"Auckland - City of Sails" Dodo22's Profile

North Head is a strategic headland located at the entrance to Auckland's Waitemata Harbour. It has a commanding view over the Hauraki Gulf and inner harbour up towards the city and over the centuries it has been an important lookout and defence site, initially for early Maori and then later for European settlers.

North Head was one of a number of defence forts that were built in the late 1800s. It was meant to defend Auckland from a feared Russian attack. The fort was later expanded as part of Auckland's coastal defence system during World Wars I and II.

There is a complex of tunnels, guns, searchlights and other fortifications that make this a great area to explore on a weekend. The area is a reserve which is managed by the Department of Conservation.

The lovely Hauraki Gulf

Auckland is surrounded by water and its hard to get away from it (not that you would want to). There are some lovely vantage points up high along Tamaki Drive and there is nowhere better to view the sunset.

North Head is also an excellent spot to go for a walk and it also offers excellent tunnels to explore and old gun enplacements.

If you get a chance, get out on the water. If you are visiting, Sail NZ have a variety of day trips that you can join but if you are living here or here for slightly longer (particularly over the summer) go down to one of the local yacht clubs and see if you can get out on the water for a race or two.

For things to do out of Auckland City but not too far away - check out the following pages:

Tawharanui Peninsula

Great Barrier Island

Waiheke Island

Mahurangi Peninsula

Piha

Pakiri Beach

Waitakere Ranges

Whangaparaoa

For a dose of lovely white beaches, red pohutukawa and fantastic scenery you must take a trip to the Coromandel Peninsula:

Coromandel

If you are looking for information on New Zealand I can highly recommend this site. It has links to heaps of information that you can use researching your trip - happy hunting.

NZ Tourism

Mansion House - Kawau Island

Dream what you want to dream; Go where you want to go; Be what you want to be, Because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do.

Auckland has been described as the City of Sails, and the harbour is certainly magnificent. We make the most of every opportunity to get out on the water, even if its only the short ferry ride from the City to Devonport for a cup of coffee. Whilst you are over their you might want to go to North Head where you have a magnificent view - into the city, out to Rangitoto and beyond into the Hauraki Gulf.

If you are visiting Auckland, excellent information can be gained from the Tourist Information office, one of which is handily located on the waterfront. You can also visit their website at:

Auckland Tourist Information Office

Another handy site if you want to know what's on in Auckland - is the Auckland City site - it lists all sorts of events and festivals that are happening around the city.

What's on in Auckland

Viaduct Harbour

On a nice day its great to walk down to the Viaduct Harbour and check out the boats. Whlist nowhere as big as Monaco, its still a sight to see and there are alot of great restaurants and cafes in which to sit and watch the world go by. You can see one of NZ's old America's Cup boats, visit the Maritime Museum, catch a glimpse of the Spirit of NZ (a sail training ship) or even some of the visit super yachts that tie up on Princess Wharf or in The Viaduct Basin.

Sunrise on the Hauraki Gulf

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.

So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore. Dream. Discover."

Mark Twain

Waitemata Sunset

Coming back from London, being on and near the water was important to me. As you can see we are making the most of the beautiful Hauraki Gulf. There are hundreds of bays to visit and shelter in no matter what the weather and lots of interesting places to visit when you go ashore.

Currently there are great plans to turn what is currently industrial areas into facilities and open spaces for the public. Already a number of spots close to the Viaduct (the base for the Americas Cup) have been turned into apartments. Some even have their own lock and marina outside the door. There are some wonderful architectural examples to be found, including this one where some effort has been made to fit in with the nautical theme - in this case the decks of the apartments have been designed to look like the bow of a ship. These apartments are right next to the Hilton Hotel on Princes Wharf and right beside where the cruise ships dock in season.

Its a great opportunity to see how the other half live. There are heaps of cafes and bars close by so you can sit down and people watch and enjoy the sun.