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 The majestic "City of Sails" is surrounded by water, which defines its sparkling appeal. The magnificent harbour is reminiscent of other famous waterside cities, but with its own unique charm. Auckland has a rich maritime history, shaping its identity as a seafaring city. Auckland is relatively small geographically, which makes it a pleasure to explore on foot and with its dynamic population the city has more of a cosmopolitan, sophisticated feel to it and with an easy, friendly atmosphere.

currency

New Zealand Dollar (NZD) = 100 cents

phone

Police, Fire and Ambulance: 111

newspaper

The New Zealand Herald — www.nzherald.co.nz
National Business Review — www.nbr.co.nz
Sunday News — www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-news
Sunday Star Times — www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times

hours

Typical hours for shops are 9am–6pm weekdays, with an earlier closing on weekends but many shops stay open late on Thursday and Friday. Banksare usually open hour Monday to Friday 9am–4:30pm.

population

1.44 million (2022)

info

Auckland i-SITE Visitor Information Centre - SkyCity
Corner of Victoria & Federal Streets, Auckland Central, New Zealand
+64 9 365 9918
Open Fri–Mon 10am–3pm

website

www.aucklandnz.com/visit

yachts racing in auckland harbour Andrew Lever/Shutterstock.com

The City

Auckland shines as the commercial and cultural centre of New Zealand. It is situated on 50 islands and 48 dead volcanoes which make it unusual and breathtaking to behold. Stroll along the water, a hike on a volcanic island, or a cruise through the glorious harbour — just a few ways to absorb the delights of the city. This city has the largest Polynesian population in the world, adding to its cosmopolitan, dynamic appeal. High-end fashion houses, sophisticated restaurants and chic bars compliment the abundance of outdoor activities.

The mythical, magical natural beauty of New Zealand made it an obvious choice for the setting of the imaginary Middle Earth, in the films of "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. This enchanting wonderland is filled with craggy mountains, rolling, rustic hills, endless green meadows, gentle beaches and dramatic cliffs. It is a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts, with pursuits from rock climbing and scuba diving, to parasailing and white water rafting. Horse riding is also a popular activity in New Zealand. If you want to create a "Lord of the Rings" experience - of galloping across Middle Earth - this is the perfect place to do it! Auckland has more boats per capita than any other city in the world, which explains the national obsession of sailing. Home of America’s Cup, boating becomes an infectious pastime to almost every visitor who crosses its shores.

This luscious leafy city is a joy to explore. Its infectious energy emerges in the open and affable population and lively activities. Kiwis are proud of their country. They adore visitors and love to rave about this glorious city. Don’t be surprised if you make new friends among the locals!

Sky tower in a sunny day, North Island, New Zealand HeliHead/Shutterstock.com

Do & See

The whole region of Auckland is just waiting to be explored and with its stunning nature, beautiful beaches, pristine rainforest and the magnificent Hauraki Gulf, the city does for sure offer an amazing travel experience for their visitors. Auckland is the perfect place to recharge your batteries with some pampering, see a variety of scenic landscapes, or to experience the buzz of urban bustle or why not get a thrill of some adventure activities. No matter what you are, looking for you will for sure find it in Auckland.

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Auckland Zoo

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Butterfly Creek

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Hobbiton Movie Set and Waitomo Glowworm Caves Guided Day Trip from Auckland

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Rangitoto Island

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Harbour Cruise

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Auckland Museum

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Kelly Tarlton's SEA LIFE Aquarium

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New Zealand National Maritime Museum

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The Sky Tower

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Auckland Stardome Observatory

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West Auckland Vineyards

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Waiheke Island

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Goat Island Marine Reserve

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Tamaki Hikoi Maori Walk

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Waitakere Ranges regional park

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Bungy jump from Auckland Harbour Bridge

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Auckland Bridge Climb

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Matakana Coast

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Tiritiri Matangi Island

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Maungawhau - Mount Eden

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Matamata (Hobbiton)

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Cornwall Park

Chef is cooking appetizer with sea scallops and salad mix, toned image Kondor83/Shutterstock.com

Dining

Auckland’s cuisine is inventive and incredibly diverse representing the multitude of cultures that make up its population. There are many seafood restaurants around due to the coastal location of Auckland. This means the city always has a wealth of fresh seafood at its disposal. There are thousands of restaurants, cafés, bars and wineries, offering everything from fine dining to cheap eats where you can treat your taste buds with yummy and fresh food.

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Harbourside Ocean Bar Grill

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Orbit 360° Dining

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Sails Restaurant

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Gion Japanese Restaurant

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Soul Bar and Bistro

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Sid at The French Cafe

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The Engine Room

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Blue Elephant Thai Restaurant

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Oh Calcutta

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Casita Miro

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Tony's Lord Nelson Restaurant

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Sal's Authentic New York Pizza

Waitress serving a cup of coffee in cafe wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock.com

Cafés

Sit back and relax over a cup of coffee or tea, while watching the world go by in one of Auckland´s many inviting cafés. Unique cafés are dotted around the town so you will easily find one when you are craving for a hot beverage or something sweet, like a fresh baked cake!

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Dizengoff

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Rosie

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Richmond Road Cafe

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Takapuna Beach Café

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Giapo

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Remedy Coffee

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Little & Friday

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Chocolate Boutique Cafe

Auckland City and Spaghetti Junction Shaun Jeffers/Shutterstock.com

Bars & Nightlife

Kiwis are a relaxed, friendly, fun-loving people, and relaxing with a drink is an integral part of the culture here. Whether you are looking for an intimate venue for quiet conversation or a lively festive atmosphere, anything your heart desires is easily found. Auckland has truly a lively, energetic nightlife, with something for everyone. Various DJ clubs with any type of music abound, available every night of the week.

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Dida’s Wine & Tapas Lounge

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The Fox

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The Sugar Club

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Brew on Quay

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Cassette Nine

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Provedor

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SKYCITY Auckland Casino

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Twentyone

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Ding Dong Lounge

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The Classic Comedy Club & Bar

Group Of People Shopping Concept Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock.com

Shopping

When in Auckland, shopping is a must! Auckland has a wide array of high street fashion, local designers, house wares, crafts and eclectic markets to explore. Discover one of the many vibrant shopping streets where you will find boutique and designer stores, offering some of New Zealand’s best-known names as well as top international labels. There are also numerous of malls to head for where you basically will find everything you are looking for and also where you can pick some great Kiwi gifts to bring back home for the loved ones. Auckland markets is also a safe bet when looking for that special gift, art, craft or jewellery.

A local note: Karangahape Road is widely known as the abbreviated K’Road.

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High Street, Vulcan Lane & O’Connell Street Areas

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Victoria Park Market

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Otara Market

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Nuffield Street

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Parnell Shopping

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La Cigale French-style Farmers Market

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The Department Store

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Sylvia Park Auckland

Woman enjoys spectacular morning views of Auckland city Naruedom Yaempongsa/Shutterstock.com

Tourist Information

Auckland Airport (AKL)

The Auckland International Airport (AKL) services all of Auckland. Located 21 km south of the City Center and it is easily accessible by bus, shuttle or taxi.

Skybus is Auckland’s airport transfer service that runs between Auckland City Centre and Auckland Airport. They operate 24 hours a day and the bus transfer takes about 40-60 min. Tickets can be bought at the Airport Ticket Kiosks (situated by the SkyBus bus stops at the airport) or from the bus driver (cash only). You can also buy your ticket online and some hotels.

There are only licensed taxi and shuttle companies at the designated taxi ranks at the terminal buildings, all to make sure that you will get a high standard of service. The taxi rank is outside the arrivals area at the international terminal as well as the domestic terminal. You can pre-book or just turn up at the terminal rank.

Address: Auckland Airport

Email:

Phone: +64 9 275 0789

Website: www.aucklandairport.co.nz

More Information:

Public Transport

Due to its recent growth spurt and the international interest developing in Auckland as a tourist destination, traffic has gotten more congested than it was 5 years ago. Given this, Auckland is still a relatively small city and the traffic is still manageable compared to other large cities.

The easiest way to get around Auckland is with Link bus services. Just look for the red, green or yellow buses. The buses run on such a frequent basis so no need to look at the timetable. You only need to head to the appropriate bus stop and wait for your bus. Take the red bus (The CityLink) when travelling within the city centre, the green bus (The InnerLink) to get around Auckland's inner city and the amber bus (OuterLink) when travelling around the inner suburbs of Auckland.

You can buy your ticket from the bus driver (cash only) or get the AT HOP smart card that can be bought online or at a ticket office. One ticket office is the Britomart customer service centre.

Address: Britomart Transport Centre, 8-10 Queen Street, Auckland

Email:

Phone: +64 9 366 6400

Website: at.govt.nz/bus-train-ferry/more-services/britomart

More Information:

Taxi

Taxi ranks are to be found around the city centre such as Lower Hobson Street, Ferry Building, Britomart and Kitchener Street. Call Auckland Co-op Taxis to order a car by phone.

Address:

Email:

Phone: +64 9 300 3000

Website: www.cooptaxi.co.nz

More Information:

Post

Post offices and postal shops are abundant in Auckland. A centrally located one is Wellesley Street NZ Post & Kiwibank, located on Wellesley Street, close to Aotea Square.

Address: NZ Post Shop, 24 Wellesley Street West, Auckland

Email:

Phone: +64 800 501 501

Website: www.nzpost.co.nz

More Information:

Pharmacy

Medicines to Midnight is an after-hours pharmacy, open all day until midnight. A fully stocked pharmacy, specialising in medicines, prescriptions and advice.

Address: Medicines to Midnight, 160 Broadway Newmarket, Auckland

Email: medicinestomidnight@xtra.co.nz

Phone: +64 9 520 6634

Website: www.medicinestomidnight.co.nz

More Information:

Telephone

Country Code: +64

Area Code: 09

Address:

Email:

Phone:

Website:

More Information:

Electricity

240 Volts AC, 50Hz flat, 3 pronged plugs used.

Address:

Email:

Phone:

Website:

More Information: