Best Places to Visit in Auckland
Auckland is like a canvas on which you can paint the best memories of your life that you will remember forever. This incredible city offers a perfect blend of modern infrastructure along with natural resources. Without a doubt, tourists who come to New Zealand keep Auckland as their first priority. If you are one of the travelers who are planning to visit Auckland in the coming time then here is a complete travel guide that lists down different places you can cover. Check out these best places to visit in Auckland along with some of the unique things to do in Auckland:
- Waitemata Harbour: Auckland is divided into two by the broad swamp of Waitemata Harbor and is the most important natural feature of the city. Auckland became New Zealand’s capital in 1840 because of this easily accessible river (today Wellington is the capital of the country but Auckland continues to be an economic powerhouse of New Zealand). There are several choices for shopping, dining, and entertainment. Further best things to do in Auckland are to explore Quay Street, which runs beside the port in the central Quarter with access to Princes Wharf and Hauraki Gulf Islands Ferry Terminals.
- Auckland Harbour Bridge Adventures: In 1959, Auckland Harbor Bridge, over 1 kilometer long and approximately 43 meters high connects Auckland city center to north districts and sandy beaches of bays far north, dominates Auckland’s major harbor. It is one of the best tourist attractions in Auckland. The bridge also offers many interesting things to make your tourist trip more exciting. One of the highest levels of excitement is the bungee spring from the Auckland Harbor Bridge, a unique walk around the bridge before you plunge 40 meters below the port waters.
- One Tree Hill: The One Tree Hill (Maungakiekie) volcanic cone is an emblem of many Aucklanders’ towns. In between the luxuriant Cornwall Park, the 182-meter high hill is surrounded by several flower gardens and stands for mature trees on walkways. The southwest portion of the park is occupied by one Tree Hill, and the pistes contain relics of a walled hamlet, which was built in pre-European times. Topping at the top of the hill, there is a lonely obelisk placed on Sir John Logan Campbell’s tomb, which gave Auckland this green area as a municipal park. From the top of the hill, you get great views throughout the townscape, and recognized as one of the best places to visit in Auckland.
- New Zealand Maritime Museum: New Zealand’s nautical history extends from Maori marine exploration trips through the region’s European naval victories. This strong nautical legacy is commemorated at The New Zealand Nautical Museum that has the largest collection of maritime artifacts in New Zealand. The New Zealand Maritime Museum is positioned right in front of the Viaduct Harbour, in the heart of CBD Auckland.The New Zealand Maritime Museum opened in 1993 and organizes several events during the week to reinforce the link between people and the ocean.
- Albert Park: A gigantic public park famous among residents because of its broad open areas, beautiful treetops, statues, and monuments. Albert Park is a big public park thereby making it one of the top places to visit in Auckland. Albert’s Park is a lovely park with numerous emblematic monuments. In the history of the town, the park has an important place. There are various monuments, like the statue of Queen Victoria and the Victorian Spring. The statue of the Boyd shows Love and the flowering timepiece constructed in 1953, which shatters the sword of Hate. In the park, you will also find the Auckland Art Gallery.
- SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium: SEA LIFE is one of the top tourist attractions of Auckland. The Aquario of Kelly Tarlton allows you to live underwater closely and personally. From the underground walkway, a succession of gigantic waterways with exhibits dedicated to sharks, tropical fish, and stingrays are visible. The Antarctic Encounter Gallery of Kelly Tarlton also contains a penguin cage filled with snow, which highlights New Zealands’ close engagement with international scientific groups in Antarctica. The Shark Dive and Shark Cage Snorkel experiences at aquariums are provided for by adrenaline enthusiasts and with savings available for online bookings.
- Auckland City Center Architecture: Downtown Auckland might look like a very contemporary metropolis at first glance. But there are some great examples of early architecture among the present towers which history buffs might find. Built in 1912 and forming a magnificent English-Baroque landmark in front of the port, the impressive Princes Wharf ferry house is one example. The Chief Post Office, constructed by John Campbell in 1911, is adjacent to the ferry building. Constructed in 1911, the Hall of Auckland Town on Queen Street features lovely marbles and one of New Zealand’s first churches is the St. Patrick’s Cathedral which was erected in 1848 on Wyndham Street. No wonder, it is one of the best places to see in Auckland all around the year. In the Waterloo Quadrant, you must not miss Auckland High Court, known to be sparkling brickwork replete with towers and gargoyles that were patterned on Castle Warwick in England.
- West Coast Beaches: The west coast of Auckland contains a couple of very attractive beaches, but visitors must be cautioned that bathing, hard-wearing surfing from the Tasman Sea, and perilous rocks may put many at risk. The city’s picnic and sunbathing location with its volcanic black sand and rocky outcrops are Piha Beach. For local surfers, it is also a significant haunt. If you want a lonely stretch of sand, however, in Waiuku, in South Auckland the beach of Karioitahi Beach is a lengthy strip of dark-sand beach that seldom attracts a few people who are searching for the sun.
- Hobbiton Movie Set: Auckland is over 200 kilometers away from Hobbiton Filmset, located on a 1250-acre cow farm on North Island in New Zealand. Initially, it solely served for the Lord of the Rings films, but after the end of the trilogy, it was mostly taken down. When the Hobbit trilogy started to shoot, the set was reconstructed, which was this time a more permanent construction. The Hobbiton Movie Set is now one o the most popular tourist spots in Auckland; guided excursions through the farm show tourists what made some of the most memorable sites and permanent movies of the past.
- Hunua Falls: Hunua Falls is one of Auckland’s most gorgeous vacation spots to explore to the west of the nature preserve of the Hunua Ranges in Southern Auckland. The Hunua waterfalls are one of the popular swimming locations in Auckland, often frequented throughout winter or summer. Over the years, this resort received considerable interest and was thus marketed for both domestic and foreign travelers. Although people just spend around 2-4 hours, typically they are calm and stressed off.
- Waiheke Island: It is one of the must-visit natural tourist destinations in Auckland where you can spot several sand beaches. If you are an adventure lover, then you will enjoy hiking and walking along the island while following the trails. You can reach to Waiheke Island from central part of Auckland via Ferries that take only 30 minutes to drop you at your favorite destination. While been here, you can also consider visiting Stony Batter Historic Reserve and Church Bay Circuit.
- Kelly Tarlton’s Sea Life Aquarium: It lets you to get acquainted with marine life from a very close distance. Here you can spot series of aquariums that take you through tunnel walkways. Some of the rare species of marine animals you can find out here including stingrays, tropical fish and sharks. It is an ideal place to visit your family and kids as they will remember every single moment spent here. Few of the other key highlights you can spot here include Shark Cage Snorkel and Antarctic Encounter gallery. Without any doubt, it is one of the top 10 places to visit in Auckland with family.
- Sky Tower: It is one of the highest structures in New Zealand measuring around 328 meters. If you are searching for an ideal place to get a Bird’s eye view of Auckland city then visit the observation deck of the building. Adventure lovers also have a lot to explore here as they can enjoy a walk on the skywalk platform which is more than 190 meters high. People who want to go extreme can try base jumping from a similar platform to achieve an adrenaline rush.
- Auckland Art Gallery: It is the most spectacular cultural site of Auckland which is designed in unique French Renaissance-style which was constructed in the year 1887. It features the largest art collection of country with over 15,000 different artworks available for display. If you want to dig into the history of New Zealand then don’t forget to visit the ground floor and first floor of gallery. You can explore Maori Portraiture Gallery and the New Zealand Historic Art Gallery that demonstrates the work of European setters of the country.
- Auckland Zoo: It is one of the largest parks in New Zealand that spread over an area of more than 40 acres. The zoo features several unique species of birds and animals thereby making it a perfect destination that you can consider visiting with your kids. The zoo features Southern-white rhinoceros, red panda, Asian elephant, African lion and cotton-top tamarin. There are several other activities to do here including safari nights, safari nights, photography workshops and behind-the-scenes shows to add an element of fun to your journey.
Relax with glamping getaways, discover art and culture, SkyJump off the Sky Tower, Explore the Hauraki Gulf on a whale safari, Go stargazing on Great Barrier Island, Experience the Farmers’ Market in Matakana, indulge in world-class cuisine, Kayak to Rangitoto Island, Explore the rugged beaches in West Auckland are the top 10 things to do in Auckland.
What’s next waiting for you?
The list of the above-mentioned destinations explains everything about Auckland and its beauty. If you are planning to spend an extended vacation in this mesmerizing city then you can consider visiting some more sightseeing locations such as Kelly Tarlton’s Sea Life Aquarium, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Rainbow’s End, Waitemata Harbour, Queen Street, Cornwall Park and much more. Now you know where to go and what to do in Auckland, Check out our New Zealand travel guide to know best places to visit near Auckland.