Auckland Specials

City Guide

Auckland

Pacific-lapped Auckland is perfect for water babies.

This waterside city has a strong pulse and a nautical twinkle in its eye. Its location on a thin stretch of the North Island, sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea, is complemented by the lush subtropical forests of nearby hills and the volcanic terrains of nearby islands.

With its spectacular harbour and bridge, New Zealand's largest city ranks with the best and its districts weave their way around a variety of bays ideal for swimming, water sports and particularly yachting - hence the nickname 'City of Sails'.

Population:1200000

Orientation

Administratively, Auckland consists of a number of cities forming one vast urban sprawl. Auckland City proper lies between the Waitemata and Manukau Harbours. North Shore City, including the suburbs of Takapuna and Devonport, is just over the harbour bridge. Manukau City is to the south of Auckland proper, Waitakere City is to the west.

The lively waterfront, with its stylish Viaduct Harbour and Princes Wharf development, is a good place to start an exploration of the city. The commercial heart is Queen St. It runs from Queen Elizabeth II Square near the waterfront uphill to cosmopolitan Karangahape Rd (K Rd), passing Aotea Square.

Parnell, just east of the city centre, is a fashionable area of renovated wooden villas crammed with restaurants and boutiques. Tamaki Drive (sometimes called Waterfront Drive) starts from here and continues east all the way to St Heliers Bay, passing the swimming beaches at Okahu Bay and Mission Bay en route. Offshore, the Hauraki Gulf is dotted with islands. Southeast of the centre is the huge green expanse of Auckland Domain, one of 22 parks in the city. To the west are the fashionable cafe district of Ponsonby and upmarket Herne Bay. And visible from just about everywhere in Auckland is the Sky Tower, which soars above the city centre.

Money

Currency code: NZD
Currency name: NZ Dollar
Currency symbol: NZ$
Currency unit:dollar

Nightlife

Auckland stays up late Friday and Saturday nights.

Auckland has a good variety of places to go after the sun sets. There are plenty of convivial pubs and bars although club nightlife tends to be quiet during the week. On weekends the popular spots are full to overflowing and live music, theatre and ballet choices are the most plentiful in the country.

See

All things wet and wonderful, but drier appetites are catered for too.

Many of Auckland's tourist attractions are, unsurprisingly, based around the maritime. When you've had enough of aquariums and the history of sailing, go looking for Maori culture and dinosaur skeletons, lie in the gardens or try stargazing at the Observatory.

Shop

New Zealand's favourite place to shop.

Just about anything that comes out of New Zealand is available in Auckland. Popular souvenirs include sheepskin products, paua shell items, bone carvings, greenstone, woodcarving and turning, knitwear and leather goods. Also worth considering are wine, books, ceramics and designer clothing.

Electricity

Electrical plugs: Australian-style plug with two flat angled blades and one vertical grounding blade
Electricity voltage: 230V
Electricity hz: 50Hz

Events

Summer is a happening time in Auckland. In January there are the Open Tennis Championships and the Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta, commemorating the arrival of Captain Hobson in New Zealand. Come March, the hugely popular Pasifika Festival celebrates Polynesian culture through music and performances at Western Springs. The Waiheke Jazz Festival also tunes up in March and full-size Maori waka (war canoes) take to the Waikato River, Ngaruawahia, for the Turangawaewae Regatta. November blooms with the Ellerslie Flower Show at the Botanic Gardens, and the year is wrapped up in December with the Auckland Cup at Ellerslie Race Course. Various small food, wine and music festivals crop up throughout the year.

Events

New Year's Day official holiday 1 Jan
Waitangi Day official holiday 6 Feb
Easter official holiday Mar/Apr
Anzac Day official holiday 25 Apr
Queen's Birthday official holiday 1st Mon in June
Labour Day official holiday 4th Mon in Oct
Christmas Day official holiday 25 Dec
Boxing Day official holiday
Auckland Anniversary Day official holiday 29 Jan
Waitangi day official holiday 6 Feb
ASB Open Tennis Championships festival/event Jan
Devonport Food and Wine Festival festival/event Feb
HERO Festival Feb
Aotearoa Maori Performing Arts Festival Feb
Asian Lantern Festival Feb/Mar
Mission Bay Jazz and Blues Street Fest Feb
Waiheke Jazz Festival Mar/Apr
Royal NZ Easter Show Fun Mar/Apr
Comedy Festival May
NZ Boat Show May
Auckland to Russell Yacht Race Oct
Ellerslie Flower Show Nov
Auckland Cup Dec

Weather

Auckland's maritime climate ensures that temperatures never go to the extremes they would if the city were landlocked. Temperatures usually stay in the mid-20°s (high 70°Fs) in summer, and rarely fall near freezing in winter (June-August) - although the ground in some sheltered low-lying areas may at times receive a coating of frost. In summer the weather can become quite humid.

Communication

Areacodes : 09

Telephone_overview

NZ Telecom operates the public phone and local call networks. From private residential phones, local calls are free, while rates for long-distance calls through the various suppliers are competitive but constantly changing.

From payphones local calls cost a flat rate of 0.50, out-of-area calls start at around 0.50per minute, international calls have a minimum charge of 3.00 and the cost builds up at an alarming rate; toll-free call cards mean you can get around these high charges. Almost all pay phones in NZ are now card-operated and a few still take coins. Cardphones accept NZ Telecom cards which come in various dollar sizes and are available from visitor centres, shops and newsagencies. Auckland has some credit-card phones.

Long-distance and international calls can be dialled directly from pay phones. For international calls dial 00, then the country code, area code (drop the initial zero) and number.

To avoid the high charges of making long-distance calls from public phones, use one of the various discount call cards which can be used with any phone. With these prepaid phonecards (to values of NZD10.00 - NZD50.00), you dial a (toll-free) 0800 number and then a PIN number printed on the card (hidden by a scratch panel) before direct dialling your overseas calls. The cards can be purchased at service stations and newsagents. Calls to the UK, USA and Australia can be as low as NZD 0.15 a minute, or even lower if the card uses a local access number rather than a toll free number.

Emergency calls are not charged. Toll-free numbers in NZ are preceded by a 0800 or 0508 code. Cardphones may require you to insert a card, even though the call is not charged.

Transport

Getting there and away

Most international flights to New Zealand go through Auckland. Direct flights connect to and from west coast USA; east coast Australia and Perth; London and Frankfurt, and several cities in Asia. There's a departure tax for all international flights from Auckland, payable at the airport. A number of domestic airlines connect Auckland with other major centres in New Zealand.

There are regular bus services between Auckland and most larger towns and tourist areas; they operate from the Sky City Coach Terminal on Hobson St. There's an early morning train and an overnight train to Wellington daily.

Hiring a car and driving around New Zealand is easy, although the roads can be spoiled by cowboy behaviour.

Getting around

Auckland airport is 21km (13mi) southwest of the city centre and airport shuttles run to several accommodation places and Aotea Square in the city. A taxi will cost around USD 30.00.

The Britomart Transport Centre provides a hub where you can access buses, trains and ferries as well as general transport information.

Because it is such a sprawling city, the car is king in Auckland. The place is crawling with car-hire operators. If you're a cyclist, hire a bicycle and try the pleasant waterfront rides. Taxis are easy to hire from ranks or from the sidewalk. Ferries run between the city centre and various spots on the North Shore and the gulf islands.

Bus

The major bus lines offer discount travel passes valid for 14 days to three months.

There is an excellent public bus service called the Link, which travels around the interesting areas of the city centre.

Car

If you're planning on hiring or buying a car, bear in mind that a valid, unrestricted driver's licence from your home country is required, and don't forget that Kiwis drive on the left. Some good deals can be had for long-term car hire, but be warned that the cheapest is not necessarily the best. Parking in the city can be a headache, too.

Train

Trains arrive at and depart from Auckland train station on Beach Rd, about 1km (0.6mi) east of the city centre.