Welcome to Auckland
Welcome to Auckland - The city of Sails
Auckland, located in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous city of the country. Because of its Maori origins Auckland has the most important Polynesian population of any city in the world. In Maori, Auckland's name is Tamaki Makaurau.
Auckland's nickname "The City of Sails" is derived from the popularity of sailing in the region. With around 60,500 of the country's 149,900 registered yachtsmen, and with about one in three Auckland households owning a boat, the City of Sails has the largest amount of boats per habitant in the world. Furthermore it is one of the few cities in the world to have two harbours on two separate major bodies of water : the Manukau Harbour on theTasman Sea and the Waitemata Harbour on the Pacific Ocean.
In 2014 Lonely Planet named Auckland as one of the world's Top 10 Cities in its "Best in Travel" guide.
Information and facts
Night-life
Britomart: one of Auckland's newest "precincts", you can find there some great new bars perfect to start your bight night out or just for some afterwork drinks.
K'Road: they say a night out in Auckland wouldn't be complete without going to K'Road. A notorious reputation and the guarantee of a good time.
Kingsland: its proximity to Eden Park and a train station make it a great place for some drinks after a game.
Ponsonby: the Auckland's hippest strip has a large range of stylish bars and restaurants for a variety of different tastes. Dance until the early hours, check out live music or just relax in one of the Ponsonby's clubs.
Viaduct: with more than 30 thrilling bars and restaurants Viaduct Harbour is a great place for eating out and partying.
Shopping
As Auckland is the largest city of New Zealand it offers the best shopping in the country. If you want to find popular international and local brands you can go to one of Auckland's shopping malls. But if you feel more original Auckland's markets are the best places to go, you will find fresh local produce and tasty treats at local farmer's markets or shop for arts, crafts, jewellery and more.
Sightseeing
There are some original ways to discover the beauty of Auckland and the most famous of them is to stand on the edge of the Sky Tower which is the largest building in the Southern Hemisphere. Its three observation decks offer an amazing 360-degree views of Auckland. And for a unique dining experience you can choose to have a meal at one of two restaurants at the top of the Sky Tower.
And if you want to discover the rich biodiversity of the Island, Auckland has more to offer than just its beautiful beaches. The City of Sails has numerous walking tracks and wonderful regional parks like the Awhitu Regional Park, the Hunua Regional Park, the Auckland Botanic Gardens and more which make you want to stay a little longer.
Time
Time zone: New Zealand Standard Time (NZST) UTC/GMT +12 hours
Summer: New Zealand Daylight Time UTC/GMT +13 hours
Climate
Thanks to its subtropical climate you can enjoy Auckland in any season, the region has a warm coastal climate without extremes of temperatures. Note that the seasons are the opposite of the Northern Hemisphere. In Auckland winter is from June to August, spring is from September to November, summer is from December to February and autumn or fall is from March to May.
The mean daily temperature during summer is 19°C (66°F), and during winter the daily mean temperature is 11°C (52°F).
Public transportation
There are three different modes of public transport in Auckland: bus, train and ferries. These services are coordinated by Auckland Transport.
Buses travel to destinations all over the Auckland region, all year around and even on public holidays. The train is a great way to get around central Auckland and especially to travel to the central business district. The ferry is a peaceful way to travel around the Auckland region and it is also a great way to explore the beautiful islands of the Hauraki Gulf. The AT HOP card is a prepay card that allows you to travel easily as it is transferable across the system.