Auckland is an superior metropolis – not solely are you by no means greater than 20mins drive from a seashore, it’s received a extremely distinctive panorama with 50 volcanoes, a gulf peppered with islands, nice eating choices, its personal tradition and a few good quick hikes/day walks.
As a born and bred Aucklander, I get critically offended after I hear travellers say ‘Oh simply skip Auckland, it’s not price hanging round’. It kills me that some travellers solely see downtown Auckland, so I’ve written a weblog put up about what we locals do for enjoyable round right here. Hopefully, it offers you a number of concepts about what to do in Auckland that can make you wish to stick round a bit longer!
Get a 360° view of Auckland – the free manner
Certain, going as much as the highest of the SkyTower, skydiving or taking a seaplane flight would possibly offer you a terrific 360 diploma view of Auckland, however if you happen to’re a neighborhood, you’re extra more likely to head the highest of Mount Eden to take in the cityscape. For my part this is likely one of the finest free issues to do in Auckland. The perfect time to go is simply because the solar is setting so you may watch the lights come on across the metropolis.
Mount Eden is definitely a volcano and has an enormous, spectacular crater. You possibly can stroll across the fringe of the crater and see among the finest views of town. Afterwards, stroll again all the way down to Mount Eden village for a pint and pot of mussels at De Publish, a scrumptious burger at Nook Burger or a scorching chocolate and slice of cake at Frasers. You’ve earned it!
Getting there: Catch the bus or the prepare from town.
Go to the historic settlement of Devonport
Take the ferry from the downtown ferry terminal over to Devonport. See New Zealand’s navy base from the water then discover the colonial-style village. Should you’re up for a little bit of an journey, take a stroll up Mount Victoria or North Head (two dormant volcanoes) to discover the outdated tunnels and see the outdated weapons and bomb shelters that have been constructed throughout World Conflict II to guard the Auckland harbour. In line with legend the tunnels at North Head are haunted! (Convey a torch in case you have one.)
Getting there: Take the ferry ticket from Downtown Auckland to Devonport.
Ponsonby – The place to be seen
Ponsonby is a stylish ‘city-fringe’ suburb the place the persons are cool, the homes are mega-expensive, the purchasing ranges from op-shops to designer and the place you’re sure to have a terrific evening out. Ponsonby Highway is lined with upmarket cafes, retailers, eating places and bars.
Splurge for lunch at SPQR and sit out on the sidewalk for some nice individuals watching or head inside Ponsonby Central the place you’ll discover a assortment of various eating places to select from. Should you’re on a backpacker’s price range, head to the Worldwide Meals Court docket above the pool corridor and take your decide of scrumptious Chinese language, Indian, Balinese, Lao, Malaysian, Japanese or Italian delicacies.
Buy groceries within the boutique shops and see what bargains you’ll find. Should you’re there for the night and wish to have a dance – Lengthy Room, Little Simple and Ponsonby Social Membership are native favourites.
Getting there: You possibly can stroll, it’s solely 2.6kms from downtown (though be ready for a number of hills) in any other case you may catch the Hyperlink bus from town.
Hike from Coast to Coast
Auckland is so skinny which you could really stroll from one facet of New Zealand to the opposite! Begin your stroll from downtown Auckland and observe the Coast to Coast markers previous key landmarks just like the Auckland Area, Mount Eden and One Tree Hill. It’s 16 kms in complete so that you’ll want the entire day for this one – particularly if you happen to throw in a museum tour on the Auckland Conflict Memorial museum (which I extremely suggest!). The stroll finishes at Beachcroft Avenue in Onehunga, a newly renovated beachfront space. View the Coast to Coast map
Getting there: Stroll to the beginning, then catch the prepare or bus again into town from Onehunga.
Stroll/bike/skate alongside the pink path
The pink cycleway, constructed in the course of Auckland’s central motorway junction, is a success amongst vacationers and locals alike. It’s the right place to take pictures, go for a motorcycle trip or simply admire the cityscape – the trail is lit up at evening too! Ensure to test it out in case you have a spare hour or so within the metropolis centre – #doitforthegram
Getting there: Stroll from the CBD to the Nelson Avenue off-ramp (Higher Queen Avenue) or stroll from Ok’Highway to Quay Avenue.
Should-do in Auckland: Go to Waiheke Island
Waiheke Island was named one of many world’s high areas to go to in Lonely Planet’s ‘Greatest in Journey’ Information, however we Aucklanders have been large followers of this attractive island since manner again when. Waiheke has picturesque seashores, nice vineyards, a cute little village and better of all, it’s solely a 40 min scenic ferry trip from Auckland metropolis. Waiheke is an enormous island so if you happen to’re simply going for the day select to go to both the Onetangi space (for which you’ll must get a bus cross), or the Oneroa space (which you’ll be able to discover on foot).
In Onetangi you’ll discover Wild on Waiheke – they do a wine tasting or craft beer tasting set in addition to archery and clay hen capturing. Subsequent door, Stonyridge Winery is a good place to cease for wine tasting, a platter and a photograph alternative by the vines. Wander up the street about 100m to Dellows Distillery the place they make their very own spirits and liquors. Or for one thing extra adventurous go ziplining with Eco Zip Adventures!
Should you select to discover Waiheke on foot, head up the hill from the ferry terminal and switch left for Oneroa village. There are many locations to eat, some good retailers to peruse and a rare focus of actual property retailers. Head again alongside the street you got here in on and preserve going straight (previous the hill you walked up) in the direction of Cable Bay. Style native wine on the cellar door and take a look at one in every of their scrumptious pizzas as you sit on bean luggage on the garden, wanting again over Auckland metropolis.
It will likely be tempting to remain right here all day, however preserve strolling up the street and also you’ll discover Mudbrick, a Mediterranean-style winery and one in every of New Zealand’s most wanted wedding ceremony venues. You possibly can style take a look at their wines, and it’s additionally one of the best place on Waiheke to observe the sundown.
Getting there: Catch the ferry from Downtown Auckland to Waiheke.
Immerse your self in nature on Tiritiri Matangi Island
Tiritiri Matangi Island is one other quick ferry trip away from downtown Auckland. The island boasts some nice strolling tracks and also you’ll see plenty of uncommon native birds. Within the weekend, employees from the Division of Conservation host guided hikes so you may study extra in regards to the wildlife.
It’s an effective way to flee the hustle and bustle of town. The value of the ferry could also be a little bit off-putting however, imagine us, it’s price it! It’s a full day exercise and also you received’t must spend any extra cash on the island (simply take a packed lunch in your bag). I’d suggest taking the guided nature stroll across the island, consuming your lunch on the high of the island by the lighthouse after which spending the remainder of the afternoon swimming or sunbathing on the seashore earlier than hopping again on the ferry to town.
Getting there: Catch the ferry from Downtown Auckland
Discover Western Springs & Kingsland
This occurs to be my native space, so I may be a bit biased after I say you may’t miss it! Catch the bus to Western Springs, a pleasant park with a lake in the course of it for a morning stroll. Subsequent door you’ll discover the Auckland Zoo and MOTAT (The Museum of Transport and Know-how) if both of these choices floats your boat.
If not, stroll up Western Springs Highway and also you’ll discover Urbanaut Brewery the place you may attempt the native craft beer or do a brewery tour. Throughout the principle street, one can find the Beer Spot, an off-the-cuff bar with a great deal of completely different New Zealand craft beers on faucet. I like to recommend stopping in at Crave for lunch. Crave Cafe is a neighbourhood initiative the place all of the revenue will get put again into the neighborhood, so it’s a terrific trigger with scrumptious meals in addition!
After you’ve stuffed your stomach, head as much as Kingsland, a cool precinct that’s additionally residence to our most iconic sports activities venue: Eden Park, residence of the mighty All Blacks. Within the evenings the bars provide dwell music, comedy nights, dwell sports activities video games and even salsa lessons.
Getting there: Catch the 020 Bus to Western Springs, or if you wish to skip straight to Crave & Urbanaut – take the prepare from Britomart to Morningside. Return to town on the prepare from Kingsland prepare station.
Climb Auckland’s youngest volcano
Catch the morning ferry to Rangitoto, one of many metropolis’s most iconic volcanoes, rising up out of the Auckland harbour. Don’t observe the vacationers up the common monitor to the summit although – take the monitor to the left and go across the outdoors of the island, trying out the historic baches (little vacation homes), disused quarry web site, a great deal of volcanic rock and a stunning little sandy seashore earlier than heading up the again of the volcano to the summit.
Take a picnic lunch with you to have on the summit when you soak within the sense of feat and the views. Head again down the common monitor to the wharf, however don’t miss the detour to the lava caves! Whenever you get to the lava caves you’ll see three collectively. Squeeze your self by way of the doorway to the center cave, which is definitely fairly large inside and you’ll journey by way of it to come back again out the monitor on the opposite facet.
Getting there: Catch the ferry from Downtown Auckland
Stroll the coastal monitor between Takapuna and Milford
Catch the bus over the Harbour Bridge to Takapuna, the unofficial capital of Auckland’s North Shore. The retailers and eating places are clustered near an extended, white sand seashore. Begin your stroll by heading left alongside the seashore. The coastal monitor is about 3kms lengthy with a terrific little bay within the center the place you may cease for a swim if it’s good to cool off. Return the identical manner you got here and deal with your self to an ice cream on the Takapuna Seashore Cafe.
Getting there: Catch a bus from Downtown Auckland or from Devonport
Discover downtown Auckland
Head all the way down to the Auckland Viaduct and stroll round Wynyard Quarter, North Wharf and Silo Park. You’ll typically stumble throughout occasions happening, notably on the weekends. On Friday nights in the summertime Silo Park hosts a free outside cinema, with an evening market and meals vehicles.
Getting there: Only a quick stroll away from Britomart.
Wander across the central metropolis
Exploring on foot within the central metropolis you’ll discover the Auckland Artwork Gallery, some fancy retailers round Excessive Avenue, the Chancery and Vulcan Lane, an leisure hub at SkyCity and nice eating places and bars round Federal Avenue and Metropolis Works Depot. Additional up Queen Avenue, you’ll discover the IMAX Cinemas, Metro Lanes bowling alley and Aotea Sq., which frequently hosts free occasions.
Lengthy story quick, don’t skip Auckland! Keep right here and check out a few of my ideas above and I promise you that if you depart you’ll love this New Zealand metropolis nearly as a lot as I do.
Getting round Auckland
Yow will discover ferry, prepare and bus timetables for Auckland on the Auckland Transport web site. Whenever you arrive, decide up an Auckland Transport HOP card. That is your ticket to getting round on public transport. It prices $10 to purchase one (that is non-refundable), which sounds costly, however it quickly pays off as a result of a money fare one-way on the bus is round $7 and the identical journey with a HOP card will value you round $2.
Getting round New Zealand
As soon as you might be prepared to begin trying out the remainder of the nation, e book your self a Stray Tour. Stray is New Zealand’s hop-on hop-off bus tour firm for adventurous travellers. Take your time exploring Aotearoa New Zealand, get additional off the crushed monitor, and meet some nice individuals alongside the best way!
