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A Day Out in Auckland

by | Jun 7, 2015 | Things to do | 0 comments

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A Day Out in Auckland

Staying out of the city but feel a like taking a day trip before returning to the peace and quiet of Mahurangi West? Here are some great ideas for some fun Auckland activities.

Explore New Zealand’s largest city. Find free activities and recommended activities and make the most of your time in the City of Sails. Auckland is not only an adventure playground for visitors and residents, it is also home to many natural attractions which can be visited for FREE.

FREE AUCKLAND ACTIVITIES


Auckland harbourWE SUGGEST:

  • Climb one of the 48 volcanoes and enjoy the amazing view as far as the eye can see.
  • Spend a day at the beach. The east coast beaches have calm waters and golden sand, where the west coast is rugged with big surf and black sand. Climb Lion Rock at famous Piha Beach, or visit the gannets at Muriwai.
  • Pack a lunch and go for a walk. Auckland has many exciting bush walks and hiking trails which can fill your entire day. Regional park walks vary; from challenging walks through the west coast rainforest, through to a nice calm bushwalk further north.
  • The Auckland Domain has beautiful gardens, playing fields and is home to the Auckland Museum (free entry for Auckland residents).  Take your time wandering through the winter gardens, or play your favourite sport on the vast grassed area.
  • Take a self-guided tour of Auckland City. It is not the concrete jungle you may expect. Aotea Square is used for a myriad of activities including festivals, parades and community events. It is frequented by skateboarders who are entertaining to watch. Auckland’s newest waterfront neighbourhood Wynyard Quarter provides free activities for families in the weekends and school holidays. Kids can get around on bike or scooter, and there are free bikes available from the information centre. Silo Park has an imaginative playground where parents can relax and kids can stay entertained for hours.
  • Drive or take the ferry (small fee) from Auckland City to historic Devonport. Explore the naval caves at North Head, and admire the city view. Spend some time at Cheltenham or Devonport Beach. Browse through the boutique shops and cafes. Visit the Torpedo Bay Navy Museum, the officialmuseum of the Royal New Zealand Navy.

PAID AUCKLAND ACTIVITIES

Auckland has an efficient public transport system, but you may like to have your own transport if you plan to squeeze a lot of activities in to one day.

WE SUGGEST:

  • Kelly Tarltons SEALIFE Aquarium. An all-weather visitor attraction, see the world’s largest penguin colony, over 30 exhibits & more than 80 different marine species.
  • Visit one of Auckland’s wine regions Matakana, Kumeu, Clevedon Hills or Waiheke Island. Enjoy free tastings at the cellar door, or maybe a delicious vineyard lunch sampling local ingredients. A vineyard tour is highly recommended, just in case your over indulge!
  • Shop till you drop at one of the many malls and markets. Newmarket is a popular boutique shopping district, as is Dressmart (outlet shops) and Sylvia (NZ’s largest mall). Auckland has 6 Westfield shopping malls dotted around the region. Grab a bargain at a weekend market which can be found in most Auckland suburbs.
  • Take a guided tour of Auckland and afar. A variety of tours are on offer which include horse riding, sailing on the Hauraki Gulf, farm tours, wine tours and sightseeing. Check out Tui tours.
  • For families, ever changing Crystal Mountain houses New Zealand ’s largest selection of crystals and minerals from around the world. Onsite there is also a crystal museum, an animal park, roller coaster, train and café. A great day out for all ages.

Just 45 minutes north of Auckland city you’ll find peace and tranquillity at Mahurangi West Wing. A great bed and breakfast accommodation option if you don’t want to deal with the hassle and bustle of Auckland city and the traffic. Our B&B is halfway between Warkworth and Orewa on the Matakana Coast, just off SH1.

Stay with us at Mahurangi West and cruise into Auckland city at your leisure. See if our room is available on the days that suit you.

The suggestions for these Auckland activities come from http://www.nzonline.org.nz/