3 Things to Do on Your Trip to Auckland, New Zealand
If you’ll be going to the beautiful country of New Zealand, then you have a lot of planning to do because there are so many incredible places to visit! Unless you plan on staying in New Zealand for a truly extended period of time, you’ll need to decide exactly what to see in the country before visiting.
One of the main destinations of your trip to New Zealand should be Auckland, the largest city in the country and home to 32% of the population. The city sits in the northern part of the country and is therefore the more temperate of the country’s climates.
So, what is in Auckland? Well, Auckland has a rich history and vibrant economy. Many financial investment firms and other large businesses in the Oceania and Southeast Asia regions have chosen to base their headquarters in Auckland. You can click here for an example.
In this article, we’re going to go over the three coolest places to visit in Auckland, New Zealand. Each of these destinations within Auckland have something unique to offer, and we highly recommend visiting as many of these places as you can while you are in the city.
- Rangitoto Island
How many metropolitan cities can you name that have a volcanic island within 30 minutes of their downtown? Well, if you couldn’t name any, now you can!
Just 25 minutes from the city center of Auckland lies Rangitoto Island, a volcanic island. It was formed just 600 years ago in a volcanic eruption, making it the youngest island in New Zealand.
More interesting than that, the formation of the island can actually be accounted for in the historical memory of the Maori tribes. Human footprints have been found between layers of ash on the island, indicating that the indigenious tribes of New Zealand were well aware of the island’s formation.
Today, the volcano is dormant and there are daily ferries that take visitors to the island. Click here to access a timetable for more information on the ferry.
- Auckland Skyjump and Skywalk
New Zealand’s tallest building is right in the heart of Auckland, and has some of the best views of the entire city. Towering 328 meters in height, you can venture to the top and participate in the sky walk and sky jump.
The sky jump is exactly how it sounds, as you can literally bungee jump off of the Sky Tower in Auckland! According to their webpage, you will fall 53 stories at a speed of 85 kilometers per hour, all for 11 seconds of pure adrenaline rush.
If you aren’t that daring, you could still get quite the rush of adrenaline by walking on top of the Sky Tower with no handrails to stop you from falling (apart from the safety harness you will be wearing, of course).
- Queen Street
The most lively and busiest street in all of Auckland is Queen Street, and is a well-known place for people to shop and spend time in the city. The street is home to many of Auckland’s most famous and historically significant buildings, such as Auckland Town Hall, Auckland Ferry Building, Endeans Building, and more.
Our personal recommended place to visit on Queen Street would be The Civic. Built in 1929, this entertainment venue is a historically significant building in the city and often hosts many talented performers such as the Auckland Symphony Orchestra.
You can also book tours for The Civic, in addition to many other historical sites on Queen Street by reading into Tripadvisor’s guide on the area.
Whether you go to all three of these sites or none of them, we are positive that you will have a fun and exciting trip to New Zealand, and that you stay safe as well. Be sure to stop by Auckland if you have the chance, and enjoy some of the local culture and city life.
