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Auckland activities – New Zealand’s largest city with a population of over 1.3 million people – is home to one third of New Zealanders.
As New Zealand's largest city, there are a wide range of Auckland activities to suit all tastes. Auckland's mix of facilities, location and climate provide a lifestyle experience that sees it regularly ranked in the Top 10 cities in the world. Auckland is located in the northern part of New Zealand's North Island, and sits between the Northland and Waikato regions. Auckland is also close to the beautiful bays and beaches of the Coromandel coast .
City of Sails Situated on a narrow piece of land between Waitemata 
and Manukau harbours, Auckland offers locals and visitors a wide range of easy to access Auckland activities and adventures.
Within half-an-hour of the city centre, you can relax on an island in the Hauraki Gulf, take a walk through native rainforest, take a tour of local vineyards, or stroll along a rugged volcanic surf beach. It is also the largest Polynesian city in the world, and has New Zealand's most multicultural population. As befits a city of its size, Auckland has a vast range of accommodation options. History The Maori name for is Tamaki-Makau-Rau or 'the maiden with a hundred suitors'. It was so-named because the region was coveted by many tribes, and in fact at least 18 Maori tribes have had claims on the area at some time. The Ngati Whatua iwi (tribe) who made the region their home in the mid-17th century, also knew the area as Te Herenga Waka or 'the place where many canoes are tethered'. Captain James Cook missed the Waitemata harbour when first charting the New Zealand coastline in 1769, and it was British missionary Samuel Marsden, in 1820, who became the first known European to explore the Hauraki Gulf. Many missionaries and other European settlers followed soon after. New Zealand became part of the British Empire in 1839, and Auckland was chosen as capital of the new British colony and was actually New Zealand's capital for 25 years (Wellington is now the capital). Auckland Activities-Maori Culture There are numerous Maori cultural tours available which offer visitors a first-hand experience of Maori culture, and visitors should make a point of including a tour in their itinerary. The War Memorial Museum 
houses the largest and most valuable collection of Maori taonga (treasures) in New Zealand.The museum's Maori culture performances are among New Zealand's leading cultural experiences, and are the face of the Ngati Whatua o Orakei, the home tribe. Click on the following link to learn more about the New Zealand Maori people .
Auckland Activities-Food and Wine There are more than 80 vineyards producing chardonnay, merlot and cabernet sauvignon wines. These vineyards are focused in five main areas - Waiheke Island, 
west Auckland, northwest Auckland, north Auckland (around Matakana) and the Clevedon Valley.
Waiheke Island is known for quality Bordeaux-style red wines. Stonyridge winery produces 'Larose' - one of the world's top 20 cabernet blends and New Zealand's most expensive wine. There are wine-tasting tours on the island, and many vineyards have restaurants. North of the city, Matakana is known for fine wine, fresh produce and a weekly farmers' market - one of the region's many, where visitors mingle with locals to try fresh, homegrown and artisan products. The region's restaurants and cafes reflect the close access to quality sea and land produce, and multicultural influences. Many restaurants offer 'Pacific rim' cuisine, fusing Pacific and Asian flavours. Auckland Activities-Adventure / Outdoors From canyoning and abseiling, to jumping off bridges (bungy) or the Sky Tower, there are many activities for the adventurous. Or for a unique wildlife experience, 
visit
Kelly Tarlton's Antarctic Encounter and Underwater World
.
The rugged west coast is the perfect place to try canyoning. Deep in the heart of the Waitakere rainforest, visitors can abseil down waterfalls, jump off cliffs into deep pools and slide down smooth natural hydro slides. The Sky Tower , at 328m, is the tallest structure in the southern hemisphere, and offers 360-degree views of the region, and the chance to 'skywalk' around the outside or 'skyjump' 192m in the air. On the harbour bridge, which was opened in 1959, visitors can climb over , under and jump from the spectacular bridge that dominates the inner harbour. The world-first harbour bridge bungy jump - operated by bungy originals AJ Hackett Bungy - is a safe, fun and interactive way to experience the city from another perspective. Auckland Activities - There Is Lots More To See And Do In And Around The City Of Sails Here are a few ideas: 
* Take some time to wander around Auckland Botanic Gardens. Covering 64 hectares, the gardens contain over 10,000 plants.
* Climb or bungy from the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Great views of the city and harbour. * A visit to Auckland zoo will reveal over 150 different species, in an open plan environment. Hippo River, Pridelands and the Sea Lion and Penguin Shores exhibits are always popular. 
* Butterfly Creek, near Auckland airport has a butterfly house, an aquarium, and several other displays including Australian crocodiles. * The Coast to Coast Walkway stretches for 13 kilometres from Queen Street to Onehunga and takes about 4 hours. It passes many notable landmarks including several parks. Bus services back to Queen St are available from Onehunga. * A short 15 minute ride to Devonport on the ferry reveals a lovely suburb full of Victorian influenced buildings, cafes and shops. The nearby Navy Museum is also worth a look, and if the weather permits, take your swimmers for a dip at Cheltenham Beach. 
* Kelly Tarlton's Antarctic Encounter and Underwater World is a must see. Great displays include King and Gentoo penguins, a tank containing over 1500 fish, including several species of shark, and Stingray Bay. * Take a trip to the top of Sky Tower. At 328 metres, Sky Tower is the tallest in the Southern Hemisphere, and the views from the observation decks are stunning. And if you are feeling adventurous, you can take a Sky Walk around the outside of the tower or a Sky Jump from 192 metres! 
* Snowplanet is New Zealand's only year round indoor snow park. With slopes for beginners and more experienced skiers, and a terrain park, it's sure to please. * Take a guided cruise or catch a ferry and explore the stunning islands of the Hauraki Gulf. Include a wine tour of Waiheke Island. A relaxing day out with beautiful scenery. * Spend a day at New Zealand's premier theme park, Rainbow's End. * Attend a rugby match at Eden Park and see why the kiwis are so passionate about their national game. * Visit the cafe strip at trendy Ponsonby for an almost endless variety of cafes and restaurants. Something to suit all tastes. We hope you enjoyed learning about these Auckland activities.
Some Facts About Auckland * Manukau city in South Auckland has the world's largest Polynesian population, celebrated annually at the month-long Pasifika Festival. * Auckland is the only city in the world that is built on an active volcano field. * Also known as the 'City of Sails', it has more boats per head of population than any other city in the world. * It is one of the few places outside the tropics where rainforests exist. The Waitakere ranges, with more than 16,000 hectares of native temperate rainforest, have 250km of walking and tramping tracks. Here is a short promotional video from Tourism Auckland:
Check Out These Top Auckland Activities
Click on the following link to view a full range of Auckland activities .
Click here to download the Official Auckland Application For iPhone and iPod Touch |
The Official Auckland App For iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch
