Auckland Things to Do Tips by allikat

Cornwall Park was presented to the people of New Zealand back in 1901 by Sir John Logan Campbell. You can wander for ages around beautiful parkland, planted with lots of stunning trees, grassy slopes, visit the oldest timber building in Auckland, climb One Tree Hill, and much more.
You can sit in the sun at Cornwall Park, and never know you were so close to the centre of Auckland.
There is plenty to enjoy here, and there is a cafe/restaurant, a visitor information centre, as well as barbeque facilities.

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Phone: 09 630 8485
Address: 203 Greenlane Road, Greenlane, Auckland.
Directions: From State Highway 1, come off at the Greenlane off-ramp, go along Greenlane West and turn left into the Park along the beautiful Pohutakawa Drive.
Website: www.cornwallpark.co.nz

One Tree Hill is in Cornwall Park, but it features on the Auckland skyline from some distance away - the summit is 183.5m above sea level. You can drive or walk to the top and take in great views. At the top is an Obelisk, unveiled in 1940 - the Centennial year of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, and intended as a tribute to the Maori people. There is also Sir John Logan Campbells grave.

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Phone: 09 6308485
Address: 203 Greenlane Road, Greenlane, Auckland.
Directions: From state highway 1 take the Greenlane off-ramp, turn onto Greenlane West and then left into Cornwall Park,
Website: www.cornwallpark.co.nz

Acacia Cottage was built in 1841, which makes it the oldest timber building in Auckland. It used to stand in the city's Shortland Street, before being relocated to Cornwall Park in 1920.
It is only a small cottage, but entry is free. It gives an insight into how some of the early settlers of New Zealand used to live, and the tourist information office opposite has a leaflet telling more about the history of the cottage, explaining how it was built and when alterations were made.
The verandah out the back makes for a pleasant place to sit and look out over the surrounding parkland.

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Phone: 09 630 8485
Address: 203 Greenlane Road, Greenlane, Auckland.
Directions: From state highway 1 take the Greenlane off-ramp, go along Greenlane West and turn left into Cornwall Park.
Website: www.cornwallpark.co.nz

This fantastic building is Aucklands War Memorial AND museum. That is to say, it commemorates New Zealands fallen soldiers, and serves as a wonderful museum at the same time. It houses one of the most significant collections of Maori and Pacific treasures and artifacts in the world, as well as having well presented natural history, social, art, childrens and war memorial collections.

Each day there are performances by a group called Manaia, who give an enjoyable show with Maori song and dance, a generous sprinkling of humour and some audience participation!

Entry to the museum is free, however they do suggest a donation of $5(nzd), and entry into certain exhibits and the Manaia show is extra. There is a cafe, a museum store, and the grounds in the Domain surrounding the museum are ideal for picnics on sunny days.

The museum sits on the rim of one of Aucklands many extinct volcanoes, although this is not immediately obvious as you look at it. From the museum steps, you get a splendid view over part of the city and out over the harbour to Devonport and Rangitoto.

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Phone: 09 306 - 7067
Address: Auckland Domain, Parnell, Auckland.
Website: http://www.akmuseum.org.nz

The Winter Gardens are located in the Auckland Domain, and consist of two large glass houses, a cool one for temperate plants, and a hot house for tropical plants, as well as a formal courtyard garden and fernery. The gardens were opened in 1913 to commemorate the Auckland Industrial, Agricultural and Mining Exhibition in 1913/14.

At the time of writing, the hot house is unfortunately closed while New Zealands ever vigilant bio security people deal with an unwanted pest, but they hope to re open it in a couple of months.

Entry to the winter gardens, including the glass houses and the fernery, is free.

See my travelogue to enjoy some of the blooms I recently enjoyed in the cool house.

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Phone: 09 306 - 7067
Address: Auckland Domain, Parnell, Auckland
Website: http://www.akmuseum.org.nz

One of the things I love about New Zealand is its lush greenery, and the Fernery at the Winter Gardens is a miniature example of some of the ferns and palms to be found, particularly from the North island.

Hidden away off the formal courtyard, you find yourself in a sort of secret garden, surrounded by ferns of all sizes, with the sound of water and filtered daylight combining to add to the otherworldly feel of the place. Steps descend down into the midst of the garden, from where you would never suspect you were so close to inner city life.

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Phone: 09 306 - 7067
Address: Auckland Domain, Parnell, Auckland.
Website: http://www.akmuseum.org.nz

Auckland Zoo makes for a great day out, and I recommend you get there early in order to have the full day available to you. I arrived at lunchtime, and the afternoon wasn't long enough to see all that I wanted to without rushing.
The zoo is well laid out, with lots of educational and informative signs telling you about the animals, their habitats and ways we can help protect them. You get the impression of being close to the animals while at the same time you can see that every effort is made to give the animals room and to not feel threatened.
I enjoyed watching the giraffes and the big cats, as well as the meerkats and the birds in the aviaries ~ especially the colourful lorakeet from Australia that was settling on the childrens arms, much to everyones surprise! There is also a kiwi house, where you can, if you're lucky, get to see New Zealands flightless icon (your eyes will need to adjust to the dark, as these birds are nocturnal and very shy). The blue penguins and the sealions were also great fun.

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Phone: 09 - 360 3819
Address: Motions Rd, Western Springs, Auckland.
Directions: Nestled between Western Springs and Point Chevalier, within easy reach of the city centre.
Website: http://aucklandzoo.co.nz

St Heliers Bay is a pretty, but busy stretch of roadside beach with great views across the water of Rangitoto Island. It is on Aucklands Tamaki Drive, and can get pretty busy, although it is smaller and less hustly bustly than nearby Mission Bay. There are a few cafes, bars and shops, and the beach itself is backed by a wide strip of grass planted with big palm trees. A popular spot, and definitely worth a look.

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Address: Tamaki Drive, Auckland

Bastion Point is an area of parkland that gives you great views over the Waitemata Harbour to Rangitoto Island. It is also the sight of the Savage Memorial, which comemmorates Michael Joseph Savage, New Zealands first Labour Prime Minister. There are formal gardens around the memorial itself, with the rest of the area given over to rolling lawns, great for picnics and sitting in the sun.
Right by the edge of the point as it looks over Tamaki Drive and Mission Bay are old gun placements, remnants from the war (the guns themselves are long gone)
The houses that back onto Bastion Point are some of Aucklands most exclusive property, but most of the land here that isn't built on is ancient Maori land and well protected against further development.

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Directions: Above Tamaki Drive by Mission Bay.