Auckland and Surrounds

For most travelers, Auckland is mainly a gateway city for international flights. But if you have time to explore New Zealand’s biggest city, there’s plenty to keep you busy. In town there’s fine shopping and dining, sailing an America’s Cup yacht in the harbor, and bungee jumping off the Sky Tower, the highest manmade structure in the country. Farther afield, there’s epic surfing and black sand beaches, the beautiful vineyards of Waiheke island, bird watching and hiking on lonely volcanic islands, and day trips to the Waitomo caves for glow worms and black water rafting.

The Auckland urban area, in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country. Auckland has a population of 1,413,700, which constitutes 31 percent of the country’s population.[3] It is part of the wider Auckland Region, which includes the rural areas and towns north and south of the urban area, plus the islands of the Hauraki Gulf, resulting in a total population of 1,527,100[3] that is governed by the Auckland Council. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world. In Māori, Auckland’s name is Tāmaki Makaurau and the transliterated version of Auckland is Ākarana.

Top Activities in Auckland, New Zealand

• Shopping & Fine Dining
• Visiting the Vineyards of Waiheke Island
• Day trips to Waitomo caves for glowworms and black water rafting
• America’s Cup Sailing Excursion in the Harbour
• Climb the Auckland Harbour Bridge
• See the penguins at Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium
• Have lunch at Orbit with a view of the city
• Visit the Auckland War Museum