Auckland Things to Do Tips by leffe3

The tallest tower in the southern hemisphere (4 metres higher than Sydney - apparently the brief to the architects stipulated it must be taller. Rivalry? Maybe a touch - especially when the most popular T-shirt seemed to be 'I support 2 teams - New Zealand and anyone playing Australia') and you can see it from virtually anywhere.328 metres up and 40 seconds in a lift - that's some going. Fabulous views from the top - and you can walk up a further 70 metres or so (internally) onto an external platform, or, if you've got a spare NZ$150, you can actually Sky Jump. Full equipment provided, a cross between a parachute dive and a bungee jump - attached to a steel rope that runs down the outside of the tower.

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Phone: 09 - 363 6000
Address: Cnr Federal & Victoria Streets, Auckland.
Website: http://www.skycity.co.nz

NZ$15 gets you to the Viewing Level of the Skytower, and a stunning 360 degree vista awaits you. It highlights the point that Auckland appears to be almost completely surrounded by water, and distant headlands can be seen as well, as amazingly, the west coast and the Tasman Sea.
Picture is looking east - city and port, middle foreground is town of Devonport and distance is the volcanic plug of Rangitoto.

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Phone: 09 - 363 6000
Address: Cnr Federal & Victoria Streets, Auckland.
Website: http://www.skycity.co.nz

As I said, Skytower gets everywhere - even managed to get in twice in this particular photo!

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Phone: 09 - 363 6000
Address: Cnr Federal & Victoria Streets, Auckland.
Website: http://www.skycity.co.nz

The most disconcerting aspect of the Skytower - there are 2 or 3 spots where the floor is glass, giving you a sheer view to the streets below. Its amazing to see people stop in mid-step as they realise what they are about to step on - and this includes seasoned bungee jumpers. Some will walk round it, others taking more than a few seconds to decide. Very strange sensation.

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Phone: 09 - 363 6000
Address: Cnr Federal & Victoria Streets, Auckland.
Website: http://www.skycity.co.nz

Restored administrative port building from the 19th century, now essentially a series of cafes and restaurants, it provides an idea of what the port area looked like 100 years or so ago. And as it is the centre of the ferry services to all parts of the Hauraki Gulf islands as well as Devonport, all visitors will experience this particular skyline view.

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Any ferry trip out of the port of Auckland provides great skyline views of the city.

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Just 10 minutes across the bay by ferry is Devonport (ferries leave every 15 minutes), a cute suburb on the southern tip of the North Shore peninsula.

The main street (Victoria St) runs up from the ferry to the volcanic cone of Mount Victoria. Its a cute low-rise building place packed with cafes, restaurants, craft and book shops, and although obvioulsy aimed primarily at tourists, it doesn't have that overly commercialised feel to it (partly to do with the fact that loal residents also use the places),

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Address: North Shore of the City.
Directions: Across harbour bridge or by ferry.

The volcanic plus that is Mount Victoria gives some great views across the peninsula and towards Auckland. A lighthouse sits at the top, as does the remnants of Watch Towers from the 2nd world war. One of the barracks rooms has been converted into a folk club which hosts live concerts every Monday night.
(Photo is looking south towards North Head - the 2nd of Devonport's volcanic plugs - and the Gulf).

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Address: North Shore of the City.
Directions: Across harbour bridge or by ferry.

A very pleasant walk is from Mount Victoria to North Head along King Edward Parade and Torpedo Bay. You follow the road, but within minutes this becomes little more than an access road for the homes built along the shoreline.

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Address: North Shore of the City.
Directions: Across harbour bridge or by ferry.

North Head itself is little more than a series of wooden barrack huts and a few old guns from WW1 & WWII, but it offers some great views over the surrounding bay and back towards Auckland.

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Address: North Shore of the City.
Directions: Across harbour bridge or by ferry.