Auckland Hotels

See, not only does Auckland provide an adrenaline-enriched plethora of things to throw yourself off, out of, onto or down, but it’s also got some of the most picturesque natural settings in which to raise your heart rate.

In a region of peerless beauty, Rangitoto Island outside the city ranks as one of Auckland’s most prized attractions. If you head a little further afield, you can explore Great Barrier Island and take in more dazzling scenery, or relax in the Hot Springs near Maungawhau Volcano.

With the largest Polynesian population anywhere in the world, Auckland is not short on diversity. The blend of Maori, Polynesian and Pakeha (White New Zealander) culture lights up the city’s food, arts and culture scenes to create one of the most vibrant melting pots in the South Pacific.

So once you’ve had your fill of the outdoors, explore the natural beauty of the city set around Waitemata Harbouror educate yourself on New Zealand’s rich heritage at the Auckland Museum, which boasts the largest collection of Maori culture and artefacts in the world.

We may not like to admit that the Kiwis know what they’re talking about when it comes to rugby, but there’s no denying that they got it right when it came to Auckland.

Choice, bru.

AUCKLAND’S TOP 10

AUCKLAND LOCAL

City Centre

Auckland city centre is similar in both size and style to Sydney, boasting a mix of high-rises and hidden architectural gems like the Dilworth Building that serve as a reminder of Auckland’s place as the first European settlement in New Zealand. Unlike Sydney, however, it still retains a ‘quaint’ reputation that both amuses and annoys our Kiwi cousins.

Rising above all the rest is the space age Sky Tower, which, at 328 metres, is New Zealand’s tallest building – and, as the locals love to point out ‘taller than anything you’ve got in Aussie’. The views from the top are spectacular, even if the ride up in glass lifts to the viewing platform is no fun for vertigo-sufferers.

The tower is part of the SKYCITY Auckland complex, which, much like Australian casinos, is home to bars, restaurants and other entertainment attractions as well as gambling. It’s a fun place for a night out, even if it fails to capture the true essence of Auckland.

BIG Little City

If searching out the hip and fashionable is your idea of the perfect holiday, we’ll save you some time by directing you to BIG Little City, Auckland’s answer to Sydney’s Paddington or Melbourne’s Chapel Street.

Wander wide-eyed along Canterbury Arcade, High Street, Lorne Street and Queen Street, then soothe your aching feet with a glass of fine NZ wine (there’s a reason it’s starting to dominate our own bottleshops). Elliott Stables is Auckland’s gourmet food village, Viaduct Harbour is home to fantastic views and some of the best restaurants in the whole country, while the Auckland Waterfront is rapidly being transformed into a chic and trendy paradise.

City Fringe

Auckland is really a collection of villages that have merged together to form the city. This not only gives it small-town appeal within the big-city feel, but it also makes exploring so much fun. The City Fringe is home to some of the best of these villages, including the restaurant and retail heavy Ponsonby (which also contains remnants of the past in the form of heritage buildings, and exclusive Parnell, where you’ll find Auckland Domain and the Auckland Museum.

Topping them all, though, is Mount Eden. Climb Maungawhau for breathtaking views or, if you’re really brave, go and watch the Wallabies take on the All Blacks at Eden Park. Just be prepared to take a lot if stick if the Men in Gold lose…

AUCKLAND EAT & DRINK

AUCKLAND EVENTS

Auckland Lantern Festival marks Chinese New Year in January/February. You’ll find entertainment as well as crafts, fortune-telling, fireworks, martial arts displays, and the ever-popular food street.

January’s Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta is a celebration of maritime history. Waitemata Harbour springs to life with hundreds of vessels to gawk at. This is why Auckland is known as the City of Sails.

Auckland Seafood Festival is a three-day celebration coinciding with Auckland Anniversary Day at the end of January. Amazing fresh seafood as well as entertainment.

Auckland Festival of Photography comes by each June with free access to events across the city to celebrate New Zealand’s up-and-coming photographers.

It’s lights, camera, action in July when the Auckland International Film Festival comes to town. The festival shows the best in international and local documentaries, experimental films, animations, shorts and archival programmes.

Augustbrings the Auckland Art Fair, with daily lectures and displays livening up the city and Viaduct Harbour.

Auckland Heritage Festival offers the chance to discover Auckland’s social history with displays of art, architecture, fashion, music, ecology and sociology in September.

September also brings the Auckland International Boat Show, which takes place on Halsey Street and Quay Street, surrounded by popular bars and restaurants.

WHEN TO GO

Unlike some parts of Australia, NZ seasons are fairly predictable. Auckland never gets too tourist-heavy, so if you like the warmer months, head over between December and March. October is possibly your best bet, with fewer crowds but nice weather for adventuring.

· Winter (June to August) – 7-15°C

· Spring (September to November) – 9-20°C

· Summer (December to March) – 14-24°C

· Autumn (April to May) – 10-20°C

WHAT TO MISS

· The South Auckland suburbs have a reputation for being rough and violent, so don’t get caught there late at night.

· Most popular marine tourist attractions are all above board (get it?), although there have been a few reports of some whale-watching companies ripping tourists off! Stay with the big companies and you should be fine.

GETTING AROUND

· Bus: It’s not the most efficient public transport system, but the buses are nice and cheap at around NZ50c to NZ$1 for a single trip.

· Train: A NZ$14 Discovery Pass will buy you a ride on most bus, train and North Shore ferry services. Don’t assume it will cover all services, however, because due to privatisation Auckland’s public transport system is not standardised.

· Bike: Like most big cities there are bikes for hire and it’s a great way to explore the city. Expect to pay around NZ$20-30 a day.

HotelClub Blog

7 New Zealand Beaches

5 Beautiful Auckland Parks

Auckland Wine Tours

7 Auckland Festivals

10 Auckland Attractions

Awesome Auckland

AUCKLAND LOCAL

WHEN TO GO

WHAT TO MISS & GETTING AROUND