Auckland Vacations

1. Kelly Tarlton’s SEA LIFE Aquarium

The world’s largest sub-arctic penguin colony, the largest stingray species in the world, and some of the world’s most colorful fish—New Zealand’s aquarium offers more than just these three accolades. During your Auckland trip, get up close and personal with the aquarium’s sharks with a snorkeling opportunity as well as visits inside the penguin enclosure. There are over 30 exhibits and over 80 different species on display.

2. Auckland Domain

Sprawling over 185 acres of downtown Auckland, the Auckland Domain is the city’s oldest park. The park’s most distinct feature is a crater that was formed from volcanic activity over 140,000 years ago. The crater now serves as a natural amphitheater for large outdoor events. Also at the Domain, one can find the Wintergardens, the Auckland Museum, historic greenhouses with rare tropical plants, as well as several sports fields.

3. Queen Street

If you fancy some shopping during your Auckland vacation, check out Queen Street, the city’s main shopping district. This street has a little of everything and makes shopping and dining out as easy as it gets. With designer fashion boutiques, the Auckland art gallery and exhilarating adventures like the SkyJump located nearby, the street is also home to many local pubs and lively bars to help you recharge after an exhausting shopping day.

4. Auckland Sky Tower

When you travel to Auckland, visit the tallest tower in the Southern Hemisphere. The Sky Tower features an observation deck at a height of 720 feet. For the more adventurous, there is also the SkyJump, where you can perform a base jump off the tower, and the SkyWalk that allows you to walk around the top of the tower while attached to a safety line.

5. Viaduct Harbour

Located in the heart of downtown Auckland, Viaduct Harbor features residential buildings as well as boutique shops and entertainment facilities. Here, you can explore the waterways of the harbor and see the numerous luxury yachts and racing boats that call Viaduct Harbor home—the best area of Auckland to really get a feel for the country’s close ties to the ocean.

6. Auckland Harbour Bridge

Since 1959, the “coat hanger”, also known as the Auckland Harbor Bridge, has been one of Auckland’s most recognizable landmarks. Nowadays, the bridge isn’t just a convenient method for entering the city—it is also an adventure playground. Those with a sense of adventure will be happy to note that the bridge features both a bungy jumping opportunity (from 130 feet) as well as a bridge climb to the top of the bridge.

7. Waiheke Island

If you fancy a break from the city during your Auckland vacation, Waiheke Island is located just offshore, connected to the city by a 40-minute ferry ride. Local wineries, some of whom have been winning awards for their Syrah for years, await you with enchanting gardens and endless drops of red—not to mention some of the best beaches in the whole of the country. Less