Auckland is a laid-back city with a bit of everything, from beaches and volcanic hills to buzzing neighbourhoods, great restaurants and a busy waterfront. You can hike up a volcano in the morning, head out on the harbour in the afternoon and settle in for dinner with a view. It’s also known as the ‘City of Sails’, thanks to all those boats bobbing around the harbour.
Auckland is New Zealand’s biggest city, wrapped around two harbours, with volcanic landscapes and plenty going on beyond the usual sights. Viaduct Harbour is the place for waterfront hotels, restaurants, bars and boat trips, while Auckland CBD keeps you close to the Sky Tower, Auckland Art Gallery, Queen Street and Albert Park. Britomart is a great choice for foodies and shoppers, with heritage buildings, New Zealand designers and some of the city’s best restaurants, plus ferries to Waiheke and Devonport nearby. Just east of the centre, Grafton has a quieter, more residential feel and puts you near the Auckland Domain, Auckland Museum and leafy parks, with a handful of larger hotels and serviced apartments. Māngere/Auckland Airport is all about convenience, with a range of family-friendly and budget-friendly airport hotels; ideal for an early flight or overnight stop rather than sightseeing. For a first visit, the central neighbourhoods make the most sense if you want to explore on foot, while the airport area is best for shorter stays.
Ideal for: Waterfront dining, harbour views, nightlife, boat trips, luxury hotels
Did you know? Viaduct Harbour was once a commercial port lined with wharves and warehouses. It was transformed into the lively waterfront area you see today for the 2000 America’s Cup.
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Ideal for: Shopping, nightlife, sightseeing, city dining, first-time visitors
Auckland CBD is the ideal base for those who want to be right in the middle of the action. This is the city’s main hub, with the Sky Tower, Auckland Art Gallery, Albert Park and Queen Street all within easy reach, plus plenty of shops, cafes, bars and restaurants. It’s easy to explore on foot, while buses and ferries make getting further afield easy as well. Culture lovers can explore galleries and museums, while foodies have lots of choice around Wynyard Quarter and the waterfront. There’s a mix of hotels here, from affordable city stays to four- and five-star properties.
Did you know? Auckland’s Sky Tower is the tallest building in New Zealand, standing 328 metres high. On a clear day, you can see for around 80 kilometres from the top.
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Ideal for: Museum visits, culture lovers, green spaces, heritage stays
Did you know? Grafton Bridge was once one of the world’s longest single-span wooden bridges, opening in 1910 and stretching 97 metres across the gully.
Ideal for: Foodies, shopping, nightlife, harbour access, city breaks
The lively area of Britomart mixes heritage buildings with stylish shops, cafes, bars and some of Auckland’s best restaurants, while the waterfront is just a few minutes’ walk away. It’s also the city’s main transport hub, with trains and ferries making it easy to explore further afield. Stay here if you want a central base with a bit more character than a typical CBD hotel strip; there is a good mix of smart hotels and stylish places to stay.
Did you know? Britomart gets its name from HMS Britomart, a Royal Navy vessel that was involved in the early European settlement of New Zealand.
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Ideal for: Airport stopovers, road trips, early flights
Did you know? Māngere Mountain is one of Auckland’s largest volcanic cones, and its summit has ancient Māori terraces and stone walls that you can still see today.
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