Like any capital city, Auckland is packed full of places to see and things to do and the best way to see it (if you have the time) is to wander around exploring every nook and cranny and visiting every attraction, restaurant or site possible. But… if you have limited time you need to be much more organised and having a clear itinerary is definitely the way to go. There are a great range of hotels in Auckland offering excellent Auckland CBD accommodation close to most attractions, restaurants and sights so you don’t waste too much time getting around. Getting around Auckland isn’t difficult, there are plenty of taxis, buses and trains in the CBD plus the Auckland ‘Hop on, Hop off’ Explorer charges a reasonable fee and allows tourists to hop on and off the bus all day, and stops at most of the major Auckland attractions.
Day 1
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki is first stop on your two day tour of Auckland. The gallery is the home of visual arts in New Zealand and boasts over 15,000 artworks by Maori and Pacific Island artists as well as international artists. Allow a couple of hours to look through the gallery and factor in some time for a coffee and cake at the gallery cafe. Next stop is the Auckland Zoo, home to New Zealand’s largest collection of animals and known as one of the most progressive zoos in the world. The zoo is set on 17 hectares of lush parkland and houses 138 different species. Finish day one with a walk around cosmopolitan Viaduct Harbour and a quick visit to the Voyager Maritime Museum followed by a relaxed dinner at one of the Viaduct’s waterfront restaurant. Retire to your Auckland CBD accommodation exhausted.
Day 2
Start day two with an adrenalin-filled jet boat ride around Auckland’s beautiful Waitemata Harbour followed by a quick ferry ride from Auckland to Devonport for a much more relaxing brunch. Take some time to explore the charming seaside town, its beaches, shops and galleries. From Devonport head back to Auckland CBD and visit the Auckland Museum with the world’s largest Maori and Pacific Island collection housed in New Zealand’s most iconic and impressive heritage building. From here it’s a short trip to the famous Sky Tower, Auckland’s tallest building where you can enjoy 360° views of Auckland from a 1.2 metre wide observation deck called Sky Walk, 192 metres above the city streets. Adrenalin junkies may want to take the experience one step further and have a go at Sky Jump – described as base jumping while attached to a wire. Once back on terra firma a great way to conclude your two day trip to Auckland is with a sunset dinner cruise on Auckland harbour. There are several companies offering dinner cruises leaving out of Viaduct Harbour and if you’re lucky you may get to see some dolphins while you’re out there. A quick trip back to one of the excellent Auckland airport hotels means you’ll be ready to fly out first thing in the morning knowing that you’ve seen the best of Auckland. Best CBD Products UK