spine of central Auckland. A major upgrade has recently finished. The designers have tried to emulate the historic features of this reclaimed land. The lower part of Queen St was originally a stream. The native Nikau palm trees, found in our bush have been imported from around the country.

You will want to incorporate all or some of these “things to do ” on the bus circuit or your walking route.

Ferry Building
Britomart Station
Viaduct Basin
Maritime Museum
Auckland Sky Tower
Civic Theatre
Aotea Centre
Aotea Square
Auckland Town Hall
Auckland Art Gallery
Heritage Gallery
Auckland University
Clock Museum ( Cnr Albert Park)
Albert Park
Vulcan Lane
High St for designer fashions

The Exporer Bus

If you have more time the Explorer Bus will take you a little further out starting from the Ferry Building. Using an Auckland map will help you plan moving between:

Parnell Village
The Cathedral
Historic St Mary’s Church ( right next to the Cathedral )
Auckland Museum - displays of Maori Culture and concerts 3 times daily
The Winter Gardens - just below the Museum
Bastion Point
Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World
Parnell Rose Gardens
Eden Gardens -( an interchange starts at the museum to get to the attractions below)
Eden Park - the home of Auckland Rugby
St Lukes Shopping Mall
Auckland Zoo
Auckland Museum of Transport and Technology ( next to Zoo)

Sightseeing Itineraries

Use this information on possible itineraries to help you plan your sightseeing of our city.

Eastern Bays

Buses around the waterfront take you to the Eastern Bays - Okahu Bay, Mission Bay, Kohimarama or St Heliers Bay. These are all good beaches for swimming only 3 or more kilometres from the city.

North Shore

Heading over the Harbour Bridge to the North Shore will bring you to the East Coast Bays and a string of lovely beaches and walking tracks which will open up stunning harbour vistas.

Takapuna is the hub of the Shore with the beach behind the shops. There are numerous cafes, restaurants, the Bruce Mason theatre, Westfield shopping Mall and the Berkley cinemas. On Sunday mornings theTakapuna Market is easily reached by bus.

Travelling north along Beach Rd you will pass through several bays to Murrays Bay, Browns Bay, with cafes and restaurants beach side, Waiake, and finally Long Bay which is a Marine Reserve and Regional Park.Long Bay restaurant sitting over the sand is a special place to eat.

Albany is a newly developed area with a large new Shopping Mall, North Harbour Stadium, Massey University.

A new Luge and Snow Planet Indoor Skiing are on East Coast Road, north of Albany.See more Auckland family activities HERE

Take a ferry to historic Devonport at the southern end of the North Shore and enjoy the village atmosphere.... cafes, art galleries, and specialty bookshops. If you are energetic climb North Head for a magnificent 360 degree view of the city, and walk the path around the base, exploring the caves and gun emplacements. Children love this.

Day tours will take you to admire the view including from Mt Victoria if time is short. Cheltenham and Narrow Neck beaches are within walking distance.

and enjoy the village atmosphere, cafes, art galleries, and specialty bookshops. If you are energetic climb North Head for a magnificent 360 degree view of the city, and walk the path around the base, exploring the caves and gun emplacements. Children love this. Day tours will take you to admire the view including from Mt Victoria if time is short. Cheltenham and Narrow Neck beaches are within walking distance.

Hauraki Gulf

Visit at least one Hauriki Gulf Island. The most popular islands for visitors are:

Waiheke Island- a 45 minute ferry ride from the Ferry Building,or Devonport.
Rangitoto Island - symbolises Auckland. The two near perfect humps look the same regardless of which angle the island is viewed from. Tours to the island will also include an option to take the small train to the top, or you can walk the well formed track.
Kawau Island – was home to Governor Grey, and the Mansion House is open to visitors.
Tiritiri Matangi – this bird sanctuary is a wonderful day trip and great for seeing native New Zealand birds and plants.
Motuhihe Island
Motataputapu Island
Great Barrier Island – more suitable for a longer stay than one day.

Suggested Day Trips near Auckland

Days trips out of the city can be rewarding. These destinations can also be incorporated into your travel as you leave the city.

North of Auckland, Waiwera Hot Pools just north of Orewa has plenty of family fun. Puhoi, settled by Bohemians is worth a small detour. The historic Puhoi pub is a unique example of early architecture and the inside is well worth a look for it's display of memorabilia. 3 kilometres north of the village is Puhoi Cheese Factory. You can enjoy samples, a meal and buy cheese. Kayaks are on hire in the village.

The Honey Centre just before Warkworth has bees at work, a lovely selection of flavoured New Zealand honeys, and a restaurant.

Turn right at the second set of traffic lights at Warkworth, to Matakana.

This is a beautiful area with so much to do and see. There are several vineyards, excellent restaurants, potteries, art galleries, and in Matakana Village several cafes, restaurants, a movie theatre, and a popular Farmers Market on Saturday mornings.

Tawharanui is my favourite beach - usually the surf is up! There is a DOC camp here. See the ranger.

Scandretts farm, Goat Island at Leigh, and the many small bays especially Mathesons are just beautiful.

My Favourite beach-Tawharanui

Concerts are often held at Ascension Winery or The SawMill at Leigh. Warkworth township is also a pleasant stop with a tourist information centre.

Ascension Winery and restaurant

West Auckland Information

West Auckland has it’s own distinct character. Wild black iron sand surf beaches,- Piha and Karekare are popular,( see safety guide).

Bush walks in the Waitakere Ranges, the Gannet Colony at Muriwai beach, and several vineyards, being Auckland’s oldest wine growing area. Many movies have been filmed in the area.

The Arataki Tourist Centre is a good place to start for information about this part of the city. Titirangi Village has good cafes and art and crafts galleries. There are some well known gardens in this area open to visits.

Muriwai Gannet Colony-Muriwai Beach

Sightseeing south of Auckland

South Auckland is easily accessed by motorway. Go through the beach village of Howick to Whitford, where there are many small block holdings. Ayrlies Garden is a well known New Zealand garden in Whitford. Driving on you will come to Formosa Golf Course and Maraetai Beach.

Just off the motorway at Manurewa is the Botanic Gardens, until this year home to the internationally reknowned Ellerslie Flower Show.

The picturesque farming area of Clevedon, leads to many lovely beaches. Miranda Hot Springs are along the coast.

Auckland Restaurants

Auckland has a huge range of restaurants from Fine Dining, to mid priced a La Carte restaurants, food halls, cafes, takeaways and the usual range of international franchised outlets such as McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King, KFC etc.

There are also any number of choices from ethnic restaurants whether it be Asian,European,Middle Eastern or South American.

Whether you are in the city or the suburbs you will find plenty of choice to keep the hunger pangs at bay.

Have a look at a more comprehensive selection of suggestions, recommendations and reviews of Auckland Restaurants.

Auckland Accommodation

Auckland accommodation is plentiful with a wide range to suit all budgets. You can choose from:

Hotels – luxury
Boutique hotels
Hotels – medium priced
Hotels - budget
Motels-self catering
Bed and Breakfast
Apartments
Backpackers and Hostels
Camping
Home stay

Getting Around the City

Buses, train, ferry, or taxi are all travel options for those of you who are not using a Car Rental or Motorhome or Campervan.

Auckland Tours

Sometimes it may be more suitable to take an Auckland Day Tour. There are many half day or full day tours which are excellent if you have limited time or prefer the ease of being taken.You can also do tours from Auckland as far a field as Rotorua, Bay of Island , Waitomo etc

Activities for Thrillseekers

Keen to get into some adventure activities? There are a variety of adventure travel outdoor activities around the city. Try the Auckland Harbour Bridge Walk or bungy from the bridge.

Sky Tower, – the tallest tower in the southern hemisphere at 328 metres, has a newly opened Sky Walk, and the Sky jump.

Further afield, you can try paint ball, quad biking, horse riding, roller blading, kayaking. What takes your fancy?

Kayaking at Kawakawa-Auckland

Spookers - for a different type of adrenaline rush you may like to visit Auckland's only Haunted Hospital. Located an hour from Auckland you can catch a bus. For further information and fuller details go to Spookers for a hair raising experience!

Information on Shopping

If you need a dose of retail therapy it is not going to be in huge department stores! Smith & Caugheys in Queen St is a small, old, family owned store and the only store left that might be considered a department store.

You will find our designers and boutique fashion stores in High Street and The Chancery which runs off Vulcan Lane (off Queen St), or down Ponsonby Rd. Parnell Village or Newmarket, are also popular for shopping.

Shopping Malls

Throughout the suburbs there are several shopping malls.... Sylvia Park and Albany are the newest and largest. If you like to browse discount shops head to Dressmart in Onehunga, or the smaller Fox Outlet Centre at Northcote. North of Auckland is Silverdale with a good selection of discount shops, just off the main highway north.

More shopping information

This information on Auckland will have given you a good range of activities and experiences for your holiday.