Overview

Auckland is not overrun with elaborate monuments and the like but has just enough to warrant a few days wandering around the city centre, harbour and suburbs. Notable landmarks include the lofty Sky Tower in the city centre and One Tree Hill and Mount Eden volcanoes just outside town, while the neighbourhoods of Ponsonby and Parnell have plenty of allure.

Sky Tower

Auckland's Sky Tower is the best place in town to get a bird's-eye view. It is one of the highest structures in the Southern Hemisphere, rising to 1,000 feet over the city streets and has a super-fast glass lift. There are three levels at the observation deck and loads of interactive displays and binoculars to play with.

Viaduct Harbour

The harbour at Auckland serves New Zealand's main port and was developed extensively for the 1999 and 2002 America's Cup. The area now has loads of hotels, shops, restaurants and bars and the whole place buzzes when there is an event on. Look out for the bronze plaques around the boardwalk and take a water taxi tour of the harbour at large.

Parnell

Parnell is Auckland's oldest neighbourhood and has plenty of atmosphere and sophistication. It boasts numerous boutiques, restaurants, parks, and historic buildings and most of all, it has that small-town feel. Attractions of note in Parnell include the Auckland War Memorial Museum, Parnell Rose Gardens, and St Mary's in Holy Trinity Cathedral.

Cornwall Park and One Tree Hill

Cornwall Park has plenty of historic interest and is great to spend some time at away from the city. There are miles of walking paths along with innumerable places to sit. One Tree Hill is at the top of the volcanic cone in the park and affords fine views over town. There is also a monument to the Maori people here as well as the nearby Auckland Stardome Observatory for those into astronomy.

Mount Eden

Mount Eden is just south of town and is one of the dozens of ancient, lava-less volcanoes on which the city sits. The volcano is about 25,000 years old and is the highest in the city. Being a popular spot with tourists, it tends to get busy so it is worth getting here early or late to catch the sun rising or setting.

Ponsonby

Ponsonby is another of Auckland's more colourful areas and has plenty of history and verve. There are many sights to look at in the suburb, including the Victorian Allendale House, the old Edwardian Post Office, and tree-lined Franklin Road. The Post Office is especially interesting as it was designed by the same man who built the Town Hall, John Campbell. The collection of fine houses and Art Deco buildings along Franklin Road will thrill those into architecture.

Auckland Museum

To learn more about Auckland's past, be sure to check out the Auckland Museum. It is the city's best museum and has some striking displays of local flora and fauna along with regular Maori performances of song and dance. The museum is large and grand and boasts massive exhibition halls and striking grounds. Best of all, it's free.

Surfing

Many of the most noted beaches are not for beginner surfers but there are spots where all can enjoy the Pacific and Tasman swells. Nearby Piha Beach is the most convenient surfing option near to Auckland although it is only suitable for intermediates and up. Orewa Beach, Takapuna Beach and Rothesay Bay have good surf for all levels.

Overview

Auckland presides over a stunning harbour which is pockmarked with volcanoes and islands. The boating options are really good along with the walking outside the city. You can also enjoy regular water sports action at nearby Piha Beach as well as go scuba diving or surfing. Rock climbing and relaxing in spas are other popular pastimes in New Zealand's biggest city.

Walking and cycling

Apart from the Viaduct Harbour there is not that much decent walking to be had around the town centre, although One Tree Hill, Mount Eden and the other nearby volcanoes have endless walking opportunities. The best places in Auckland to go cycling are within the main region parks, namely Ambury, Duder, Hunua, Shakespeare, and Tawharanui.

Boating and water sports

With all the water in and around Auckland, it's no wonder the boating here is pretty good. There are many sailing schools at the harbour where you can do a course or rent out a kayak, yacht, or powerboat. Beaches near to Auckland have all manner of water sports available, including jet-skiing, while the nearby Cavalli Islands and Coromandel Peninsula have the best scuba diving within reach of Auckland.

Auckland health spas

There is lots of opportunity to relax in Auckland, with all sorts of spa and health centres in the city. You can choose from Ayurvedic treatments to Balinese-style treatments along with Eastern and Western-style massage. Most places do packages by the hour, half-day, or full-day and many centres also offer a complete package over two or three days.

Dining and shopping

Auckland arguably has New Zealand's best eating and shopping. You will find everything from French, Italian, and Chinese foods, along with great New Zealand fare in fine restaurants and stylish cafés. The seafood and lamb here is superb and there are many popular areas to dine. For shopping, you will find high streets shops, arcades and bustling malls where you can pick up great souvenirs, authentic New Zealand clothing and high fashion.

Head to the waterfront area for the best selection of eateries within the city centre, where there is a variety of cafés, restaurants and bars. The best restaurants in the Auckland area are in the Ponsonby and Parnell neighbourhoods, while Herne Bay and Grey Lynn are also well appointed on the food front.

Although a bit of a way out of town, Waiheke Island is another good place to head for eating, especially for those with a love for fine wines. Ferries leave the harbour regularly for the island, which is about 30 minutes away. Many of the restaurants here are lined up near the vineyards and have fine scenery to go with their food and wine.

Being on the water, fresh fish and seafood is a regular in Auckland's restaurants, although lamb is without doubt the big eat in this fantastic country of sheep. New Zealand lamb is succulent and world famous, along with its beef, while pork and venison are also very popular. Fish and chips is the country's national dish and you will find fish and chip joints in all areas of town.

There is also a good supply of European and Asian eateries in Auckland, particularly French, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, and Thai. Greek food is also popular here along with Pacific Rim cuisine. There are licensed and unlicensed restaurants in Auckland and many places allow you to bring your own drink (BYO restaurants) in return for a corkage charge.

Newmarket, Parnell, and Ponsonby have some of the best shopping in Auckland, although the city centre also does pretty well with the likes of eclectic Queen Street having decent options. Other popular city streets to look out for are Karangahope Road, Albert Street, Broadway, Anzac Street, Chancery lane, Elliot Street, and High Street.

Local department stores where you'll find New Zealand brands and popular international names include: Briscoes, Kmart, Larsmart, Farmers Trading, and Caughey. Rendells and Smith is also very popular and you'll find a glut of designer clothing stores in and around town.

The Botany Town Centre shopping area is the recent shopping extravaganza in town; a collection of purposely-styled lanes and squares that features something like 150 shops. Botany Town Centre has been well designed and comes with stylish architecture, pavilions and conservatories galore.

Parnell Village is 10 minutes from the city centre and is the most fashionable suburb in Auckland, doing particularly well with its offering of arts and crafts. There are many boutiques and jewellers here as well as some of the city's best cafés and restaurants. The Elephant House Crafts shop in Parnell Village is the best place to head for souvenirs.

Auckland's top restaurants are a collection of New Zealand, European and Asian eateries in many different areas of town, and no matter where you're based you will be able to find somewhere special to eat. Parnell and Ponsonby tend to have the most authentic eating, while the Viaduct Harbour, the city centre and Mount Eden also have appeal.

Overview

Auckland International Airport lies just outside town and receives flights from all over with a number of popular airlines. You can get to the city and hotels easy enough from the airport as congestion is minimal. Trains and buses also serve Auckland from elsewhere on the North Island, including from Wellington. Getting about the city is mainly by bus.

Airports

Auckland International Airport is the main gateway to New Zealand and lies just 15 miles from the city centre. There are three terminals at the airport - one international and two domestic - that serve a collection of flag carriers and smaller airlines from destinations in the region.

Auckland International Airport is one of the busiest airports in Australasia, after Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, and handles around 14 million passengers per year. Flights come in with the likes of Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, and Qantas from cities mainly within the Australasia and Asia regions.

The international terminal at Auckland Airport has the bulk of the facilities including a bank, ATMs and currency exchange. There is also a first-aid room onsite as well as good shopping options, with several duty-free stores and souvenir shops, as well as a bunch of cafés, restaurants and bars.

Getting to downtown Auckland from the airport is straightforward with an airport shuttle bus available as well as shared minibuses and standard taxis. Some city hotels provide their guests with courtesy shuttles but if this is not the case, taxi is the best option for convenience.

The Airbus, on the other hand, is great for those looking to save as it's the cheapest option and leaves the airport every 20 minutes between 06:20 until 22:00. The transfer time is around 45 minutes. Using a shared minibus is the best option if you are travelling as a family or group.

Public transportation

Other than flying, Auckland is served by trains and buses from elsewhere on the North Island, with connections also coming in from the South Island. Tranz Scenic trains are fast and efficient and although services are not extensive, there is a direct, twice-daily service (including an overnighter) from Wellington to Auckland aboard the 12-hour Overlander. Trains depart Wellington's Bunny Street Station and arrive at Auckland Station in the Britomart Centre.

Bus travel in New Zealand is more common than rail travel and services arrive in Auckland from all over the North Island. Newmans and InterCity are the main providers and you can buy tickets from cities on the South Island and connect at Wellington. The main station in Auckland is the Sky City Coach Terminal. There are also many smaller services, along with backpacker-type buses like Kiwi Experience and Magic Bus, which offer all-encompassing country-wide passes.

You can walk around the harbour area and the core of Auckland without too much effort. Auckland at large is spread over a wide area, however, and making use of public transport for seeing the various neighbourhoods is a must. There is an extensive bus network in the city, with Stagecoach Auckland offering the bulk of travel.

The Link Bus is also a great way to get about hassle-free and it runs on a loop of the city, taking in the city centre, Parnell, Newmarket and Ponsonby. Buses run every 10 minutes in the week from 06:00 to 19:00 and every 15 minutes until 23:30 thereafter. Have the correct change for the driver.

Auckland also has a network of trains although services are limited and there are only three lines. Services generally run every 10 minutes or so. Taxi travel is okay for getting about late at night and for convenience, but for extensive city travel visitors should consider hiring a car at the airport.