It didn’t bother me in the least that our first day in Auckland was enveloped in dark clouds and drenched in rain. In fact, that’s how I knew I was going to love the few days we had to spend there.

Auckland is New Zealand’s most populous city, and it provides an incredible introduction to the culture and spirit of whānau (the native Māori word for extended family) that is so much a part of every experience we had. Whether you have just a day or two to explore the city or you make it your home base for an extended period of time, Auckland is an unmissable city if your travels take you to New Zealand. Here are 10 of the places we highly recommend as you create your own itinerary!
One Tree Hill

Although One Tree Hill is, indeed, a hill, it does not have one tree—in fact, it does not have any trees at all. When the site was abandoned, a single native tree stood for just a few decades before it was cut down by a settler who did not understand its significance. Sir John Logan Campbell, a businessman recognized as the “Father of Auckland,” planted a grove of pine trees as a replacement for the single tree, of which only one tree survived—again creating a One Tree Hill. That tree was attacked twice; it survived the first attack but could not withstand the second, which was inflicted as part of a Māori protest. Today, instead of a tree, a memorial obelisk dedicated to the Māori people and funded by Campbell stands tall. In the coming years, the hill will welcome a brand-new tree; in 2015 the City of Auckland announced that a small grove of native trees would be planted, and the strongest tree will remain on the hill.
Visiting One Tree Hill and the surrounding Cornwall Park is a wonderful way to see Auckland. It is free to enter the park, and a fairly easy walk will take you to the summit for some terrific city views. Although it is somewhat accessible by public transportation, it is much easier to arrive by car since it is removed from the Central Business District.
Auckland Sky Tower

More Information: SkyCityAuckland.co.nz/Sky-Tower
Mount Eden

Although Maungawhau is reason enough to head into the suburbs, my favorite part wasn’t the views or the geology lesson—it was Piggy Stardust. Local artist Paul Walsh has developed a name for himself by turning outdoor telecommunication enclosures into works of art. Piggy Stardust is an ode to Ziggy Stardust—David Bowie’s famous alter ego—and features a brown and white guinea pig rocking a pink and blue lightning bolt across his face. The guinea pig is a tribute to a kindergarten pet from a nearby school. Adam and I have shared our home with a number of guinea pigs over the years (they make absolutely wonderful pets!), and while we fully expected to discover guinea pig tributes in places like Cusco and Quito, we were delighted to run across one in Auckland. Just a month later we saw a similar artistic tribute to Ziggy Stardust in London, which nicely brought our tour of related street art to a close. If you are looking for fun, off-the-beaten-path spots to seek out in Auckland, find Piggy Stardust for a quick photo op. Walsh has painted a number of telecom enclosures throughout Auckland, so with an extra couple of days Piggy Stardust could set you off on a nice street art scavenger hunt.
Emily Place Reserve

Queen Street
One of the busiest streets in Auckland is Queen Street, and it is a great place to spend a few hours or an entire afternoon if shopping and people watching are of interest. Punctuated by small parks, historic civic buildings, and great restaurants and shopping options, there is plenty to capture your interest. We spent quite a bit of time exploring Queen Street on our last day in Auckland, when we joined a terrific food tour for a walk through the area. In addition to uncovering some delicious snacks, we found there was a lot to like about the street. Queen Street regularly hosts parades and other gatherings (we hoped to see the annual Christmas parade during our trip, but it was delayed due to rainy conditions), so it’s worth checking local publications to see what events you may be able to enjoy. Also of note is that Queen Street is quite steep; starting from the harbor, it is a long, uphill walk to get to the other end. If walking up hills sounds like more than you want to tackle during your Auckland vacation, there is no shame in taking a bus or hailing a taxi to get you from place to place.
Britomart

Viaduct Harbour
Recommended to us by a fantastic server during one of our meals in Auckland, the Viaduct Harbour is a wonderful neighborhood to explore. Originally developed to receive commercial ships, the Viaduct didn’t succeed in its intended use. As the size of ships increased, most vessels were too large to dock at the wharf. Larger wharves capable of accommodating ships rendered the viaduct unnecessary, and so the area was redeveloped to bring in bars and restaurants. You’ll find a pretty vibrant nightlight at the Viaduct, which is a short walk from the CBD and a convenient place to catch a ferry to one of the neighboring islands. It’s a nice, modern spot to walk around, and you’ll find dozens of choices for a round of drinks or a full meal.
Hit the Beach
New Zealand has thousands of miles of coastline, and Auckland is close to some truly wonderful beaches. If you are thinking about spending a day at the beach, you’ll have more than just a decision on which beach to visit: you’ll have to decide what kind of sand you want.

If you are looking for something a bit more dramatic, don’t miss the chance to add a black sand beach to your Auckland itinerary. Surrounded by rocky cliffs, the volcanic black sand is an amazing sight as it stretches along the coastline. We loved Karekare Beach, which is a short drive from Auckland. Made famous when it was featured in the Oscar-winning film The Piano, Karekare Beach is especially great for walking but can be a good swimming location when the waves are calm. The beach is also a short walk from the beautiful Karekare Waterfall, which has the tranquility that places like Niagara Falls, Cascada de Peguche in Ecuador, and Multnomah Falls in Oregon lack due to their popularity. When we trekked to the falls we were among just four other people, all joining us as part of a wine-focused day trip. Like the waterfall, the beach was sparsely populated, and we couldn’t believe we had the chance to have an incredible piece of nature all to ourselves.
Arataki Visitor Centre

More Information: Facebook.com/AratakiVisitorCentre
Auckland War Memorial Museum
The Auckland War Memorial Museum is a great place to learn about New Zealand’s history. Long before European settlers arrived, the Māori people lived and ruled the land. The museum houses many of the artifacts, artwork, tools, and treasures that will help you to learn their significance and the richness of the country’s history as a whole. Many of the galleries include multimedia approaches to educating guests about New Zealand’s history; with a full afternoon you’ll find plenty of exhibits, videos, and activities to immerse yourself in culture and knowledge. The museum also has two Halls of Memory dedicated to New Zealanders who lost their lives as war. Make the most of your visit by experiencing a guided tour or a cultural performance, both of which can be added to the ticket price when you arrive.
More Information: AucklandMuseum.org
Take an Auckland Walking Tour

As with all free tours, the tour itself is completely free; if you have a great time, you are encouraged to leave a gratuity with your guide. We recommend tipping generously, as paid walking tours are often exceptionally expensive and every guide we have encountered has been passionate about his or her hometown and more than willing to answer questions and share local perspectives that you may not find so easily anywhere else.
Waiheke Island Wine Tour

Our Post: Auckland Wine Day Trip: Two Ways to Try New Zealand Wine
How to Get Around in Auckland
We found Auckland to be an easy city to navigate. Neither Adam nor I drive outside of the USA and Canada, so we rely heavily on places where we can walk or take public transportation. We booked tickets from the airport to our hotel using the Skybus, a convenient, economical shuttle that connects airport passengers with the CBD. Once we were in the city we walked almost everywhere, hoping on the Metro—the railway—just a few times to travel to Mount Eden and to escape the rain. If, like us, you don’t choose to rent a car, Auckland is a very accessible city to explore by foot and by public transit. If you do choose to rent a car—a great idea for many people, especially those planning to leave Auckland to explore more of the islands—remember that you’ll need to drive on the left side of the road instead of the right, and Auckland traffic can be a bit of a nightmare during peak commuting times.
More Information: AT.govt.nz
Where to Eat in Auckland

Our Post: 14 Places to Eat in Auckland, New Zealand
Where to Stay in Auckland
We stayed at the Grand Mercure Auckland Hotel our home base during our visit, and if you are looking for a conveniently-located place near many key sightseeing attractions it may be a great place for you to stay, too. The Mercure is within walking distance of many of our favorite places in Auckland, including our favorite restaurants, and it’s also close to the Britomart transit center for bus and train access! The Mercure offered well-sized, clean rooms with comfortable beds and free WiFi—we are planning to stay there again the next time our travels take us to Auckland.
More Information: Booking.com/Grand-Mercure-Auckland-Hotel
We found the best hotel rates on Booking.com; you may find a great deal for the Mercure or another property on Booking.com as well. Here are a few deals to consider.
Enjoy Auckland!

Still, don’t forget your umbrella.
Related Posts
Looking for more fun places to visit near Auckland? Here are a few more posts for inspiration!
* From time to time, our travels are directly impacted by a service or company. In this case, we visited multiple locations on our own and as part of a tour with Auckland Free Walking Tours, and this post includes our candid review of our experience. We selected these locations and companies based on our own research and travel needs; we were not offered and did not receive compensation of any kind from them or any other party in exchange for our review. Learn more about our travel philosophy here.