About Auckland
Offering charm, beauty and variety, Auckland ranks as one of the most engaging holiday destinations in the world. Auckland has it all: a fascinating cultural mix, beautiful beaches, verdant mountains, fabulous wineries, lush vegetation and high-energy entertainment. Auckland has something for every taste and persuasion. Whether you are looking for a high adventure trip or a leisurely, relaxing holiday.
Surrounded by the spectacular Hauraki Gulf Auckland provides visitors with an abundance of wonderful experiences unique to New Zealand. Within easy reach of downtown Auckland, visitors can escape to an idyllic island experience combining beautiful scenery with fabulous wineries, superb Pacific Rim dining and several new eco-tourism products including swimming with dolphins.
More than fifty islands scatter the Hauraki Gulf. They create a spectacular cruising ground for sailors, a natural theme park for holidaymakers, and a rich source of experiences for pleasure seekers. A thirty-minute ferry ride from downtown Auckland will land you on Rangitoto or Motutapu. Journey a little longer and you could be on Kawau, Tiritiri or Great Barrier. Each island has a different character, ranging from dramatic lava landscapes to sunlit olive groves, uninhabited white sandy beaches to wildlife sanctuaries and marine reserves. It is easy to match your mood to a destination. The water that separates the bigger islands is home to pods of dolphins, families of blue penguins and the occasional pod of orca.
The Hauraki Gulf experience is complimented by a modern, evolving city, with an infusion, of new restaurants and bars, a host of new luxury accommodation and a vibrant new waterfront. As the most significant city in the South Pacific, Auckland is a lively fusion of international style, local creativity and Polynesian charm. Auckland is recognised as having the largest concentration of Polynesian people in the world and the pre-dominant cuisine style is known as Pacific Rim. Fun is the operative word here. Auckland's urban personality is bold, fast and fashionable.
In the Viaduct Harbour you'll find every dining style - from spacious brasseries to intimate silver service on a romantic balcony over looking the harbour. In the restaurant regions of Parnell and Ponsonby, the chefs have an undying passion for culinary creativity. It helps that the region produces excellent raw material.
Auckland provides an amazing array of dining experiences beginning with local seafood, lamb, beef, venison, and with added flavour from any of the many cultures in the vicinity. That could be Thai, Malaysian, Indonesia, Japanese, Italian, French, Indian or Korean, to name a few.
Auckland's nightlife is buzzing and hotspots include the waterfront, the Edge on Queen Street, K'Road, Parnell, Ponsonby Road, Newmarket, and the Viaduct Harbour. The city's pubs also provide plenty of entertainment possibilities, with live bands and theme nights. And if you fancy a stage play, dance or orchestra, you'll find it at The Edge, the Bruce Mason Centre or one of Auckland's small professional theatres.
An extensive range of accommodation complements Auckland's vibrant city environment. From superb five star luxury hotels, intimate bed and breakfasts, upmarket lodge experiences and boutique hotels to stylish serviced apartments, motels, home and farmstays and backpackers. This impressive selection can cater to a wide range of tastes and styles.
Whether it is a romantic getaway, an island hideaway, or an inner city experience, Auckland leads the way with superior accommodation facilities.
Auckland's ecstatic mix of culture, theatre, art and leading edge fashion provides an array of cosmopolitan experiences. Auckland boasts the tallest tower in the Southern hemisphere and a range of leading family attractions including the NZ National Maritime Museum on the waterfront, Auckland Museum situated in the picturesque Domain, Howick Historical Village, Model World, Auckland Zoo, Museum of Transport and Technology and Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World.
Auckland boasts definitive New Zealand style with its leading edge fashion wear and world-class designers. Visitors can enjoy a customised shopping tour of browsing through designer stores at Newmarket, Parnell and High Street in the city centre.
Auckland is New Zealand's largest city with a population of more than one million and the first port of call for the visitor. The centre of commerce and industry, diverse, multi-cultural and as sophisticated as any international metropolis, Auckland is known in the Maori language as Tamaki-Makau-Rau, "City of Hundred Lovers", desired by all and conquered by many. The breadth of the Auckland experience is a reflection of the diversity of the region. Situated between stunning twin harbours, two mountain ranges, 48 volcano cones and a population that includes Maori, European, Polynesian and Asian cultures, Auckland offers endless discoveries.