Auckland · New Zealand

Auckland

New Zealand's largest city, between two harbors and dozens of extinct volcanoes, with museums, islands a few minutes by boat and black-sand beaches on the west coast.

Auckland and Northland

In the photo: Viaduct Harbour, Auckland

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Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Auckland (Tāmaki Makaurau in Māori) sits on a narrow isthmus between two harbors: the Waitematā, facing the Hauraki Gulf and the Pacific Ocean, and the Manukau, opening to the Tasman Sea. The region has over 1.6 million residents, about one third of the country’s population, and is the main gateway for air arrivals.

The city was built on a volcanic field with more than 50 cones and craters. Several became parks with viewpoints, such as Maungawhau (Mount Eden) in the central-south and Maungauika (North Head) in Devonport. The most visible ones preserve terraces and ditches from former fortified Māori villages (pā). Rangitoto Island, the youngest volcano in the field, dominates the harbor view.

The central city is organized around the Waitematā waterfront: the ferry terminal, Viaduct Harbour and Wynyard Quarter are a few blocks from the Sky Tower and Queen Street, the main shopping street. The Auckland Domain, the city's oldest park, houses the Auckland Museum, with Māori and Pacific Islands collections.

Ferries from downtown go to Devonport, Rangitoto and Waiheke Island, known for vineyards and beaches. To the west, about 40 km away, the Waitākere Ranges descend to black-sand beaches and open sea, such as Piha. Auckland is also the departure point for the subtropical north, the Bay of Islands, and for the central North Island.

This destination brings together 2 cities: Auckland, Waiheke Island.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Auckland is

Boundaries: Stats NZ / geoBoundaries (CC BY 4.0). Adapted by Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Auckland

✈ Aeroporto de Auckland (AKL), in Māngere · 21 km to Auckland

Auckland Airport (AKL), about 21 km from the center, handles most of the country’s international flights and domestic flights from all regions. From other North Island cities you can also reach Auckland by intercity bus or car; there is also a long-distance train from Wellington.

Suggested arrival point: Auckland

Auckland · Auckland Capital Suggested arrival point

Auckland

New Zealand’s largest city and the capital of the region of the same name, Auckland lies between the Waitematā and Manukau harbors. Downtown features the Sky Tower and the waterfront of Viaduct Harbour and Wynyard Quarter, from where ferries depart to Devonport and North Head and to the volcanic Rangitoto Island. The Auckland Museum, in the Domain, houses Māori and Pacific collections, and Mount Eden is the highest natural viewpoint. To the west is the black-sand beach of Piha.

Auckland · Auckland

Waiheke Island

Waiheke is the most visited island in the Hauraki Gulf, about 40 minutes by ferry from downtown Auckland. Oneroa, near the wharf, is the main village, with galleries and a calm bay; Onetangi, on the north coast, has the longest beach. Inland are vineyards and olive groves offering tours and tastings, and the eastern tip preserves the Stony Batter tunnels from World War II.

The local experience

Things to do in Auckland

Waiheke Island · Auckland · Beach

Onetangi Beach

The longest beach on Waiheke Island, with nearly 2 km of sand facing north, open water toward the Hauraki Gulf and beachfront restaurants.

Auckland · Auckland · Viewpoint

Sky Tower (Auckland)

328-meter tower in central Auckland, with glassed viewing platforms at about 190 and 220 meters high and views of both harbors, the gulf islands and the city's volcanoes.

Auckland · Auckland · Museum

Auckland War Memorial Museum

Museum on the high ground of the Auckland Domain, with one of the largest collections of Māori and Pacific Islands art and objects, galleries on natural history, volcanoes and war remembrance.

Auckland · Auckland · Waterfront

Viaduct Harbour and Wynyard Quarter

The city center waterfront, with yacht marinas, a promenade, the ferry terminal to the islands and the Wynyard Quarter, a former port area with a plaza, park and fish market.

See 2 more places in Auckland

Auckland · Auckland · Island

Rangitoto Island

Auckland’s youngest volcano, an island of black lava in the Hauraki Gulf, with a trail to the crater at 260 meters, lava caves and views over the city.

Auckland · Auckland · Beach

Piha

A black-sand beach on Auckland’s west coast, about 40 km from the city centre, between the Waitākere ranges and the Tasman Sea, with the Lion Rock rising from the sand.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

Summer, from December to February, has the warmest days, generally between 20 °C and 25 °C, and is the season for beaches and boating. March and April are usually mild and quieter. In winter, from June to August, it rains more and highs are near 15 °C, but museums and tours operate year-round.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Three days cover the central city, the Auckland Museum, Mount Eden and a ferry trip to Devonport or Rangitoto. With four or five days you can include Waiheke Island and the west coast at Piha. Many travelers spend two days on arrival and return at the end of their trip.

Which city to stay in

The central business district (CBD), close to the waterfront and ferry terminal, is the most practical base if you don’t have a car. Ponsonby and Parnell are neighborhoods with restaurants and old wooden houses, just minutes from downtown. Devonport, on the other side of the harbor, is quiet and linked to downtown by ferry. On Waiheke Island, Oneroa concentrates accommodations and services.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Auckland

How many days should you stay in Auckland?

Three days are enough for the central city, the museum, one volcano and a boat trip. With five days you can include Waiheke Island and the west coast beaches.

Do you need a car in Auckland?

Not for the central city, the urban volcanoes and the islands, which are connected by buses, train and ferries. A car is helpful for getting to Piha and the Waitākere Ranges, where public transport is limited.

What is the best time to visit Auckland?

From December to March the weather is warmer and drier, good for beaches and boating. Winter is wetter, but the city operates year-round.

Can you visit Waiheke Island on a day trip from Auckland?

Yes. The ferry departs from the downtown terminal and takes about 40 minutes. A day allows you to see Oneroa, a beach and the island’s interior by bus.

How to get from Auckland Airport to the city center?

The airport is about 21 km from downtown. There are express buses to the city center, buses that link the airport to Puhinui train station, taxis and transfers. The trip takes between 40 minutes and an hour, depending on traffic.

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Auckland

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.