Auckland Things to Do Tips by MLW20

Auckland Zoo is nice to visit if you have a couple of hours to spare. It isn't too big but it has some cool animals like kangaroos, meerkats, lions, hippos etc....

Leave a Comment

Phone: 09 - 360 3819
Address: Motions Rd, Western Springs, Auckland.
Website: http://aucklandzoo.co.nz

If you are looking for some adventure try the Auckland Harbour Bridge climb. Our guide was very cool. She told us alot about Auckland history and all about the history of the bridge. The views from the top are great.

No cameras are allowed and you have to wear a climbing suit with a harness that they provide.

Leave a Comment

Address: State Highway One, Auckland.
Directions: Between downtown & North Shore, follow main Hwy north.

Very nice museum to learn all about New Zealand and it's culture. The first floor has a really good Maori and Pacific Island culture exhibit. There is also a section on science and nature. The second floor is mainly dedicated to NZ at war.

Leave a Comment

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

One Tree Hill is an extinct volcanoe with a monument at the top. The views are great. The surrounding park area is really nice. Lots of people bike ride and go jogging here. If you want to see sheep in Auckland come here!

Leave a Comment

Kelly Tarlton's Antarctic Encounter & Underwater World is a unique aquarium. The first part has a walk through a replica snow hut from the early 1900s. Then you get a ride on a snow cat through an area where a colony of penguins live. The aquarium part is pretty amazing. You can stand on a conveyor belt that takes you through a transparent tunnel. Above and on the side of you there are fish, rays and sharks swimming by.

Kelly Tarlton's is not a big place so you will only need about an hour to look around but it is worth the visit.

We got a free pickup from Skytower.

Leave a Comment

Phone: 0800 - 805 050 toll free
Address: 23 Tamaki Drive, Orakei, Auckland.
Website: http://kellytarltons.co.nz

Sky Tower is a 328m structure. It is part of the Sky City complex which has a 24 hour casino along with restaurants, bars, cafes and a hotel. We didn't do the skyjump but saw a few people do it. There is also a floor which is a viewing area. You get great views of all of Auckland

There is pretty good gift shop in the lower level of Sky City by the elevators that go up to Sky Tower.

Leave a Comment

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

The Victoria Park Market didn't have much worth checking out. There are a few booths selling souvenirs such as t-shirts and Maori necklaces. There are also clothing, shoes, crafts booths and a food court.

Leave a Comment

Phone: 09 - 309 6911
Address: 210 Victoria Street West, Auckland.
Directions: Just look for the tall redbrick chimney.
Website: http://www.victoria-park-market.co.nz

A canyoning trip is a really exciting way to try adventure travel. We booked a trip with AWOL Adventures. We did the Piha Canyon full day trip. The canyon is located in the Waitakere Park Ranges. It's a 40 minute drive from downtown Auckland. The trip consists of abseiling under waterfalls, jumping, sliding and going through caves to explore the canyon.

AWOL picks you up for the trip and provides the gear- wetsuits, harnesses and helmets.

The experience was incredible. It is both exciting and scarey when you step off the cliff and lean back to start abseiling to the bottom. I've never tried anything close to this before.

Lunch and a snack was provided. Nothing fancy but it does the job.

The trip also includes a stop at Piha Beach where you can check out the black sand beach.

Leave a Comment

Phone: (+64 9) 834 0501
Address: P.O. Box 56207, Dominion Rd Auckland NZ
Directions: The hills on the western horizon.
Website: http://www.awoladventures.co.nz/index.htm

On our canyoning tour we stopped at Piha Beach to check out the black sand which was pretty cool. I think this is a famous surf beach. The water is very rough and if you are not careful you will get dragged out to sea.

This isn't worth making a special trip to see but if you go canyoning with AWOL the stop is included.

Leave a Comment

Address: West Auckland.
Directions: The hills on the western horizon.