Tips for a holiday in Auckland, New Zealand
Perhaps when you think of New Zealand first think of beautiful nature, Maori, All Blacks, earthquakes or Lord of the Rings. All true, of course, but have you ever thought about visiting a glow worm cave, surfing or scuba diving? Auckland has it all!
Auckland is New Zealand's largest city and is located on the North Island. The city sits on an extinct volcanic field, so you'll find several volcanic islands, lakes and lagoons in the region. Two volcanic cones that characterise Auckland's landscape are Mount Eden and One Tree Hill.
There are dozens of activities to do in this seemingly grey, drab city. For example, visit the Auckland Museum or Auckland Zoo, take a dinner cruise or go sailing. Go hang gliding or paragliding or - as mentioned earlier - surfing or diving. Get to know Auckland and you'll soon find out why Auckland is in the top 10 best cities in the world to live in.
Sights and activities in and around Auckland
Sky Tower
This telecommunications and observation tower is 328 metres high and a good landmark. Apart from the viewing platforms (where you can look straight down), it is also home to restaurants and a casino. If you want to literally live on the edge, you can do the Skywalk, where you walk on the outside of the glass and are only attached by a cable.
You can go down by lift, of course, but a more spectacular way is flying through the air. With the Skyjump, you jump down from 192 metres at a maximum speed of 85 km per hour. Cost: Skywalk $145, Skyjump $225.
Mount Eden
Hike to the top of Auckland's tallest volcanic cone and enjoy the views over the city. It is fascinating to see how the craters are covered in grass and the hike up through the green landscape is worthwhile. Don't forget to check out the waterfalls, birds and rock formations.
Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit
Book a Hobbiton Movie Tour and see the set where the films were shot. Look around the beautiful surroundings or dine like a real hobbit at The Green Dragon Inn, the gathering place for all the inhabitants of Hobbiton.
Rangitoto Island
Rangitoto Island is a volcanic island 25 minutes by boat from Auckland. You will find lava rock, beautiful nature with native plants and sandy bays. Put on your hiking boots for a hike to the top. Once again, you'll be treated to great views. The ferry to Rangitoto Island departs several times a day. You can also book a Rullers Rangitoto Explorer tour. The guide will tell you a thing or two about the history and geography.
Devonport
A few minutes away by ferry, on the waterfront, lies the village of Devonport. It has cafés, restaurants, art galleries and small shops. You can take a Segway Tour or take a stroll along the waterfront. Several events are held throughout the year.
Viaduct Harbour
Auckland Harbour is located in the Central Business District. You can stroll here, or sit on a bench with an ice cream in your hand and marvel at the expensive yachts, some more beautiful and expensive than others. There are many restaurants and bars to be found here and if you plan to spend a night, this is the place to be.
Viaduct Harbour regularly hosts events, such as the International Boat Show. NZ Fashion Week has also taken place here, for example. Furthermore, dinner cruises and whale & dolphin spotting cruises all depart from the harbour.
Practical information about a holiday in Auckland
Places to stay in Auckland
Most hostels and hotels can be found in the Central Business District, the commercial city centre with Queenstreet as its main street. A very cosy hostel geared towards backpackers is Base Auckland. It is located on Queen Street. Besides dormitories, they also have double rooms here.
However, if you're looking for a more luxurious stay, you can explore the lavish resorts in North Island. These resorts offer exceptional services and amenities that could level up your stay in Auckland.
To aid you in choosing your accommodation, available hotels on tophotels.com provides in-depth reviews and ratings about a variety of lodgings. You might want to consider checking them out.
If you prefer to stay close to nature without compromising luxury, Auckland also has several resorts that you can consider. Visit Auckland resorts to find out more about these splendid options.
Eating and drinking in Auckland
Lamb is New Zealand's national dish and you'll find it on every menu. As a port city, Auckland is known for its Fish 'n Chips. Highly recommended: Waterfront Café. Dinner with a view! Also, don't forget to try New Zealand's Hokey Pokey ice cream! Chances are you won't be able to live without it.
Travelling to Auckland
If you fly from the Netherlands to Auckland, it will be with one or more stopovers. Total flight time is 22 hours. To get to the city centre from Auckland Airport, it's best to take a Skybus. It runs back and forth 24 hours a day. A ticket for the Skybus costs around $18. Taking a taxi is also possible, but it will cost you a lot of money.
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