Must-see places to visit in Auckland, North Island, New Zealand.
Auckland
Many visitors use Auckland as the gateway for their North Island exploration. New Zealand’s largest city offers plenty of history, culture, great food and wine, not to mention beautiful beaches, volcanoes, vineyards and small holiday islands.
A good kick-off point is to head for the highest point to get your bearings. Here, head 328m up the Sky Tower for unsurpassed wraparound views of up to 80 km in every direction. You can even jump off – attached to a bungy cord, of course.
Then consider the Botanic Gardens, the highly regarded War Memorial Museum or a ferry over to pretty Devonport or Waiheke Island for lunch at Mudbrick Vineyard. The beaches and olive groves here are delightful.
The bustling Britomart waterfront district offers great shopping and enticing restaurants. Nearby is the famous Viaduct harbour and basin, great for yacht watching and home to an amazing array of boats. You can even take a trip on an America’s Cup yacht or head out to Hauraki Gulf Marine Park to spot whales and dolphins.
Activity buffs head to the Waitakere Ranges while the west coast, with its black volcanic sand beaches at Muriwai, Bethells, Piha and Karekare, appeal to a more relaxed crowd.
Orewa
Orewa is located just half an hour north of Auckland's harbour bridge and spreads inland from the edge of a magnificent three-kilometre beach. It's a great destination if you like swimming, surfing, kayaking, windsurfing or kite surfing, and for coastal views, you can't beat a stroll along the Millennium Walkway.
Beyond the beach, entertainment possibilities include golf at Gulf Harbour, wine trails, hiking in regional parks, cycling, indoor skiing and thermal hot pools. Orewa has a comprehensive shopping centre and a wide selection of eating places.
Pakiri
Although Pakiri Beach has limited facilities, it is still very popular with swimmers, surfers and fishermen alike. Many people are drawn here from Auckland in the summer months, as it is one of the first truly open ocean beaches on the east coast and is both picturesque and undeveloped.
Matakana
Enjoy artisan food & award-winning wine amongst the stylish galleries & boutiques of Matakana, located only 45 mins drive across the Auckland Harbour Bridge. This simply stunning setting is home to the world-class Sculptureum featuring three sculpture gardens and art galleries set amongst this 14-acre vineyard.
You may like to take a short ferry ride (5 times daily) from Sandspit Wharf to Kawau Island, one of the largest islands in the Hauraki Gulf. Rich in history & once the home of Governor Sir George Grey, the Mansion House and spectacular gardens offer a window into New Zealand’s colonial history.