Auckland Activities

Activities in Auckland

The New Zealand city of Auckland is renowned for offering one of the best lifestyles in the world, with the perfect combination of pleasant weather, sparkling waterways, natural beauty and cosmopolitan buzz.

A visit to the downtown centre of Auckland gives visitors a chance to shop during the day, visit galleries, museums and parks and enjoy fine dining, trendy bars and pubs at night. The famous Auckland Sky Tower dwarfs the city at 328 metres high, the tallest tower in the Southern Hemisphere. Not only does the structure allow visitors to take in breathtaking panoramas of the city (at 80 kilometres into the distance on a clear day) from three observation decks, it also offers a leisure complex containing a casino, restaurants and shops.

The Auckland War Memorial Museum is an important centre for cultural preservation, with one of the world’s most extensive collections of Maori artifacts (also known as taonga), as well as exhibitions on New Zealand’s involvement in world conflict. The New Zealand National Maritime Museum focuses on New Zealand’s rich maritime past, an important aspect of this oceanic nation, or step into a recreation of the pioneering past at Howick Historical Village. There are many galleries to visit in downtown Auckland including the Shadowcatcher photography gallery and the Auckland City Art Gallery, which showcases an impressive collection of both local and international art.  

The Hauraki Gulf contains several unique islands that can be easily accessed by ferry, yacht or even kayak from downtown Auckland. Visitors can hike to the top of the volcanic Rangitoto, relax on the beach at Waiheke Island or Motuihe Island and explore local fauna and flora on Kawau Island, Tiritiri Matangi Island or Great Barrier Island. The waterways around the islands are teeming with marine life - including dolphins.  

Auckland is a city of outdoor activities, from beautiful parks such as the Auckland Regional Botanical Gardens, to the entertaining Auckland Zoo. The region surrounding Auckland is filled with natural wonders. The beautiful Waitakere Ranges is 16,000 hectares of coastal wilderness varying from rugged cliffs, rocky outcrops, lush forest and crystal clear streams. Adventurers can enjoy activities such as skydiving, paragliding, horse riding, four-wheel driving and mountain biking, whilst more relaxed activities include bushwalking, camping, picnicking, fishing and swimming. Those who are inclined to a pampering can enjoy the award-winning wines of the Auckland Wine Trail, with many operators running daily tours between the various wineries.