What to do in Auckland for a Stopover?

by Ian and Helen K.
(Perth, Australia)

Hello

We have a 12 hour stop over in Auckland on our way home to Perth and we are wondering what we can do. It isn’t very long but we don’t want to stay at the airport for 12 hours.


What can we do to fill in time and see a bit of the city? We’d appreciate any suggestions you have. We have never been to Auckland so anything will be new to us. We just want to have a look around and feel we have seen something of the city.

Kind Regards

Ian and Helen

Perth
Australia





Hi Ian and Helen,

Thanks for you question.

While you will have to allow for check in and travel time to and from the city ( approximately 45-50 minutes each way)...... you will still have about 7-8 hours.


There is an Airbus Express or Maxx bus for $22 return from the airport to the centre of Auckland. The Airbus leaves every 15 minutes and will take you to the Ferry Building, at the bottom of Queen St – Auckland’s main street. The bus does stop at intervals down Queen St and if you want to get off in the middle of the shopping area you could look at the middle part of town, then make your way down to the Ferry Building, where the return bus will leave from.


I suggest you

• Go up Sky Tower for a 360 degree view of the city
• If you are feeling adventurous you could do a Sky Jump or Sky Walk
• Walk up Queens St to Wellesley St - turn left, and you will see the Auckland Art Gallery,Carry on past the gallery ( you may want to look inside) to Princes St. Turn left and you will be walking along the edge of Albert Park.
• Have a look at the Clock Museum in the historic old gardener’s cottage..........it is free. The clocks and lovely antiques were donated to Auckland city from a private collection.
• Wander along until you are near the Auckland University clock tower, and then go through Albert Park. There are lovely gardens, and you can wander down the paths and steps and back to Queen Street.
• When you reach the Waterfront visit the Maritime Museum. It is very interesting
• Once you have had a look around Viaduct Basin with its boats, cafes etc you may like to catch a ferry across the Waitemata Harbour to Devonport. Take the horse and cart tour, or explore the shops and waterfront yourselves.
• Alternatively you could catch a bus from the Ferry Building along the waterfront to Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium, which also has an excellent interactive display of Shackleton’s South Pole Expedition.
• You could go by bus to Auckland Museum, where they have a Maori cultural show three times daily.
• After looking through the museum wander down to the Wintergardens. The glass houses just below the museum. It has two hot houses , and fernery.
• Catch a bus to Parnell Cathedral. Look at both St Mary’s which is a very old wooden church – moved across the road from it’s original site, and the newer Cathedral with wonderful stained glass panels
• From here you can walk down into Parnell Village. This historic area is a pleasant place to enjoy the shops, and have a rest. Then back to the Ferry building to catch your airport bus.

These are my suggestions for a good over view of the city, in such a short time. You won’t have time to do all of them, so choose what appeals, and plan your time.


Some of your activities will be weather dependent. The views from Sky Tower need a clear day, and it may not be so pleasant going to Devonport in inclement weather. But there is a good mix of indoor and outdoor activities in this list.


I hope you find this helpful.............enjoy your Auckland stopover.

Gail