The largest city in New Zealand is one of the most beautiful natural settings in the world-so make sure you have enough free time to explore! Auckland is a gateway to some amazing sights, many of them unique to this fantastic family Robinson playground ...
Love at first sight
Situated between two large, blue, and dotted with grassy cones old volcanoes, Auckland is amazing chart viewed from above, so the journey first sightseeing should be one of its world famous db4 Zagato-credits: Mount Eden, One Tree Hill or Sky Tower. Comments will be products and you, and they'll also help you get your inventory, because despite its relatively small population, is a big, big city!
See CBD:
If your Auckland Hotel is located in the city centre, there are many attractions on your doorstep, including the magnificent Maritime Museum, art gallery. the designer shops of Grafton, High Street and Vulcan Lane and stores of Queen Street. Enjoy a coffee on the infamous k Road, try your luck at the Sky City Casino and courageous Skywalk for unparalleled views. You can make the most of your city's sights on foot, but ... you can save your shoes with free city Circuit bus!
Fun on the border
There is a great mix of natural attractions, historical sights and the twenty-first century fun on the city's outskirts, including the Auckland Museum-a perfect place to discover new Zealand's Maori culture. Nearby are the shops and cafes in picturesque Parnell Village, fashion shops, Newmarket, and super cool Ponsonby Road. If you're into adventure, there are Harbour Bridge climb and, for the brave, Bridge Bungee. Please allow at least half a day to visit the historic seaside village of Devonport-it is a "must"!
Insider tip: take the ferry from CBD to Devonport. Enjoy cafes, shops and beaches and harbour views from one of the two extinct volcanoes.
Bee-line for the Beach
Along the Tamaki drive you will find the picturesque inner harbour and Harbour Bridge, trays, North Shore, ranging from Devonport to Long Bay fabulous beaches. In the West are dramatic black sand surf beaches: a true Auckland-experience.
Insider tip: Piha and Muriwai are the most easily read West coast beaches. a surf shuttle works to Piha, but you don't need your own transport to Muriwai).
Walk in the wild
Auckland is surrounded by magnificent conservation land, with hundreds of kilometres of walking tracks by varied terrain, forests, agricultural soils, rocks and the countryside. Guided walks are a good idea, as some of these sites in a remote location.
Insider advice: get a real sense of Auckland by moving from side to side of the self-propelled coastal to coastal walk. For a taste of native flora and fauna, try the rugged Waitakere ranges.
Get this for sport
Aucklanders adore outdoors! Sailing, mountain biking, Riding, sky-jumping, sky diving, scuba Diving, surfing, fishing, Jet skiing, even snow Skiing-are readily available, plus much more. and, of course, there is nothing more essentially Auckland than watching rugby at Eden Park-but you need to be there at the right time of year.
World class wines
There are many excellent vineyards close to the city, most to the West around Kumeu and Henderson. Take a guided tour for a great day-or set sail for the award winning vineyards Waiheke Iceland (see below).
Visit an Iceland
Take a scenic ferry trip to one of Aucklands beautiful offshore islands. The most famous is Waiheke and Rangitoto-two very different places! Rangitoto is a forest-covered, uninhabited volcanic cone. Waiheke offers wineries, beaches, cafés and rolling countryside.
Family fun:
Don't miss the Maritime Museum, Auckland Museum, Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World, awesome Auckland Zoo and nearby MOTAT-whatever your age. Further away, but not too far from each other is frightening Spookers with its ghosts and ghouls and the very popular Rainbow End theme park.
On the water:
No visit to Auckland is complete without a boat trip and and island ferries, see fantastic cruises from Maritime Museum on board ships legacy, a wide range of boat rental, whale and dolphin watching, dinner cruises and more.
Markets course!
There are many markets in and around the city, ranging from sophisticated (Parnell, weekend mornings) to full-immersion Pacifica (Otara. Saturday morning) and eclectic (Victoria Park, daily).