Auckland Activities

Auckland is an ideal destination for a family holiday, offering a variety of attractions that appeal to both the young and old. Parents with children of all ages will find plenty of amusements and attractions to occupy their time, among which are the famous Kelly Tarlton's Antarctic Encounter and Underwater World, newer attractions such as Butterfly Creek and well established visitor locations such as Auckland Zoo.

Auckland Zoo
A modest but impressive facility, Auckland Zoo has a good selection of animals, with specimens gathered from every corner of the world. The environment is clean and tidy, and enclosures are spacious and well-kept, making for pleasant viewing of the animals. The kids will love the Sea Lion and Penguin Shores and Kiwi and Tuatara House especially. Phone: +64 9 360 3819; website: www.aucklandzoo.co.nz.

Butterfly Creek
A relatively new attraction to the city, Butterfly Creek is located close to the airport and is a visitor centre with universal appeal, making it a great place for a family excursion. Some 700 butterflies collected from Asia and South America live in free-flying conditions in an indoor environment with a climate created artificially to replicate that of the butterflies’ natural habitats. Inside this giant tropical greenhouse are waterfalls, streams, indigenous vegetation and other ‘natural’ features as well as a variety of tropical birds including parrot finches and Senegal fire finches. The centre also features the country’s largest tropical freshwater aquarium. Phone: +64 9 275 8880; website: www.butterflycreek.co.nz/.

Kelly Tarlton's Antarctic Encounter and Underwater World
Among the country’s most famous attractions, Kelly Tarlton’s is a must-visit for anyone fascinated by the sea. This attraction is guaranteed to capture the attention of young visitors with its wealth of underwater and marine-related displays as well as its traditional zoo and museum section. The aquarium allows visitors the chance to see stingrays, giant eels, sharks and a variety of other fish and sea creatures. Among the highlights is Stingray Bay, a huge open-topped tank with 350,000 litres of water supporting an amazing collection of specimens from the Dasyatids family. The Antarctic Encounter takes visitors through an artificially created South Pole environment from the comfort of a Antarctic snow cat vehicle, offering sights of penguins and other arctic creatures along the way. Phone: +64 9 528 0603; website: www.kellytarltons.co.nz/.

Kiwi Valley Farm Park
Family fun is on offer at the Kiwi Valley Farm Park, situated just 20 minutes drive outside the city centre. The entertainment comes with a natural slant with attractions including horse and pony rides, animal petting and feeding, and farm walks. There’s also a maze where kids can have fun getting lost or playing hide and seek with friends or siblings. Phone +64 9 837 2952; website: www.kiwivalley.co.nz/.

Piha Beach
Notable for its bizarre black sand, Piha Beach is a regular beach in every other sense and hence a great place to take kids for the day when the sun is out and the temperature is pleasant. The surf is notable here so small children should paddle or swim with caution or assistance, while older children with experience can take to their boards and enjoy riding the waves.

Rainbow's End
Covering 23 acres, Rainbow’s End is the country’s number one theme park. Offering a full day of fun for all members of the family, the park is situated in Manukau city. Among its many attractions it features a log flume, corkscrew rollercoaster, drop tower ride and the Cadbury Land Castle, as well as a variety of more gentle rides for younger visitors. Phone: +64 9 262 2030; website: www.rainbowsend.co.nz.

With Maori and colonial characteristics contributing to the city’s cultural identity, Auckland has a wide and interesting selection of attractions. Culture seekers can take in anything from museums to art galleries and classical architecture. Auckland Museum in Parnell is not to be missed if you are interested in learning something of the city’s fascinating past. In the same suburban in Ponsonby, there are plenty of architectural gems including fine old colonial buildings. For art lovers, the Auckland Art Gallery presents the finest collection of creative works in the country.

Auckland Art Gallery
Open since 1888 and boasting the claim of being 'the first permanent art gallery in the dominion', the Auckland Art Gallery is an impressive facility featuring New Zealand’s largest collection of both national and international artworks. The main public gallery is spread over two buildings and features more than 12,500 pieces, among which are paintings, sculptures and prints by European and Pacific Island artists, as well as some excellent works by Maori talents. Pieces in the collections date from 1376 to contemporary times. Phone: +64 9 307 7700; website: www.aucklandartgallery.govt.nz/.

Auckland Museum
Housed in a Greco-Roman style building located in Auckland Domain in Parnell, Auckland Museum is the city’s number one facility for history and heritage, offering visitors insights into all aspects of the city’s past. Both colonial and pre-colonial times covered with the first floor collection including artefacts of Pacific Island and Maori origin, among which is a 75-foot long war canoe. Also on the first floor are the Children's Discovery Centre and a natural history section. Be sure to stick around for the 45-minute long performance of traditional Maori song and dance. Phone: +64 9 309 0443; website: www.aucklandmuseum.com/.

Classic Architecture
Sightseers with interests in architecture will find the city has a wide range of old buildings and structures illustrating different trends in style over the years. The Auckland Ferry Building, built in 1912, is a must-see, as are Acacia Cottage from the 1840s, Alberton House from the mid-18^th century and the old Arts Building of the University, built between 1923 and 1926. Also notable is the Auckland Town Hall, which was constructed in the early 20^th century and features some eye-catching Italian-style architecture. Grafton and Harbour bridges also rank highly on the list of the city’s impressive architectural achievements.

Cultural Entertainment
Visitors seeking an evening of cultural entertainment will find Auckland has a number of venues offering both traditional and contemporary performance art. Auckland Theatre Company (phone: +64 9 309 0390; website: www.atc.co.nz/) is perhaps the city’s most reputable theatre group offering a year-round programme of productions ranging from musicals to comedies. Theatre venues including the Auckland Performing Arts Centre (phone: +64 9 845 0290; website www.tapac.org.nz/tapac/default.asp); ASB Theatre, Artworks Theatre and the Auckland Town Hall also have exciting programmes. For a night with the Royal New Zealand Ballet, Auckland Philharmonia or New Zealand Symphony and Opera, head for the impressive Aotea Centre (phone: +64 9 309 2677).

Museum of Transport and Technology
Commonly known as MOTAT, the Museum of Transport and Technology provides visitors with an in-depth look at inventions and developments that have played significant roles in shaping the country. The hands-on science section is especially interesting with its collection of interactive displays, while the rides on authentic trams and steam trains offer a realistic impression of what transportation was like in days gone by. Among other exhibits of interest are old-fashioned fire engines, motorbikes, classic cars and a traditional Victorian village. Phone+64 9 815 5800; website: www.motat.org.nz/.

New Zealand National Maritime Museum
With exhibits and displays detailing close to a millennium of maritime history, this museum is popularly considered one of the finest facilities of its kind in the world. The museum’s collection is spread across 14 galleries and covers topics ranging from the respective arrivals of the Maoris and colonists, to modern day aspects of the ocean such as the hosting of the America’s Cup in 2002. There are also exhibits illustrating whaling, the invention of jet-powered vessels and the introduction of freezer ships for the import and export of perishable food products. Phone: +64 9 373 0800; website: www.nzmaritime.org.

Auckland’s dining scene has developed dramatically in the last 10 years. Instead of having to settle for steak and chips, visitors can now enjoy a range of cuisines with both local and international dishes making it onto the menus of reputable restaurants. There is also an increasingly large choice in takeaway establishments on offer.

The city’s rich ethnic community has assured that there is no shortage of opportunities to sample food from a range of continents. There are restaurants serving French, Italian, Mexican, Chinese, Japanese, Indian and Thai cuisines, as well as takeaways where Middle Eastern and Greek food are available. Pacific Rim cuisine also features heavily in the local dining scene.

Restaurants come in licensed and unlicensed varieties, and it’s normally permissible for visitors to bring their own alcoholic beverages with them at the latter. There are restaurants spread the length of the city; however, for reputable dining establishments, try areas such as Ponsonby, Herne Bay and Grey Lynn.

To be sure of a table at a restaurant in one of these locations, it’s wise to book ahead as popular venues can get busy. Other areas worth checking out include Parnell, which has a mix of mid-range and upmarket restaurants, and the waterfront, where a variety of chic and trendy eateries are located.

For shopping, the city has a range of strips, arcades and malls where everything from small designer boutiques to big name department stores can be found. Parnell Village is a nice place to head if you’re looking for something unique or unusual. The village is home to mostly specialist shops with art sellers, clothing boutiques and interior furnishing shops among those on offer.

For more mainstream shopping, head for areas such as Newmarket, Ponsonby, Karangahope road, Albert street, Chancery lane, Anzac street, Broadway, Elliot street, Customs street, High street, Queen street, Wynyard street and Victoria street. These are the areas where you’ll find popular department stores such as Briscoes, Farmers Trading, Kmart, Larsmart, Rendells and Smith and Caughey, as well as designer clothing outlets, electrical goods retailers and supermarkets.

With coastal terrain of varying gradients and surfaces and easy access to the sea, it’s unsurprising that Auckland is a great place to enjoy outdoor pursuits. Visitors with a penchant for the great outdoors could easily spend the length of their vacation enjoying a varied mix of land and sea-based sports. Besides activities that can be enjoyed at the beach such as swimming and snorkelling, there are opportunities for surfing, windsurfing, boating and scuba diving.

Boating
Auckland has sailing schools located at the harbour which provide the vessels and know-how for pursuits such as sailing, kayaking and canoeing. Whether you are already accomplished in a specific activity or a complete beginner, the local schools can accommodate you. Sea kayaking is especially popular during summertime and vessels are available for hire by the hour or on a daily basis.

Fishing
With water on either side of the city, Auckland has some good opportunities for angling enthusiasts to indulge their passion. The Waitemata harbour is a good place to start if you want to join the locals on the regular scene. However, if you are feeling adventurous, you can take a fishing trio to the Hauraki Gulf islands, where a wider and more exotic selection of fish is available. Visitors can bring their own equipment if they want to angle unassisted. Otherwise, trip operators are on hand to provide rods and bait.

Golf
There are some scenic and well-landscaped golf courses on offer in Auckland. With the city experiencing plenty of rain and moist weather throughout the year, you can be sure that the greens are lush. Course fees are applicable to non-members and clubs are available for hire. Courses worth checking out include: Chamberlain Park Public Golf Course, Grand Golf Park, Gulf Harbour Golf Country Club, Formosa Golf Resort, Hauraki Golf Club and Waitakere Golf Club. Website: www.waitakeregolf.co.nz/news.php (Waitakere Golf Club).

Mini Golf
Those who prefer to play golf with an emphasis on fun will find the Mini Golf Onehunga course the ideal place to spend an enjoyable couple of hours. There are 18 challenging holes available, each with its own unique obstacles. Surround sound music is part of the experience and floodlights are available for night-time play. There’s also a barbeque area so you can enjoy a good meal before or after the game. Phone: +64 9 6369911; website www.mgo.co.nz/.

Mountain Biking
Out of the city, Auckland offers some excellent terrain for pursuing mountain biking. There are many well-established trails with something to suit even the most experienced riders. For those who prefer things less challenging, the city’s suburban areas are the best places to head where you can benefit from excellent views of the coastline as you ride.

Scuba Diving
With good visibility in the waters either side of the city, Auckland is the ideal place to pursue scuba diving. The local scene is well established, with areas such as the Cavalli Islands and Great Barrier Island’s west coast lending themselves well to this activity. Perhaps the best location, however, is the Coromandel peninsula, which has some idyllic dive sights in and around the Mercury Islands, Hahei Marine Reserve and the Tairua area.

Surfing
There are plenty of good spots along the coastline around Auckland where the surf is impressively high. Those with boards and the necessary skills can enjoy endless adrenalin-fuelled riding of the waves. Piha Beach is notable for its good waves, but can be challenging for beginners. Good spots where the surf is calmer include Orewa, Long and Rothesay bays, and Milford and Takapuna beaches.