Date travelled: 30 April-2 May 2009
Known as the "City of Sails", the city of Auckland is New Zealand's largest, and is situated on North Island.
Citizens holding United Kingdom passports do not need a visa if visiting New Zealand for stays up to 6 months. Visitors must have an onward ticket to present to the immigration official upon arrival. If you are planning on working during your stay in New Zealand, you will need a working visa, so make sure you get one of these before you arrive.
From Auckland airport, the easiest and cheapest way to get into the centre of Auckland is by bus. The Airbus Express offers a service every 15 minutes into the city centre, with a journey time of about an hour, depending on traffic. Return tickets cost $22 (about £9). I stayed at the Mercure Windsor Hotel, which is situated right in the centre of town.
The best way to get around Auckland is by public transport. The Link bus service circles the city, stopping at all the cities highlights. Ticket $1.60 (65p) for a single journey. Real-time information at Link bus stops let you know exactly how long you will be waiting for a bus, for added peace of mind. Buses make the journey every 10 minutes during the day, and every 15 minutes in the evenings and Sundays.
The main highlight of Auckland, and the cities most visited tourist attraction, is the Sky Tower. Standing at a height of 328 metres, the Sky Tower is the tallest free-standing structure in the Southern Hemisphere.
Auckland Sky Tower
Lifts at the Sky Tower take you to the lower observation deck ($25) for a good view of the city. You could also take the higher lift (extra $3) for an even better view of Auckland. If it is a clear sunny day, you will be able to see all across the city and beyond.
The View from Sky Tower
Situated near to the Sky Tower is Queen Street, the main shopping street of Auckland. Here you will find shops selling all sorts of souvenirs, banks and ATMs, bars, restaurants and sport retailers. If you are after any rugby merchandise during your visit, this is the street to visit.
Queen Street
At the far side of Queen Street is Auckland harbour. There are many nice restaurants here, along with boats that service the nearby islands. Fishing boats also land here, providing Auckland with superb freshly caught seafood. You will also notice a hotel situated here on the harbour side that is shaped like a boat!
Auckland Harbour Side
During your stay in Auckland, a visit to the Auckland museum is a must. The Link bus network makes the journey from the harbour side to the museum in about 10 minutes. At the museum, you will be able to learn all about the history of Auckland, and you will be able to view the Maori Cultural Experience, which features the spine-tingling Haka, made world famous by the New Zealand rugby team. Entrance into the museum and to the Maori Cultural Experience costs $25, and performances happen three times a day.
Auckland Museum
You can also view a video of the Haka performance in the videos section of my site. Click here to view my videos.
If you have a spare afternoon during your visit to Auckland, I fully recommend taking a boat trip to nearby Waiheke Island, a popular destination for Aucklanders, situated about 40 minutes from the city. The boat journey takes you through the beautiful Hauraki Gulf (Maori for cascading waters). You will also get to see the best possible view of the city as you leave the harbour.
Auckland Skyline
Once you arrive at Waiheke, you will get to enjoy peaceful traffic-free walks in the countryside, vineyard tours by bus, or chill on the many beautiful beaches, such as the one in the village of Oneroa.
Oneroa Beach, Waiheke
Another lovely area of Waiheke is Matiatia Bay. Many small boats rest here, as does the ferry from the mainland. It is particularly nice here as the Sun begins to set.
Matiatia Bay, Waiheke
When you are in Auckland, and when it becomes dark, head back to the Sky Tower again. You will see the tower lit up in all its glory. It looks magnificent against the surrounding buildings.
Sky Tower at Night
Another impressive Auckland landmark at night is the Town Hall, which opened in 1911. The Town Hall sits adjacent to nearby Aotea Square and opposite an entertainment complex.
Auckland Town Hall
When it comes to food, you are spoilt for choice in Auckland. Whichever restaurant you choose, you must try the local Lamb; it's simply delicious. If you don't fancy meat, you could always try any of the freshly caught seafood in the harbour side restaurants. New Zealand also has plenty of beers, to name but a few Steinlager (5%), Red Lion (4%), Speights (4%), Export Gold (4%) plus others. You could also try some of the local varieties of wine that are easily available.
Despite being over 24 hours away by plane, Auckland and its surroundings do in a way make you feel like you're back in England, which is a lovely feeling for those like me that can get home sick. So consider Auckland your home away from home.
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