Auckland Destination Information

Auckland

Auckland is New Zealand’s foremost urban area with more than 1.3 million residents. There is every reason to visit and even stay indefinitely in this city and one of the most convincing factors is its unpretentious beauty. It is called Tamaki-makau-rau in Maori.

NZ’s largest city is also the world’s biggest hub for the Polynesian population and also the place of choice for immigrants of Asian ethnicity. Aucklanders are predominantly Christian but other religions are also represented like Sikhism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Judaism.

Many activities await visitors who want a glimpse of the Auckland lifestyle. It is not a perfect city though so you can expect traffic problems and lack of public transport to inspire your wanderings. But then taking the heritage walk is recommended anyway so you can go around and see how engineering has shaped this city’s treasures especially in health, convenience, trade, settlement patterns and architecture.

Nicknamed as the City of Sails, its Westhaven Marina is the biggest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. Nautical events are aplenty and a haven for those who love to sail.

For sports enthusiasts, block your calendar for the annual events held around the city. Choose between the “Harbour Crossing” which is an ocean swim event from Devonport to the Viaduct Basin held in summer; the “Round the Bays,” 5.2 miles fun run from the city to St. Heliers held in March; and the “Auckland Marathon” and “Half Marathon” held either October or November.

After a tiring day, satisfy the hunger pangs with the Pacific Rim Cuisine. Auckland surprises any foodie with their perfected fusion of the Pacific and Asian flavours. The sinful seafood and freshest produce are easily accessed from the Auckland Fish Market, Albany and Alexandra Farmers Market and Otara and Avondale markets. Complement the food with specialty wines such as merlot, cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay which are sourced from the vineyards in north Auckland near Matakana, northwest Auckland, west Auckland, Clevedon Valley and Waiheke Island.

Sampling Auckland’s gastronomic specialties will surely re-energize you for more trips that you may consider going for bush walks, frolicking in the black sand beaches, visiting the Waitakere rainforest which is home to the ancient kauri trees and giant tree ferns and exploring the Great Barrier Island which is just a 30-minute flight away.

A city tour is also too good to pass up so head to the metro’s famous sites such as the Auckland Civic Theatre, the Harbour Bridge, the Town Hall, War Memorial Museum, the downtown centre called Aotea Square, the Edwardian and historic Britomart Transport Centre, see the site for 2011 Rugby World Cup finals which is the Eden Park, get a glimpse of the nightlife in K Road (Karangahape Road) in upper central Auckland and see how the bar and club scene appeals to you. Also, visit the Sky Tower, tallest free-standing structure in the Southern Hemisphere which measures 328 metres at the corner of Victoria and Federal Streets. You won’t miss it.

The Queen Street is the centre of action in metro Auckland and so are High Street and Ponsonby Road (for culture trips, cafes and arts). Drop by and discover why these streets are hubs of the urban socialites.

Auckland may appear to be a typical cosmopolitan centre but it has something that is completely all its own. Its rugged beauty and carefree lifestyle meld well to enchant anybody who chooses to immerse in this city’s whirl of possibilities. With Jetabroad's cheap flights New Zealand and Auckland are only a flight away.

Hotels in Auckland

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