Looking for a big city full of endless adventures? Look no further than the stunning Auckland...
Auckland is a city at the top of the North Island of New Zealand and is the most populated urban area in the country.
You can fly straight into Auckland International airport, which is the biggest in New Zealand. Remember a book though. It’s a 23 hour flight from London including a layover (normally in Dubai).
Why Go?
Auckland is right on the coast of New Zealand, and is one of few countries which has a harbour on both the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean. The hills surrounding the city are covered in stunning rainforest and dormant volcanic cones, and as a result, Auckland offers some of the most stunning views of any major city in the world.
The 328-metre high Sky Tower is the prime lookout point in Auckland. It’s the tallest freestanding structure in the Southern Hemisphere and an iconic silhouette on the city skyline. From there you’ll be looking out over breathtaking bodies of water hugging the mainland and stretching out as far as the eye can see, and if that sparks your sense of adrenaline, ascend to the 53rd floor to take the quick route down via the ‘Sky Jump’.
The part-bungee jump, part-zip-wire allows you to jump 192m to the floor below, and is run by AJ Hackett, who also run a more traditional bungee jump off the Auckland Bridge which gives you a great lookout point over the harbour before you plunge towards the beautiful blue below. Auckland is also a surfer’s delight. With your board in the boot, drive 40 minutes to Muriwai Surf Beach, west of Auckland. Along this coastline there’s a whole lot of surf, but Muriwai is particularly popular because of the consistency of the waves. On the bigger days, it’s only for the more experienced, but the majority of time you can find something to suit everyone here.
A bit further along the coast you’ll find Piha. Head to Lion Rock to grab some waves besides the natural wonder of a rock face. You can find fantastic canyoning tours in Piha with AWOL Adventures.
For mountain bike trails in the heart of the city, ride to Arch Hill Scenic Reserve. Woodhill is the most popular place for serious riders near Auckland though, 45 minutes out and boasting over 130km of purpose-built trails.
Where to Stay
Heritage Auckland is a beautiful hotel right in the centre of the city. They offer luxury in Auckland, a whole range of different rooms and some truly amazing lookout spots over the city.
If you’re on a budget, Nomads Auckland Backpackers hostel has a rooftop spa, a sundeck and enough beds to host a small army. It’s a chain but it’s great for travellers and meeting people.
Where to Eat
Auckland loves dumplings. Don’t question it. Just get involved. Head to New Flavour Restaurant for some of the best and cheapest dumplings in town. The menu goes on forever and you can get about 20 morsels for just $13.
For fish and chips head to Greenwood’s Fresh Catch, an Auckland institution or for a taste of something different, head to Shaolin Kung Fu Noodle. They do a fantastic menu that offers great value for money.
Where to Drink
Brother’s Beer brew their own stuff and stock the best range of bottled beer in the city. Set in the City Works site (which has a range of food and drink options), it’s managed to turn an outdoor carpark area into one of the chillest spots in the city.
The Brewer’s Co-Op is another casual beer spot which offers a whole lot of options as well as gourmet food.
What the Locals Say
“Piha and Muriwai are great surf but if it’s the best sandy beaches you’re after head over to Orewa north of Auckland. There’s a lot of kitesurfers and windsurfers there, it’s great for families or dog walking and it’s a long beach as well, so there’s space for everyone” – Greg, ex-pat surfer.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
Newsletter Terms & Conditions
Please enter your email so we can keep you updated with news, features and the latest offers. If you are not interested you can unsubscribe at any time. We will never sell your data and you'll only get messages from us and our partners whose products and services we think you'll enjoy.