Auckland, the Most Pleasant City in the World?

Many people believe that Auckland is the capital city of the country. But if Auckland held this role a long time ago, the city has since been replaced by Wellington, retaining however the role of economic capital. The third of the population of the country (1.3 million people) is settled on this 1000 km2 land between the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea.

Auckland ranks 3rd in the classification of the best cities in term of living standard (Mercer index). Paris (29th), London (38th) and New York (44th) are far behind. How to explain such an extraordinary success? Especially as every year, the city continues to climb in the ranking. Auckland could soon claim the first position thanks to brand new infrastructures in the coming years.

Please don't worry, I won't run an endless tour of museums, restaurants and public buildings. Instead, I will guide you right to the best parts of the city. Since my first visit, I developed an optimized itinerary that I usually share only with my friends. Get ready for an exciting day in the heart of the city of sails.

Mount Eden is accessible either on foot or by car. A circular route allows us to reach a park at 200 meters of altitude.

A great opportunity to observe the whole city with a 360​​° panorama. However, you are not allowed to descend into the crater of Mount Eden because it is a sacred volcano in the Maori tradition!

A huge reserve of magma is flowing under the city that is built on fifty dormant volcanoes.

In fact, the islands you can spot in the bay share volcanic origins (further north, you can even visit the White Island active volcano).

Don't worry, these lava monsters are no longer active and the last eruption happened 600 years ago. When volcanoes calmed down, the men took over. The Maori name for the region “Tamaki Makaurau” means “Battle of hundred lovers”. A good way to remember the endless tribal bloody wars that have marked the history of the region.

The tribes built fortified villages on hilltops to watch the enemies coming. Westerners will meet the worst difficulties when they will fight the formidable Maori warriors. The Treaty of Waitangi, signed the 18th of September 1840, puts an end to hostilities with the Europeans.

The city was baptized in honor of the Lord George Eden of Auckland and became the capital of the country for some time.

But we are no here to debate about History. If your are interested by the History of New Zealand, you should read the Kiwipal guide concerning the history of the Bay of Islands where the Waitangi Treaty was signed. Now, it's time to join the Sky Tower emerging from the morning mist.

But despite the progress, it is still difficult to park in the city center. So, even if it's a little bitexpensive, using a car park is not necessarily a bad idea.

One thing comes for sure: it is now impossible to imagine Auckland without the Sky Tower. The most famous icon of New Zealand was completed in 1997. Three years of work have given rise to the highest tower of southern hemisphere.

With its 328 meters high, the Sky Tower even beat the the Eiffel Tower of a few meters.

The entrance to the tower is located in Victoria Street near Sky City, a giant complex where you'll find the largest casino in the country. Good news is that the early hour is perfect to escape the crowd. So, do not waste time to visit the travel souvenir shop. Instead, you should buy your tickets and join me to the elevator.

The lift is a real rocket! It takes only 40 seconds to reach the first observation deck at 200 meters above sea level. The view is spectacular and cover a distance of 82 km on 360 degrees! Part of the floor is made of transparent glass, which is already frightening but if you really want to scare yourself, there are more radical solutions.

The famous “Sky Jump” is an attraction where you jump from the top of the tower at 85 km / h speed. Just consider 192 meters of free fall with the spectacle of the street approaching at full speed. You'll enjoy 10 seconds of terror before being gently braked by cables ... maybe it's a little bit too extreme for you?

You may as well try the “Sky Tower 360° SkyWalk” which is just a nice guided tour on the wide circular outer platform (one meter large and windswept). It may seem dangerous at first sight, but you'll be connected to the tower through a harness all the time.

You can even look into the void if you find the courage.

Fortunately, nothing prevents you to enjoy the beautiful view from the restaurant Orbit 360°.

An even higher platform exists, where you may use binoculars and read information boards. On a clear day you'll see the islands of the bay, but it is especially the view of the Auckland's marina that usually catch the eyes.

Right under our eyes and if you had enough time you may count nearly 2000 sails in the Westhaven Marina.

This is the largest marina in the southern hemisphere.

It's now evident that New Zealanders are passionate about water sports. The mild climate allows sailors to navigate most of the year, especially in the North of the country where you may swim with dolphins.

I recommend to attend “The Anniversary Regatta”. If you plan to visit Auckland during the month of January, you should not miss this old tradition which is repeated every year since 1840. Whatever floats : yachts, catamarans and even remote-controlled boats will sail in the waters of the bay.

But it is especially the America's Cup that fascinates the country. The Viaduct Basin is a leisure center that was created to host the competition, won several times and narrowly lost in 2013. To accommodate visitors, old warehouses have been replaced by modern buildings. This is a trendy place on weekends.

Rangitoto you see in the distance is a volcanic island in the Hauraki Gulf. The island is a half hour from the city by boat, but there are over 50 nearby islands to explore. You should plan a short visit to the port to consult the schedules of shuttles.

However, the morning is not yet complete, it's time to leave the Sky Tower. You are free to use the lift or the Sky Jump... We have enough free time for a quick visit of the marina and we will continue the visit of Auckland after.

The stunning 1889 customs building was converted into a gigantic duty-free shop. In the French Renaissance style, it is a stunning monument of the city.

A few meters away, St Patrick's Cathedral is a magnificent gothic church. Do not miss the Maori translation of the Lord's Prayer at the entrance. Along the way you'll inevitably come across Queen Street, nicknamed “Golden Mile” because of its glorious past. You'll find many shops and a few skyscrapers. Wide covered walkways allow to stroll even in bad weather.

The old town hall, an Edwardian style building is easy to spot between modern buildings. It is now a concert hall for eclectic events, and with the Aotea square and the “Civic Theatre” it is the cultural center called “The Edge”.

Nearby you'll find the market where we will do our shopping. We have a picnic lunch to plan. If you get lost on the way, just ask your way to the “Wise Guides”.

These nice volunteer guides walk the streets to help tourists. But to reach our next step, we will just follow the students converging in the same direction.

The Albert Park and the Auckland's campus are just minutes away from the CBD.

The famous “Old Arts Building” has a 1926 clock inspired by the Oxford's Tom Tower.

A little further behind is the former parliament of New Zealand. Since the transfer of authority to Wellington in 1865, it is part of the university and welcomes teachers. Make no mistake, it is not built of stone, but in prefabricated wood. Each piece was designed and imported from England by boat.

The University of Auckland has an excellent reputation worldwide. For an even better environment to study in New Zealand, you'll need to join Dunedin on the South Island. Take your time to stroll in the campus garden where each discipline is taught in a separate house surrounded by green lawns.

The oldest city park of Auckland occupies 80 hectares. The forest and its vast lawns areas cover fifteen extinct volcanoes! In the course of the centuries, the ground squashed, but kept its hilly relief. You can sit wherever you want, and get a delightful picnic on the grass in the shade of old trees.

When you have regained strength, you may enjoy the classical part of the park, adorned with statues.

Then you must not miss the free winter garden and its collection of exotic flowers. I'll meet you in the courtyard which houses a large pond filled with water lilies.

There's something to be impressed by the huge natural amphitheater that occupies half of the park. This is the best place in Auckland to play sports (how about frisbee?) or attend outdoor concerts. On the top of the main hill, You can not miss a building that overlooks the park.

The Auckland War Memorial “Tamaki Paenga Hira” is the most famous (and beautiful) museum in the city. Its columned facade evokes the Greek temples. Large bronze plaques commemorate the major battles of the First World War.

New Zealanders often Maori warriors crossed oceans to come to fight in the trenches of Verdun in 1916. Yet this is not only a military museum, even if the topic is the subject of a full section.

The main interest of the visit is to discover the country's history and its fascinating Maori culture. I recommend you to admire the impressive 35 meters long canoe, as it is carved from a single kauri tree trunk !

The visit continues with the dinosaurs gallery where you may also see the skeleton of a moa (an extinct ostrich species of three meters high).

Even if you only have time for a short visit, you should not miss the Maori show. This is an opportunity to learn the meaning of the Haka, a ritual song still interpreted by All Blacks rugby team before every match to steal the energy of their opponents (you can learn the haka in Rotorua).

To summarize, we explored the city center and its glorious Sky Tower, a great park and the best museum. After such programme, we need some fresh air! How about going to the beach?

Auckland is proud to offer a new kind of self-service bike rental. You'll need to find a “Next Bike New Zealand” station in the city center. Please note that you can rent a bike even if you are a foreigner. The 8 km route is lined with gorgeous Pohutukawas. The Christmas-trees of New Zealand are covered with red leaves which bloom at this time of year.

The splendid panorama of Waitemata Harbour where you can spot Rangitoto Island attracts a wealthy population.

If we have enough free time to spend on our way back later, we might plan a short detour toward Paritai Drive. The “ millionaires street” where you can contemplate beautiful villas is the most expensive area of ​​Auckland (it even attracts the tourists buses).

Having crossed Hobson Bay, we shall follow the sea via Okahu Bay. The sandy beaches of Mission Bay and St Heliers are waiting for us.

If you had the great idea to take your swimsuit you can even go swimming if you want.

We could easily finish the afternoon on the hot sand of the beach. But I recommend you not to hang around. We must not leave Auckland without paying a visit to the “Kelly Tarlton's Antartic and Underwater World ” on Tamaki Drive.

Located halfway between Okahu and Mission Bays, this aquarium is a must. At the end of the afternoon, it is legitimate to feel a little tired, and another visit (especially a museum...) seems to be beyond our forces. But trust me please or at least wait to know the program first!

Best part of the tour takes place in an underwater plexiglass tunnel among the tropical fishes and sharks. Then, a snow motorbike ride awaits us on the ice! A penguin colony occupies this natural area restored to perfection. You can even see the penguins dive and swim under the ice.

If you have jumped off the Sky Tower, you're maybe the kind of person who enjoys swimming with sharks?

If you feel brave enough, the “Sand Tiger Shark" attraction is for you. Put on your diving combination and join an expert guide to go underwater in the middle of about 3,5 m long white sharks

Time goes by and the aquarium will close soon. The day comes to an end but there is still one district of the city that I would like you to discover.

The many bars and restaurants attract a crowd of locals in a relaxed atmosphere. My first idea was to invite you to dinner at the Prego, an excellent Italian restaurant, but it is complete (please book far in advance).

Fortunatly, there is room in “Kushi”, my favorite Japanese restaurant in New Zealand. The Asian community represents 13% of the Auckland population and the presence of the port ensures fresh arrivals every day.

You can trust me blindly here, and don't worry, you may try New Zealand cuisine next time during your stay.

The service is fast and they serve you with a smile. You will be able to taste real bentos andmany original Japanese dishes. This changes of the traditional miso soup and coleslaw! You will find the usual sushis of course, but it's a real opportunity to discover the typical dishes of ramen from Japan.

Leaving at night, you can admire the magnificent Sky Tower and its fluorescent lighting. If you still have some energy for a last drink, you'll find your way back to Ponsonby Road. I recommend the “Chapel Bar & Bistro” but there is such a variety of choice and you may follow your instinct.

But I have not said my last word! We will come back to Auckland in other Kiwipal articles.The first day of the trip was only a foretaste of Auckland and New Zealand.

Auckland would be the third most livable city in the world? After this day, you should be able to make yourself an opinion. In any case, it is an ideal city to study and visiting the campus is enough to be convinced.

Consider the mild climat, the 55 beaches of the region, the huge green parks to relax, original museums and year-round festivals... and you'll get the full picture!

Ten minutes is enough to escape the buildings and find yourself surrounded by nature. This is probably why most people are leaving the center to more pleasant neighborhoods. Such a pelasure to be able to live in Auckland!

Overall, Auckland help you to understand the nature of New Zealand locals. Their passion for sailing and rugby, two sports with great values ​​of respect and humility.

They don't forget the colonial heritage (even with its dark period) while building the future with many different populations and cultures.

And then, there is this constant need to take on challenges. You just have to show a tower or a bridge to any guy in New Zealand and he'll ask to perform a bungee jumping for sure. You are visiting the mother country of the “do-it-by-yourself” spirit. New Zelanders are known as the “Kiwis” and they are among the most friendly, peaceful and honest people on earth.

Now that you have discovered Kiwipal, I hope you will stay with us for many discoveries.

Auckland is listed in the Kiwipal ranking of the best cities to visit in New Zealand. But other places are waiting for your visit, like Wellington (alias Windy Welly), Queenstown known as the world capital of adventure, or Rotorua and its geysers and geothermal activities ...

To conclude, please allow me to introduce you to Ben the Kiwi : our New Zealand's expert has more than one string to his bow. We are very proud to have him in our team. Ben comes at the end of each Kiwipal's article to answer all your questions.