Auckland Attractions! When planning your trip to New Zealand and your travel itinerary, include a few days in Auckland; you might be surprised. Life in Auckland is not easy. Many tourists visiting New Zealand overlook Auckland as a destination, believing it to be merely a place to sleep off jet lag before continuing on to explore the real New Zealand.
If you give the city a chance, you will discover that there are a plethora of top things to do in Auckland that make it worthwhile to stay for a few nights to truly discover the City of Sails, its suburbs, beaches, and diverse islands. You could easily spend a week in Auckland and still not see everything!
Sightseeing – Top Auckland Attractions
A city visit isn’t complete unless you go on a sightseeing tour of the city center and its surrounding suburbs. You can do a lot of Auckland sightseeing on foot because the city center is mostly compact. Other great ways to see Auckland are by bus or by boat.
See the city on a Hop-on/Hop-off bus tour
A city visit isn’t complete unless you go on a sightseeing tour of the city center and its surrounding suburbs. Boarding the Auckland Hop-on / Hop-off bus is the best way to get a sense of what the city has to offer. They come with audio commentary, and with a day ticket, you can leave and explore the area whenever you want.
Or a regular bus! – Top Auckland Attractions
Alternatively, you can take a regular bus. They are less expensive, but they will not tell you much about where you are or what you see. Link Buses are the best way to get around the city center. They come in three colors: red, green, and orange, and they take different routes.
Take a cruise on Auckland Harbour
When you’ve had your fill of seeing the city by bus, switch to exploring it by water. The Auckland Harbour Cruise will show you why Auckland is known as the City of Sails. The Fullers tour lasts 90 minutes and provides an excellent overview of the Auckland Islands.
Enjoy the view from the Sky Tower
When visiting Auckland, viewing the city from the Sky Tower is a must! Sky Tower Auckland is the tallest freestanding structure in the Southern Hemisphere, standing at 328 meters.
It’s just a tower with a fantastic 360° view of Auckland, but there are SO many ways to enjoy your stay! If you’re pressed for time, you can simply enter the tower. Why not stay for dinner at Orbit, the 360° rotating restaurant, if you have more time and money? Make your evening even more memorable by adding a stop at the Sugar Club – Top Auckland Attractions.
Auckland SkyWalk and SkyJump
If you prefer to get your adrenaline racing, you could try Auckland SkyWalk and SkyJump! The SkyWalk entails walking around the Sky Tower on a route that is open to the elements (fully secured, of course).
The Auckland SkyJump is a Bungy jump that is “controlled”. You’re safe on three fronts. Once you’ve overcome your anxiety and jumped from the tower, it will safely lower you to the ground without bouncing you back as a bungy rope would. But don’t be fooled. It’s no less terrifying than a regular bungy leap.
SkyWalk and SkyJump are technically two independent activities, but they constitute a fantastic combination that you should not miss!