Things to do in Auckland

As the largest and most cosmopolitan city in New Zealand, Auckland has plenty on offer for visitors, with sights ranging from scenic cityscapes to beautiful wildlife reserves that surround the destination. If visitors are heading out with the kids or just want to learn more about Auckland, Maori culture, or New Zealand in general, a great place to start would be the Auckland Museum. The museum overlooks the city and the attractive Waitemata Harbour and is one of the most visited attractions in Auckland. Apart from the museum there's also the Auckland Art Gallery, which houses some amazingly creative installations and has free tours that start daily around midday.

After soaking up some local knowledge and culture, travellers can take a daring venture up the Auckland Sky Tower, one of the tallest freestanding buildings in the Southern Hemisphere, from which there's a breathtaking 360-degree view of the city, the harbour and the gulf islands. Other attractions include catching a show at the Civic Theatre, or enjoying a lazy walk through Albert Park. A popular way to enjoy many of these sites is to purchase a tourist card, called an Auckland City Pass, which allows access to numerous venues within a one-month period.

For those keen to explore the wilder side of Auckland, there's a ferry from Auckland Harbour to Tiritiri Matangi Island, one of New Zealand's most important wildlife sanctuaries. Visitors can admire the beautiful flora and fauna of Auckland while on a tour led by expert guides of the island.

Auckland Museum photo

Auckland Museum

The Auckland Museum overlooks the city and the attractive Waitemata Harbour. It's one of the most visited attractions in the city, housing a remarkable collection of Maori and Paci…

Hauraki Gulf Islands photo

Hauraki Gulf Islands

The Hauraki Gulf is studded with numerous islands, some recreation retreats and others conservation islands with restricted access for the protection of rare bird, animal and plant…

Auckland Sky Tower photo

Auckland Sky Tower

At 1,076 feet (328m), Auckland's Sky Tower is the tallest freestanding structure in the Southern Hemisphere and has unforgettable views over the city, the harbour and the gulf isla…

Bay of Islands photo

Bay of Islands

The Bay of Islands is famous for its beautiful coastal scenery. Interspersed with numerous little coves, inlets and sandy beaches, the historical townships of Paihia, Waitangi and …

Hamilton photo

Hamilton

Hamilton is a pretty town 80 miles (128km) south of Auckland. Its proximity to the bigger city means it's often overlooked by tourists in New Zealand. However, as an excursion from…

Tiritiri Matangi Island photo

Tiritiri Matangi Island

Tiritiri Matangi Island is a wildlife sanctuary and one of New Zealand's most important and exciting conservation projects. A hundred and twenty years of farming had seen this 220-…

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