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Hotel Class: 
4.5 Stars - 32 Opinions
15 Nicholls Lane, Carlaw Park, Parnell, Auckland, 1052, New Zealand
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of people enjoy staying here
32 Opinions
Ferry Building
Top spot
University of Auckland
Harbourside (photo taken from ferry to Waiheke)
Hi,
We are spending 24 hours in Auckland at end of Jan before driving north. Can anyone suggest the main highlights to see. We are more interested in walking around and expeeriencing views, landscape and culture, than shopping or eating.
I already have Sky tower on my list. Can you suggest others.
Amanda
Our favourite was Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World. A really nice walk-through (actually ride through on a moving sidewalk) aquarium. You literally have the fish on both sides of you and above you.
The Antarctic display is great too.
http://www.kellytarltons.co.nz/
War memorial museum is quite good for culture stuff.
Alternative to Sky tower (and free) is views from summit of "One Tree Hill" or "Mt Eden"
Technical stuff can be seen at "The Museum of Technology" next to the Zoo which is also quite good.
Just have a look at my or other members' VT pages, and you get more ideas.
Kelly Tarlton's has been mentioned, the AKL War Memorial Museum has been mentioned, it is the best museum for Maori culture in New Zealand, and the war part is very impressive. When you are in the museum you are not far from Parnell which is AKL's lovliest suburb.
Mt. Eden and One Tree Hill are great for views.
From the Skytower you can walk to Viaduct Harbour and the historic Harbour Building, and stoll to Albert Park.
I think you will not be able to cram more into 24 hours.
The places I was going to suggest have been mentioned but I will put in another vote for Kelly Tarlton's it was very well done. Also (and this is going back 10 years) I really enjoyed the Auckland Zoo and virtually right beside it was either the museum or the war memorial (or possibly both!!). They were set in a nice garden area too so that could be something to do. Enjoy it and don't forget to see the rest of NZ too at some stage.
Auckland Zoo is nowhere near the Museum or War Memorial. The Museum and War Memorial are at the same site in the Domain (close to the city centre/Parnell), thus also the official name "Auckland War Memorial Museum". the Zoo is in Western Springs, quite a drive from the city. With the "nice garden area" you probably mean the Domain which surrounds Museum and War Memorial.
The Auckland Zoo is right beside MOTAT - The Museum of Transport and Technology, and there is nice park and gardens beside as well, known as "Western Springs". But as Kakapo says, it is not in the central city. But it is only a short taxi or bus ride out.
The University of Auckland covers a huge tract of land on the eastern side of the central business district. During week days, over 20 000 students fill this area and it has a culture of its own. Albert Park is on the CBD side of the campus and is a nice place to quietly retreat to from the traffic and pace of downtown. Auckland has few heritage buildings left now, but the University Clocktower has to be one of the best photogenic examples remaining.
Going to The North of the north you find the Bay of Islands, here is where the Discoverers of New Zealand came to land. First the Maoris and Later Abel Tasman with the Endeavour.
Its a beautiful area with thousand of islands.
but from here you can also visit the historic places of Waitangi and the places where Europeans and maoris landed, the first houses, the first churches, the first human and mamal (except for an extrange bat )that arrived to this Paradise.
Jane Daniels is a top clothing designer down here in kiwiland, and her clothes are really nice. She works a lot in silk and other materials, all just simply gorgeous. Buy something for that special event you are going to down here. If you are coming to NZ for a wedding, stop here and get the outfit you will love. A lot!
Although Auckland has a kind of rail network the main means of public transportation is the bus. There are several companies but the two most common buses you will use are the Bus NZ buses (formerly Stagecoach) and The Link (also part of Bus NZ).
A bus trip in the inner city costs $ 0.50. Longer trips are counted in stages, so 1 stage, 2 stage, up to 8 stage, and the price range is $ 1.80 to 10.30, with 10 ride tickets that make the trips slightly cheaper.
Look for
North Star (http://www.northstarbus.co.nz/),
Metrolink (http://www.metrolinkbus.co.nz/),
GoWest (http://www.gowest.co.nz/) and
Waka Pacific (http://www.wakapacific.co.nz/) on the
NZ Bus website (http://www.nzbus.co.nz/).
The Link - also part of NZ Bus - is a great and cost-efficient service. This (green) bus travels on a loop route through and around the city centre, clockwise and counter-clockwise. One trip costs $ 1.80 (as Jan. 2011). The route leads through Queen Street, Parnell, Newmarket, University, and Ponsonby.
A probably very good value ticket is the Discovery Day Pass. It costs $ 14.50 and is valid for all-day use on all Stagecoach, North Star, Go West and North Shore buses, as well as on The Link and the Downtown Fullers ferry services. Available for NZ$ 10 for use after 9am. Or buy a ten trip ticket for NZ$ 15. (All prices as Jan. 2011.)
Some of the passes are also available for groups.
You can get family passes and monthly tickets for all bus services.
As the system is incredibly diverse and therefore difficult it is best to go to the Britomart terminal at the end of Queen Street, and discuss your options.
http://www.maxx.co.nz/pricing-passes/bus-fares.html
http://www.maxx.co.nz/how-to-travel/take-the-bus.html
This grand old tavern first opened in 1890 and is one of the oldest pubs in Auckland. Today it comprises a large bar, café, brasserie and pub and caters for lunch and dinner – snacks to large meals. There are 11 beers on tap and 22 wines which are sold by the glass.
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