Auckland Travel Guide - Amazing New Zealand experience
Auckland Travel Guide - Amazing New Zealand experience
Auckland is a modern cosmopolitan city with a population of 1.45 million people — roughly one third of New Zealand's entire population reside in Auckland. In the centre, the iconic Sky Tower has views of Viaduct Harbour, which is full of superyachts and lined with bars and cafes. Auckland Domain, the city’s oldest park, is based around an extinct volcano and home to the formal Wintergardens. Near Downtown, Mission Bay Beach has a seaside promenade.
The city and suburbs have developed within the same time frame and similar urban patterns as California (Los Angeles and Auckland have shared urban planning designs and are sister cities). Today the city and suburbs sprawl over a large urban area, hemmed to the east and west by two large harbours (Waitemata and Manukau) and ocean (Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea) beyond.
Many suburbs were once separate towns and offer examples of early European settlement (Mission Bay, Parnell Village and Ponsonby are historic suburban centres that remain well preserved and contain good examples of Victorian, Edwardian and Deco residential styles).
An extensive tram system was removed in the 1960s and motorway systems have since been implemented, although recent efforts to return two areas to trams for tourism purposes (in the CBD Wynyard Quarter and at Western Springs linking the Zoo and Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT)) have had mixed results.
Popular areas on good bus routes include Ponsonby, Newmarket, Parnell, Mission Bay, Takapuna. A tourist explorer bus also completes a regular circuit of popular tourist sites. For travel to more distant suburban locations a car is recommended - many car hire firms have set up business in Auckland and rental rates are reasonable especially if renting for longer periods of time. Be aware that parking in Auckland can be complicated - make sure you read and understand parking control signs ( local government enforces parking fines and has no hesitation to have your vehicle towed). Be aware also of bus lanes (zones marked out on the road where only buses are permitted at certain times). These zones are also signposted but it can be easy to miss seeing them if concentrating on traffic. Fines are large and the authority administering is not tolerant.
AT HOP cards can be used on all Bus (including AirBus Express), Train and Ferry services in Auckland. They cost $10 (as of February 2016) and can be topped up with a minimum of $5. They offer a minimum of 20% discount of the equivalent cash fare. Those not wanting to purchase an AT HOP card can still pay by cash (buy a ticket from the driver onboard the bus, from ticket machines at train stations, or from ferry operators).
Auckland is in a temperate climate zone and does not experience hot or cold extremes at any time of year. The summer months are December to March. The sun is very strong during this time and it is advisable to use sunscreen and cover skin from prolonged exposure. April to June brings cooler temperatures and rain toward the end of June which persists through winter until September and October.
If you want to explore Auckland's more distant suburbs, it's possible to take a service from the CBD to a hub where information and further connections are available. Hubs are located in larger suburban centres - retail malls, entertainment facilities and (depending on destination) beaches are never far away. The bigger hubs are (buses only unless otherwise indicated):
Albany
Orewa/Hibiscus Coast
Botany
Sylvia Park (buses and trains)
Henderson (buses and trains)
Otahuhu
Onehunga (train station nearby)
Manukau (buses and trains)
Newmarket (buses and trains)
New Lynn (buses and trains)
Takapuna
Highbury/Birkenhead
Auckland has a vast selection of eating choices reflecting a diverse ethnic mix. There are some good cheap food courts (food halls) offering a variety of usually Asian foods usually priced around $10. Try next to the Queens' Arcade at the bottom of Queen St (slightly hidden entrance), or the Metro award winning Food Alley at 9 Albert St. There is also a popular food court at 184 Karangahape Rd (with a mini buffet) and at the nearby Chinese supermarket at the bottom of Mercury Lane. Also on Karangahape Road is Hare Krishna Food For Life (286 Karangahape Rd) with $5 vegetarian morsels. Suburban malls are a good choice for good quality food at reasonable prices (see the Malls section). 277 Broadway (Newmarket) is the closest mall to the CBD.
A lot to see in Auckland New Zealand
Sky Tower
Waiheke Island
Rangitoto Island
Auckland War Memorial Museum
SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium
Auckland Zoo
Auckland Domain
Waitematā Harbour
Waitakere Ranges
Queen Street, Auckland
One Tree Hill
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Rainbow's End
Auckland Harbour Bridge
SKYCITY Auckland
AJ Hackett SkyWalk & SkyJump
Mudbrick Restaurant and Vineyard
Kitekite Falls
Auckland Botanic Gardens
Mount Victoria
Cornwall Park
New Zealand Maritime Museum
Piha
Museum of Transport and Technology
Auckland Ferry Terminal
North Head, New Zealand
Motutapu Island
Muriwai Gannet Colony
Albert Park, Auckland
Snowplanet
Rotoroa Island
Wild on Waiheke
Viaduct Basin
Arataki Visitor Centre
Butterfly Creek
North Shore
Day Street
Fullers Group Limited
Aotea Square
Whatipu
Silo Park
Long Bay Regional Park
Wynyard Quarter
Waitākere Ranges Regional Park
Parnell Rose Gardens
Stardome Observatory & Planetarium
Britomart Place
Tantalus Estate
Mount Eden Summit
( Auckland - New Zealand ) is well know as a tourist destination because of the variety of places you can enjoy while you are visiting Auckland . Through a series of videos we will try to show you recommended places to visit in Auckland - New Zealand
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