Auckland, New Zealand

As New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland is sometimes referred to as the gateway to New Zealand. In the Maori language, Auckland is called “the city of a hundred lovers” or Tamaki Makau Rau. The name was given to the city because of “it is desired by all and conquered by many”. Auckland boasts a population of 1.3 million people, which is one-third of the country’s entire population. Auckland has a coastal climate and temperatures generally never reach the extremes. Summer months are between December and February and the winter months are between June and August.

Voted time and again as one of the world’s top lifestyle cities, Auckland contains a plethora of activities and sites including three harbors, forty-eight volcanos, fifty islands, and two mountain ranges. Beaches and recreational retreats are never more than thirty-minutes from the city. The city has an immense arrangement of regional and varied types of parks. There archaeological sites, historic homesteads, marine reserves and botanical gardens. Auckland’s oldest park, Auckland Domain, was established in 1845. In the summer time, concerts are held inside the crater of an extinct volcano. The park also houses the Auckland War Memorial Museum.

New Zealand is known for its outdoor and water activities. In Auckland, sailing is a popular thing to do. A wide range of boating options are available. From regularly-running ferry service, to luxurious yachts, to speed boats, a ride on the water is one of the best ways to see the city. Kayaking and windsurfing are also popular activities around the harbor. The Hauraki Gulf is a fantastic place to see pods of dolphins and whales via boat trips on the Dolphin & Whale Safari. Kelly Tarlton’s Antarctic Encounter and Underwater World provides a view of daily life underwater through transparent tunnels built in the underground aquarium. For the land lovers, hiking trails in Auckland provide a scenic view of the cool rainforests in the Waitakere and Hunua Ranges. For the golf lovers, Auckland has over thirty golf courses. At the Gulf Harbor on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula, there is a course atop of a cliff. The course was designed by one of the world’s finest course designer, Robert Trent Jones, II.

Staying in Auckland is an adventure in itself. From five-star luxury hotels, cozy bed and breakfasts, and motels to home and farm stays or backpacker hostels, Auckland offers accommodations catering to a wide range of tastes, desires and budgets. Waiheke Island, a 35-minute ferry trip from downtown, is home to wineries, olive groves, arts and craft studios. The island has an assortment of accommodations and makes for a nice overnight getaway. Some of the countries best red wines are produced on the island.

Auckland is the place for gourmet taste buds. With hundreds of local restaurants and award-winning selections of wine, Auckland’s diversity in food is undeniable. “Pacific Rim” cuisine is the specialty. A mixture of Asian and Pacific flavors are combined with fresh locally-grown produce. The Matakana region is located one hour north of Auckland. It is a rural area whose people are avid food and wine connoisseurs. The Saturday Farmer Market makes local produce and wine available to the public. There are many craft boutiques, wineries, and even a cheese factory to tour. At the Auckland Fish Market there is a variety of seafood for sale. Cooking lessons are available at the seafood cooking school.

Auckland’s love of cuisine is showcased at food and wine events several times throughout the year. The annual Food Show displays specialty foods from New Zealand and afar. Celebrity chefs demonstrate cooking techniques and nonstop tastings are available. Popular food and wine festivals include the Auckland Food and Wine Festival, Waiheke Wine Festival, and the Devonport Food and Wine Festival.