Auckland is the largest city of New Zealand. It is also called the 'City of Sails' as it is reputed to have more boats per capita than any other city in the world. It lies across an 11 km wide volcanic isthmus between two stunning harbours. The Waitemata Harbour to the east, scattered with beautiful islands, opens into the Hauraki Gulf and the Pacific Ocean. The Manukau Harbour lies to the west and opens into the Tasman sea.

Auckland is the water sport capital of New Zealand. If it comes to adventure, a diversity of landscape provides an inviting playground for the adventure seeker. You can climb a volcano, wander through rainforest, enjoy city sophistication and sail to spectacular islands, all in a day. For the city slicker, there are excellent shops, galleries, museums, theatre, concerts, casinos and restaurants, but if you want to escape the madding crowd, you will find solitude you need in Auckland's beautiful beaches, gardens and parks. You can simply soothe your soul in a beautiful harbour side setting, as well as enjoy the nightlife and culture of a metropolitan city. 

No matter which way you turn in Auckland there's always something fun, exciting and different to do. Within 35 minutes in any direction from the city centre you'll find something to do for everyone. Explore Auckland's beautiful beaches by foot, sea kayak or on board a sailing boat. Imagine riding a horse with the wind in your hair, the sun on your skin and only the sound of the surf breaking on an isolated 14 mile beach. The harbour and the islands of the Hauraki Gulf present a wide range of water and land based activities. 

Kelly Tarltons Antartic Encounter
Kelly Tarlton's Antarctic Encounter and Underwater World is Auckland's best visitor attraction. It is out-of-this-world, unrivaled, all weather experience. Situated only 10 minutes drive from Downtown Auckland, here you will find live penguins, experience the world's last unexplored frontier - Antarctica and take a journey beneath the ocean to come face to face with the predators of the ocean - sharks! Explore all this and a whole lot more at Kelly Tarlton's Antartic Encounter and Underwater World. Antarctica is the world's last unexplored frontier. Learn about this frozen continent and its wildlife right here in Auckland at Kelly Tarlton's Antarctic Encounter. Discover Scott's Hut 1911 - a copy of the original hut at Cape Evans, Antarctica, built and used by Captain Robert Falcon Scott and his team before their fateful attempt to be the first to reach the South Pole. Then board the heated Snow Cats and take a journey across the frozen landscape of Antarctica. See colonies of live penguins play in real snow and ice. Plunge beneath the ice cap and watch them swimming in their own pool.

Explore Kelly Tarlton's world famous original Underwater World

Watch the teeming schools of nursery fish in the rocky subtidal reef.  Travel deep beneath the ocean on the moving walkway in Kelly Tarlton's unique underwater tunnel. Experience a scuba diver's view of hundreds of different fish 'up close' in their own environment. See the giant stingrays glide overhead, the moray eels lurking in the rocks and, in separate tanks, the magnificent seahorses drifting by. Then come face to face with awesome predators of the deep - the sharks - only centimetres away on the other side of the acrylic tunnel. Kelly Tarlton's Antarctic Encounter and Underwater World is one of the most exciting and entertaining attractions you'll ever visit and there's still even more to do. In the Underwater World you will find the NIWA Changing Rooms, a fantastic marine discovery centre for kids.  Here you can touch, experience, and explore as you discover and learn about the marine environment. Kelly Tarlton's is located on the waterfront only 6 kilometres from downtown Auckland. Kelly Tarlton's Sea Edge Experience gives visitors a detailed look at one of the New Zealand coastline's vital ecosystems - the subtidal rocky reef.

Travel on a moving walkway deep under the ocean, through Kelly Tarlton's unique 114 metre (373 feet) long see-through underwater tunnel. Enjoy a scuba diver's view of sharks, giant eels, stingrays, giant crayfish and over 1,500 marine creatures unique to New Zealand's coastal waters. Explore different marine habitats, from rocky reefs and kelp forests to sandy ocean floors. See fish sleeping on the sandy beds and giant stingrays gliding overhead. Enter darkened caves where the sinister Moray Eels lurk amongst the rocks, and finally come face to face with the awesome predators of the deep, the sharks, swimming only millimetres (inches) away on the other side of the plexiglass tunnel.

Rainbow's End

Auckland Museums
With 36 Museums in the Auckland region you do not have to travel far to find interesting historic collections and displays of the unique Maori, Polynesian and European cultures. A cultural performance is held three times a day at the Auckland War Memorial museum introducing you to the legends, song and dance of New Zealand's native Maori. There are fabulous displays of New Zealand's pioneering era at Howick Historical Village and world class collections of air, sea and land vehicles at the MOTAT Museum. Take a walk on the cultural side amongst the many museums. There's the War Memorial Museum - home to the largest collection of Maori and Pacific artifacts in the world, the New Zealand National Maritime Museum and the Museum of Transport and Technology just to name a few.

Auckland City Art Gallery

To view an impressive collection of local and European art visit the Auckland City Art Gallery. A home to the largest collection of New Zealand and international art. The Auckland City Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki has the largest and most comprehensive collection of New Zealand and international art in the country. A public art museum located within two buildings, the main Gallery and the New Gallery, it exhibits works from its collections.

Historic Buildings
The most distinctive building in Auckland is the clock tower of the university's old arts Building. Opposite, restored Victorian merchant houses back on to Albert park, with a art gallery beyond. The attractive gardens of old government house on the corner of princes street and waterloo Quadrant are near the newly refurbished High court buildings.

Auckland Regional Botanic Gardens
64 hectares including a wide range of native and introduced trees and extensive gardens offering enjoyment and education

Muriwai Beach
One of the longest west coast beach in the Auckland area and a fine example of this wild coast, Muriwai  offers popular surfcasting and fishing. Home to gannet colonies and other sea birds, best viewing is around late November and early December. There is a 4 wheel motorbike safari tour to Muriwai Beach and through the towering pine forests of the wood hill forest. Muriwai also has an all weather links golf course. 

Eden Gardens

One of New Zealand's finest botanical assets in the heart of Auckland city. A- place of beauty, peace and tranquility with year round garden interest. This 2.25 hectare all-seasons garden features mature trees and flowering shrubs with splendid collections of Camellias, Azaleas, Rhododendrens, Vireyas, and New Zealand native trees.

Parnell Rose Gardens
The southern Hemisphere's finest rose gardens are found in picturesque parnell. Located in the suburb of Parnell this garden has magnificent Rose displays especially from November to March.

Auckland Zoological Park
Just minutes from the Central city, Auckland Zoo is home to over 600 animals representing many continents in the world. You can step into the magical world and explore this outstanding park land. Watch the troops of monkeys at the McDonalds Rainforest, enjoy the serenity of New Zealand Aviary, or experience the pride lands Savannah habitat of African giraffes, zebras, lions, rhinos, and springboks. 

New Zealand National Maritime Museum
Learn about New Zealand's sailing history. The museum is an excellent place to learn about the history of the America's Cup and New Zealand's sailing history. World class Galleries, interesting  exhibits, soundscapes, interactive displays/workshops, heritage harbour cruises, meet Salty Sam and other lively characters. Cafe & shop is also available.

Waitemata Harbour
Framed by the Harbour Bridge, the sparkling waters of the Waitemata Harbour are home to numerous islands and constant water activity. An annual regatta is held on Auckland Anniversary Weekend (January 29-31) which with more than 500 vessels taking part is said to be the world's largest regatta and reflects New Zealand's love of sailing. Fullers offers a variety of harbour cruises and island trips and pride of Auckland enables you to enjoy an exhilarating sailing experience. Kayaking and windsurfing are also popular activities.

Sky City
New Zealand's most popular leisure and entertainment destination, Sky City is a city within a city. Boasting 10 restaurants and bars, 2 on-site casinos, free live entertainment, an on-site premium hotel and Auckland's famous Sky Tower, Sky City has something for everyone! It is open seven days.

Around Auckland

Waitomo Caves
The Waikato region is one of the world's greenest places and richest agricultural producers. Volcanic activity has enriched the soil, producing lush grass for raising dairy cattle, thoroughbred horses and vast stands of exotic timber. At places where the underground rocks are still hot, mineral springs often rise and are tapped for bathing and drinking.

With it's central location and easy driving distances from Auckland and Rotorua, the Waikato and Waitomo region has many interesting towns and attractions to explore, including Hamilton's Free-Flight Aviary for native birds, ever popular farmstays, and Waitomo's caving adventures. These caves are perhaps one of the natural wonders in the country. Waitomo means the place where water (wai) disappeares into a hole in the ground (tomo). Several of hundreds of limestone caves in the district are sites for adventure activities, including abseiling into caverns, floating through on inner tubes, or guided walks or boat trips through spectacular formations or glow-worm caves. In addition to the sightseeing at Waitomo, there is the popular museum of caves. Near the picturesque village there is a walkway, the Ruakuri Bushwalk, which passes through three short caves and features unusual limestone formations. There is also a pioneer farm show and horse trekking, and for the motorheads, there are drive yourself jetboats and four-wheel driver motorbikes.