Official Language:
English
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Currency:
New Zealand Dollar
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Population:
Approximately 1.3 million people call Auckland hom
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Weather:
Climate and current weather information for Auckland: Auckland offers a warm coastal climate. It never gets cold enough to snow (even frosts are rare). Average winter temperatures are around 58°F/13°C, though they can vary greatly. Spring months are also unpredictable either wonderfully calm and sunny or a tumultuous jumble of rain, cold and heat. Summer months (December-March) offer the most consistent weather. Average temperatures then rise to
75°F /24°C. Rain showers are less frequent but still very common.
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New Zealand's largest city, Auckland, is known as the "City of Sails". Home of the Americas' Cup, it is also the largest Polynesian City in the world. Auckland, with 1,000,000 inhabitants, is New Zealand's largest city. Nearly a quarter of the country's population lives here. The "City of Sails," as Auckland is often called, boasts more boats per capita than any other city in the world. With 70,000 powerboats and sailing craft, this means there is one boat for every four households. No one lives far from the sea and Auckland's balmy year-round climate encourages water-oriented recreation. Auckland is your gateway to the North Island and the rest of New Zealand. From Auckland you can explore the beautiful islands of the Hauraki Gulf, Waiheke, Rangitoto, Kawau, Great Barrier, and many more with a wide range of full day and half day trips departing from the port located in Auckland's Downtown area. Sailing, fishing, cruises and maritime activities abound in this beautiful city, placed between two harbours, the sparkling Waitemata on the Pacific Ocean, the Manukau on the Tasman Sea. The Wild West coast of Auckland offers spectacular surf beaches, with wonderful nature tours in the surrounding native forest areas. Auckland's cosmopolitan flavor is enhanced by its large Maori community, immigrants from various European and Asian countries, and Pacific Islanders who are attracted by employment and educational opportunities.Some of the city's major attractions stem from its love affair with the great outdoors. Even the downtown area, with its expansive farm-like parks, exudes a sense of spacious beauty. At Kelly Tarlton's Antarctic Encounter and Underwater World, exhibits offer a glimpse of the frozen continent and its marine and bird life. Tarlton was New Zealand's most celebrated undersea explorer and treasure hunter.New waterfront development, including modern shopping and office complexes, distinguishes Auckland's downtown area. In the older suburbs, restored Victorian buildings provide a nostalgic contrast. The city's most striking man-made structure is the Harbour Bridge. It arcs dramatically across Waitemata Harbour, linking the city with the fast-growing North Shore.Auckland, with its cosmopolitan flair, offers excellent dining opportunities to satisfy the most refined tastes.
A city of diverse cultures the traveller is offered an abundance of café's, restaurants, nightlife to cater to your budget. The hottest place in Auckland for the new millennium is the stunning new waterfront development "The Americas Cup Village". This superb area is lined with cafes, restaurants and bars and was developed to showcase Auckland's beautiful waterfront and help New Zealand to successfully defend the 2000 Americas Cup Yacht Racing Regatta.
Cruise ships dock at Princess Wharf or Queens Wharf and Captain Cook Wharf when the harbor is busy. It is onlya five-minute walk into downtown Auckland. The harbour bridge links downtown with the northern suburbs. Auckland is home to many parks and reserves. The favorite park being Albert Park in the central city. Auckland offers the perfect amount of diversity with mandy restaurants, night clubs that rock throughout the night, museums, and shopping facilities. Auckland has gorgeous beaches where scuba diving, sailing and other water sports are extremely popular. Auckland maintains a great bus system known as The Link. For a fare of 50 cents, you can take the bus to any destination in Auckland. Or, you can ride the whole circuit, which takes about an hour, and see many of the sights from the bus. Contact Rideline (tel. 09/366-6400) for more information. If you would prefer to take a taxi while in the city, rest assured that they are quite prevalent, and the rates are affordable as well. Call Auckland Co-op Taxi (tel. 09/300-3000) to arrange for a taxi to pick you up anywhere in Auckland.
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Attractions |
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Auckland Museum (Te Papa Whakahiku):
This museum has comprehensive displays of Pacific Island and Maori culture, including a 25m/82ft-long war canoe. The first floor is dedicated to the natural world with an activities centre for children. The second floor focuses on New Zealanders at war, from the 19th century to the present, but includes a re-creation of some 19th-century Auckland shops. Here you can also see the Pounamu Maori dance group.
Parnell Village:
An older area of the city that has been redeveloped with plenty of sports facilities including more than 30 golf courses and many beaches within easy reach.
The Waitemata:
The scene of the world's largest one day yacht regatta.
The War Memorial Museum:
Home to the world's largest collection of Maori artefacts.
Cornwall Park:
The obelisk is visible from everywhere in the city. Like Mount Eden, it was once a Maori pa (fort) dating from the 14th century. The one tree that dominated its profile was, sadly, damaged by a Maori activist in 1996. It has been replaced by a grove of small trees that have yet to reach a significant height. Mount Eden is an extinct volcano and Auckland's highest point of land. It boasts terrific views of the city, harbor, and Hauraki Gulf. North Head Maritime Park in Devonport offers a different perspective -- looking back at the city from North Shore. You'll get great photos of the cityscape from here.
Howick Historical Village:
This fascinating 'living' museum will split visitors along 'Isn't it tacky/fascinating' lines, with its costumed staff evoking the atmosphere of Auckland in the turbulent pioneering era from the 1840s to the 1880s. There are over 30 buildings, many relocated here from other parts of the region. The streets, the pond with ducks and geese, and the village gardens are faithful reconstructions of Victorian fashion, and there's a cafe with homemade goodies as well. There is a theme day on the third Sunday of each month, with special events and displays such as the blacksmith working at the forge, the 65th Regiment firing its muskets, and maybe even a chance to see the school in session. The village is on Bells Rd, Lloyd Elsmore Park, Pakuranga.
Sky Tower:
In the first 18 months after it opened in August 1997, Sky Tower drew over a million visitors, making it New Zealand's most popular paid attraction. At 328m (1,076 ft.), it is the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere, affording unforgettable views over the sprawling mass of Auckland. It has three observation decks, including an outdoor area, a glass lift and glass floor panels, multilingual audio guides, and a revolving restaurant. Access to the observation decks is via three glass-fronted elevators, which can whizz up the building in a speedy 40 seconds.The Lower Observation level can be accessed by stairs and has a coffee shop. The Main Observation level features the latest technology, with live weather feeds and touch computer screens giving geographical information. The Outdoor Observation area is equipped with high-powered binoculars and is open to the elements. The Sky Deck is the highest public viewing area, with 360-degree views through seamless glass. Afraid of Heights?- Sky Tower has been designed to provide a high level of performance in the event of earthquakes, severe winds, storms, or fire. It is built to withstand winds gusting to 200kmph (124 mph); it has protected fire refuges; and analysis shows it would stay standing in an earthquake of 8.0 magnitude on the Richter scale occurring within 20km (12 miles) of the tower. So put aside your fears (if I can, anyone can), and have a breathtaking experience.
Stardome Observatory:
This is where star-gazers can cop an eyeful of the southern sky in all its majesty. Large-telescope viewing sessions reveal planets, double stars, glowing gas nebulae or lunar craters in the night sky above Auckland (weather permitting).
There's also a changing program of planetarium shows, occasional musical performances under the stars and a special show for pre-schoolers. Some shows have translations in Japanese, German and Mandarin. Weekends are family days, with hands-on displays and activities.
Stardome is situated on the south side of One Tree Hill. Known to the Maori as Maungakiekie, it erupted some 20,000 years ago and is one of the largest volcanoes in Auckland (183m/600ft). It was the site of New Zealand's biggest pa (fortified Maori village) and the extensive terraces excavated for habitations and gardens still remain. The beautiful Cornwall Park, with its historic buildings and working farm, spreads over the lower slopes of One Tree Hill, and combined with the Stardome makes for a good day out. Buses from the city centre will take you via Newmarket to the gate of the park.
Ambury Park:
One of Auckland's regional parks, Ambury is a working farm right on the city's doorstep. The park is about 15km (9mi) south of Auckland city, near the airport and on the shores of the Manukau Harbour. There are sheep, cows, horses, goats, chickens, peacocks, turkeys and kune kune (a type of wild pig). Some 86 species of birds live on the foreshore, including pied stilts, welcome swallows, and oyster-catchers. It's also a favourite wintering ground for migrant birds. You can wander freely around the farm (remember to close the gates) and there's no entry charge.A detour across Wallace Rd takes you to Mangere Mountain, a volcanic cone created some 18,000 years ago and the site of one of Auckland's largest pa (the remains of kumara pits can still be seen). You can also take a horseback tour through the park.
Hauraki Gulf Islands:
There are 47 islands in the Hauraki Gulf Maritime Park, administered by the Department of Conservation. Some have severely restricted access, since they are refuges for the preservation of plants and animals, especially extremely rare or even endangered species of birds. Others are readily accessible to visitors by ferry or light aircraft. A few are within minutes of the city and are popular as day trips; their harbours are dotted with yachts in summer.Rangitoto, 10km (6mi) northeast of Auckland's city centre, is a good place for a picnic. It has many pleasant walks, a saltwater swimming pool, barbecues and a great view from the summit of its volcanic cone, which erupted some 600 years ago. Waiheke is the most visited of the gulf islands, with plenty of picturesque bays and beaches good for swimming and sea kayaking. The island attracts all kinds of artistic folk, who exhibit their work in galleries and craft shops. There's also a museum and several vineyards. Great Barrier Island, once a remote and little-visited island, is also becoming a popular destination and can be used as a stepping stone to the Coromandel Peninsula. Great Barrier has hot springs, historic kauri dams, a forest sanctuary and myriad tramping (hiking) tracks. It also provides some of the most varied scuba diving in New Zealand.
There are excellent, calm bay beaches on the North Shore, including Takapuna and the East Coast Bays, along with the wild surf beaches of the west coast - Karekare, Piha, Te Henga. One of the city's great sporting events is the Round the Bays fun-run along Tamaki Drive, held in March. Cycling and inline skating are also popular. In rugby and cricket season, Eden Park is the place to be, and golf can be played all year round at one of twenty courses. Walks include heritage trails through historic city districts, and coastal and bush trails for tramping (hiking) farther afield. There are numerous facilities and open spaces for paragliding, skydiving, canyoning and other extreme sports.
Sky Jump:
When we talk about special moments, this may not be what you had in mind, but one thing's for sure: You won't forget this experience in a hurry. Sky Jump is one of New Zealand's wackiest adrenaline rushes -- perhaps the ultimate! For details on this 192m (630-ft.) controlled free-fall from the Southern Hemisphere's tallest tower, call tel. 0800/759-586 in NZ or 09/368-1835, or check www.skyjump.co.nz. It costs NZ$195 (US$107) and operates daily from 10:30am to 7:30pm, weather permitting (closed Dec 25 and Jan)
Walking over Water:
Bring on the nerves of steel for one of Auckland's newest attractions -- Auckland Bridge Climb(tel. 0800/000-808 in NZ or 09/377-6543; www.aucklandbridgeclimb.co.nz). Based on a concept similar to the successful Sydney activity, walkers are guided underneath and over the top of Auckland Harbour Bridge. The 2 1/2-hour adventure begins with a full briefing by a professional guide at the base complex. Guests are then fitted with over-garments, radio headsets, and safety harnesses. It's achievable for all ages and all fitness levels, but you must be over 12 and preferably not have a fear of heights. The walk costs NZ$110 (US$61) Monday through Friday, NZ$175 (US$96) Saturday nights for adults, and NZ$55 (US$30) children 7 to 14. Discounts for seniors and families are available. A bungy/bridge climb combo is NZ$199 (US$109)). You can take a bus or a short walk from city hotels; pickup service is available on request. There's limited parking at the site.
Especially for Kids:
Kelly Tarlton's, the Discovery Centre at Auckland Museum, the Auckland Zoo, Sky Tower, and MOTAT -- will give the kids hours of fun. Auckland Super Pass Get four of Auckland's leading attractions for one unbelievable price -- a discount of over 25%. Sky Tower, Kelly Tarlton's, Fullers Auckland, and Rainbow's End have combined for this great offer, which can be used over a 2-week period and enables you to get a free re-visit pass to whichever attraction you liked the best. You can purchase the pass from any one of the included attractions or from the Auckland Visitor Information Centre. --Rainbow's End Theme Park This is New Zealand's premier adventure playground, with 9 hectares (23 acres) devoted to crazy rides and attractions for children. For those under 10, there's a Dream Castle with its own miniature roller coaster, carousel, and Ferris wheel. Older kids will scream their lungs out on New Zealand's only double-loop roller coaster, and there's more fun to be had on the log flume, on the pirate ship, in the Enchanted Forest, and in an abandoned mine. Add bumper boats, cars, and virtual theater, and the whole family will be glad you came.www.rainbowsend.co.nz
Kelly Tarlton's Antarctic Encounter & Underwater World:
It is located at 23 Tamaki Drive (09/528-0603) and is incredibly popular with both tourists and locals. This is perhaps the best place to take your children, as the entertainment is surely to impress and astound people of all ages. Even the most experienced travelers will be impressed with this excellent park and wildlife facility. The Penguin Colony is one of the highlights, and is an artificially created habitat with hundreds of penguins living in their natural surroundings. You'll marvel at the 1,500 species of fish found inside the underwater world. The marine life is extensive, featuring sharks, stingrays, and eels. The Museum of Shipwrecks is eerie and fantastic, and the Antarctic region in general is truly a great encounter.
Aotea Centre (The):
New Zealand opera star Dame Kiri Te Kanawa opened the centre in 1990, and the multi-purpose venue is host to productions by Opera New Zealand, the Royal New Zealand Ballet, the Auckland Philharmonia, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, as well as international artists, conventions and exhibitions, theatrical and musical performances. Various venues within the centre seat audiences from 180 to 2256. Admission and bookings: Admission to view the centre is free. Tickets for events from Ticketek ph. +64 (0)9 307 5000 or at the booking office within the centre.Performance times vary, Phone: +64 (0)9 307 5060, Email: info@the-edge.co.nz
Piha Beach:
Piha Beach, on the wild Tasman coast is famous for the Lion Rock vistas, black sand beaches, great surf and deadly rips. If you venture into the water, do so only between the lifeguard flags. Changing rooms, a shop and campground are available. If coming in summer bring plenty of sunscreen and a hat as it can be blistering hot on the black sand. The beach is also spectacular on a wild, windy day. From north Piha there are walking tracks to more secluded beaches.
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More Information |
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Useful Links About Auckland:
Auckland Travel Information
(09/522-0491)
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