Auckland Off the Beaten Path Tips by vtveen

Starting at the Waterfront by the Harbour Building Aotea Square is at the end of Queen Street: the most important shopping street in Auckland.
But to be honest: nothing special.

At the square you will find the Aotea Centre, a modern theatre, a cinema and an entertainment centre.
On the other side is the Town Hall of Auckland, an Edwardian building.

The wooden gate (waharoa) at the entrance of the square is made by a Maori artist named Selwyn Muru.

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Auckland Domain, a huge park not too far away from downtown, is situated on one of Auckland's volcano’s. At the top, near the building, you have a wonderful view over the city and Hauraki Gulf.

Off course it has its famous War Memorial Museum (an absolutely must see activity), but not far away, in the middle of the wonderful gardens, you will find the two greenhouses.
They are a heritage of the Auckland Exhibition of 1913. Nowadays the greenhouses are full of colourful flowers and green (sub)tropical plants.

Between the two buildings is a lovely pond. Next to the Winter Gardens is a special ‘fern park’.

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Parnell was once a suburb of Auckland about 2 km’s away from downtown.

Just stroll along the (exclusive) shops and have a coffee or tea in one of the (sidewalk) cafe’s.

We didn’t expect the restored wooden shops with its alleyways, just great to see and the most interesting part of Parnell Road.

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Eden Garden is the work of volunteers, who started in 1964. They transformed an abandoned quarry on the slopes of Mt. Eden into one of Auckland’s best kept secrets.

The garden has nowadays the most varied collection camellias and a large number of rhododendrons, but also hibiscus and a lot of native (green) New Zealand plants and trees.

From the top at a lookout you will have a nice view over the city.
The café with its garden setting is ideal for drinking a cup of coffee or tea.

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Website: www.edengarden.co.nz

Mt. Wellington is situated in the Mt. Wellington Domain. It is one of Aucklands volcano’s, but not so ‘overcrowded’ with tourists and guided tours.

To reach the top and lookout you have to walk a couple of hundred metres, but your reward is a splendid view over the city and the Hauraki Gulf with the islands. Specially Rangitoto and Waiheke are rather close to Mount Wellington.

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Off course Devonport is a ‘must see activity’ during your stay in Auckland. Easy accessible with the ferry from downtown Auckland (only 12 minutes). And off course you will stroll along the shops and café’s.

But make it an ‘off the beaten path’ activity by making a walking tour (get a map or brochure in the Visitor Centre next to the wharf).

At the end of Victoria Street climb on to Mt. Victoria and enjoy the lovely views on the skyline of Auckland. Continue on Church Street (perhaps visit Devonport Museum) and Albert Road and you will reach Cheltenham Beach. A lovely golden beach so close to downtown Auckland, it is almost incredible !!

Through the top of North Head and King Edward Parade you will return to the centre and the wharf and have seen a different Devonport.

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The Auckland Botanic Gardens are located more or less outside the city of Aucland, next to the Southern Motorway to Hamilton on Hill Road, Manurewa.

In this park (64 hectares) are a lot of walkways, which lead the visitor to the different species of plants and trees. A map, available on the internet or at the Visitor Centre in the entrance hall, and information signs allowed us to walk around and to understand what we did see.
It is also possible (only on Sunday afternoons) to make a ride on the so called Wiri Rambler, a tractor with two carriages.

Off course most of the plants are native, but there is also a large collection of foreign species. On some places the Gardens are beautiful and interesting, but to be honest there are also some dull spots.

Auckland Botanic Gardens offer a Visitor Information Centre, a giftshop and a café.
It is open daily (see website) and admission is free of charge.
The gardens are easy accessible by car and public transportation.

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Phone: (09) 267 1457
Website: http://www.aucklandbotanicgardens.co.nz/
Other Contact: botanicgardens@arc.govt.nz