Last updated on April 10th, 2024
Visit Auckland
Sky Tower
Dine or Jump
Visit Auckland – Dine at Sky Tower or take a tethered SkyWalk or SkyJump off the top.
Auckland Museum
Tamaki Paenga Hira
See the world’s largest collection of Māori taonga at the Auckland Museum.
Glowworm Caves
Waitomo Glowworm Caves
See the volcanic geysers, hot springs and mud pots in Rotorua at the Waitomo Glowworm Caves.
Hobbiton Movie Set
Lord of the Rings
Visit the Hobbiton Movie Set from the Lord of the Rings.
Auckland, City of Sails, © Can Stock Photo / lucidwaters
Visit Auckland – Waterfront
- Auckland Harbour Bridge – for the adventurous, try the Bridge Walk or the Bridge Bungy.
- Westhaven Marina
- Wynyard Quarter – North Wharf, Karanga Plaza, Auckland Fish Market and Silo Park. Take a ride around Wynyard Loop on the Auckland Dockline Tram.
- Viaduct Harbour – waterside restaurants, Voyager New Zealand Maritime Museum, boat cruises.
- Britomart Precinct – new pubs and restaurants, City Farmers’ Market, specialty stores and the art work of the Britomart Project Space. The Britomart Transport Centre is located here.
Visit Auckland – Central Business District (CBD)
© Can Stock Photo / kv4000
- Sky Tower – the tallest building in New Zealand at 328 m (1,076 ft). Enjoy views of the city. Dine at the Orbit Restaurant, the SkyLounge or Orbit with 360 degree views. At the 192 m level, take a SkyWalk around the outside of the building or a SkyJump off the building.
- The Civic (theatre), Auckland Town Hall, The Aotea Centre, Aotea Square and Herald Theatre. Visit Queen Street with its heritage walk, bars, clubs, smaller shops and red-light district.
- Auckland Art Gallery, St Patrick’s Cathedral
- Albert Park – site of the Auckland Lantern Festival each February.
Visit Auckland – Near Downtown
Auckland view from Sky Tower, © Can Stock Photo / Duncan
- Auckland Domain – one of the largest parks of the city, close to the CBD with views of the harbour and Rangitoto Island. The Auckland Museum and the Wintergarden Pavilion are located in the park.
- Ponsonby – designer fashion stores, some of Auckland’s best cafes and restaurants, heritage walks.
- K’ Road – heritage walk along Karangahape Road, contemporary art galleries, dinner theatre.
- Dove-Myer Robinson Park (Parnell Rose Gardens)
- Mission Bay – Rollerblade along Tamaki Drive, fish and chips, views from Bastion Point and the Michael Savage Memorial. Visit Kelly Tarlton’s Sea Life Aquarium to see Sub-Antarctic penguins, stingrays and sharks.
- Mount Eden – a volcanic cone with a grassy crater. Views over Auckland and award winning gardens.
- Eden Park – All Blacks rugby and Black Caps cricket.
- Cornwall Park (also known as One Tree Hill and Maungakiekie) – One Tree Hill is a volcanic cone that forms part of the Auckland Volcanic Field of 48 volcanoes. The tree at the summit is no longer there, but an obelisk now marks the top. The park is also a Maori archaeological site with over 170 terraces and the Rongo Stone.
- Stardome Observatory and Planetarium
Auckland Museum
Visit the Beaches East of Auckland
- Waiheke Island – Take a thirty minute ride on Fullers Ferry to the Onetangi Beach, Palm Beach, wineries and olive groves.
- Rangitoto Island Scenic Reserve & Motutapu Island Reserve – hike to the top of Rangitoto. Visit World War II bunkers. See the world’s largest pohutukawa forest.
Tours from Auckland
- Auckland Discovery City Tour
- Rangitoto Island Tour from Auckland
- Waitomo Day Trip from Auckland
- Hobbiton Tour from Auckland
- Harbour Dinner Cruise
- Auckland Shore Excursions
Auckland Harbor, © Can Stock Photo / Kapai
Visit Auckland – Hotel Recommendations
- Crowne Plaza Auckland
- Grand Millennium Auckland
- Cordis Auckland
- Stamford Plaza, Auckland
Weather in Auckland
Auckland is located in the Southern Hemisphere, so its seasons are reversed as compared to Europe or North America. Temperatures in the winter months average highs of about 63 F (17 C), while average lows are 46 F (8 C). The months of January and February mark the height of summer, with average highs of 75 F (24 C) and 60 F (16 C) for lows. Rainfall is lowest during January and February, making it a perfect time to visit Auckland.
Auckland Weather
Visit Auckland – Transportation
Auckland Airport (AKL) is New Zealand’s largest airport. It’s located about 30 minutes south of the downtown area by taxi. There is also regular bus service between the airport and the Britomart Transport Centre on the downtown waterfront. The Britomart Transport Centre is the transportation hub of Auckland, including the central train station, the cruise terminal, the airport shuttle bus terminal, local buses and numerous ferries. Consider a rental car for an extended visit, because there are so many attractions outside the city limits.
Rotorua
Visitors to Auckland often also visit the Hobbiton Movie Set from the Lord of the Rings, the Waitomo Glowworm Caves and the volcanic geysers, hot springs and mud pots in Rotorua. These attractions are located within 3 hours of Auckland.
Waitemata Harbour View, © Can Stock Photo / instinia
Visit Auckland – Western Springs
- Auckland Zoo
- Museum of Transportation and Technology
- Western Springs Stadium – a natural amphitheatre used mainly for local events.
- Pasifika Festival Auckland – annually in March.
Westhaven Marina, © Can Stock Photo / lucidwaters
Visit Auckland – North Shore
- Takapuna Beach located in North Shore City. Walk over the rocks to Milford Beach.
- Mount Victoria – a volcanic cone on the North Shore offering views of downtown Auckland. Walk from the Devonport ferry terminal.
Visit Waitakere Ranges
- Arataki Visitor Centre, Kitekite Falls, Fairy Falls and the Hillary Trail.
- Rain Forest Express – closed.
- Muriwai Gannett Colony – thousands of gannetts from July to December at Muriwai Beach.
- Bethells Beach – includes sand dunes and Lake Wainamu.
- Piha Beach – surfing, black sand beach and Lion Rock in Auckland Centennial Park.
- Karekare and Union Bay
Piha Beach near Auckland
Visit North of Auckland
- SnowPlanet – year round indoor snow.
- Tiritiri Matangi Open Sanctuary – a wildlife sanctuary located a half hour north of town.
- Snorkel or dive at Goat Island
- Great Barrier Island – Aotea is about 1.5 hours north of town. Visit the Glenfern Sanctuary.
- Cruise to the Bay of Islands, 3 hours north of Auckland.
Waitakere Ranges Regional Park near Auckland
Visit South of Auckland
- Rainbow’s End – theme park.
- Hunua Falls in the Hunua Ranges, an hour southeast of Auckland.
- Glenbrook Vintage Railway
- Auckland International Airport
- Manukau Heads Lighthouse at the tip of the Awhitu Peninsula.
Visit Auckland – Background
Auckland is the capital of New Zealand and has a population of more than 1 million. It is known as the City of Sails. Auckland is located on an isthmus of the North Island where the city covers the width of the island.Manukau Harbour, off the Tasman Sea, is on its western edge and Waitemata Harbour off the Hauraki Gulf forms its eastern border. The Maori settled here in the 1300s and they represent the world’s largest Polynesian cultural center.
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