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Tours in Auckland |
Auckland Domain and Auckland Museum
Created in 1845, Auckland Domain is the city's oldest, largest and most attractive park, with semi-formal gardens, a sculpture walk, pathways and ponds, a winter garden with cool and tropical houses, and the Fernz Fernery, with over 100 types of fern. The 81-hectare (202-acre) domain is situated on an extinct volcano, known as pukekawa or ‘hill of bitter memories'. Within the domain is the Auckland Museum, the city's most visited attraction, combining its Greco-Roman style architecture with a contemporary take on the presentation of the displays. The ground floor is devoted to ‘The Pacific people', the middle to ‘The Place' and the top to ‘New Zealand at War', while a small area on the middle floor is given over to the Children's Discovery Centre. The displays include various interactive and audiovisual components. The museum also houses one of New Zealand's most important collection of Maori and South Pacific artefacts and the Manaia cultural performances of song, heralded by a conch blast that reverberates through the museum at 1100, 1200 and 1330.
Auckland Domain
Tel: (09) 303 1530 (domain) or 309 0443 (museum).
Website: www.aucklandmuseum.com
Opening hours: Daily dawn-dusk (domain); daily 1000-1700 (museum).
Free admission although a donation is appreciated (museum); charge for cultural performance.
Auckland Art Gallery
The city's main art gallery has the country's largest collections of both native and international art. The Heritage Gallery, which was opened in 1888, contains the bulk of the collection, with the New Gallery (opened across the street in 1995) concentrating on contemporary art, with revolving exhibitions. In the Heritage Gallery, international artists include Breughel and Millais, with Reynolds and Gainsborough providing a link back to colonial days. Some of the most memorable images are those by Gottfried Lindauer and Charles F Goldie, who depict passive portraits of Maori with moko (facial tattoos). Early in 2007 the Heritage Gallery closed for a substantial NZ$96 million refurbishment, which will mean some interesting changes. The massive upgrade, which includes expanding the premises and making them earthquake proof, is due to take three years to complete. During this time, the Auckland Art Gallery will continue to operate through the New Gallery building, which will show both old and new works, as well as host exhibitions, education and public programmes.
Heritage Gallery
Corner of Wellesley Street and Kitchener Street
New Gallery
Corner of Wellesley and Lorne Streets
Tel: (09) 307 7700 or 379 1349 (24-hour information line).
Website: www.aucklandartgallery.govt.nz
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1700.
Free admission; charge for special exhibitions.
New Zealand National Maritime Museum
In the heart of the Downtown waterfront, this museum pays homage to the debt an island nation owes to its maritime history. It covers almost a millennium of history - from the arrival of Maori and then European settlers, to the 2000 America's Cup. Displays also deal with navigation skills, whaling, sealing and other fishing activities, the first freezer ships to export farm produce (sheep and dairy products) to Europe and the invention of the jet boat. Visitors can see historical boats, make their own model boats and take a trip out into Auckland Harbour. The one-hour guided cruises on the Ted Ashby, a replica of one of the traditional, flat-bottomed, ketch-rigged scows that once worked the North Island tidal waterways, sail Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 1200 and 1400.
Eastern Viaduct, corner of Quay Street and Hobson Street
Tel: (09) 373 0800.
Website: www.nzmaritime.org
Opening hours: Daily 0900-1800 (Nov-Apr); daily 0900-1700 (Apr-Oct).
Admission charge.
Museum of Transport & Technology (MOTAT)
Commonly known as MOTAT, this is the country's largest transport collection. It has a working tramway that links its two sections, the main museum and the Sir Keith Park Memorial Site (free). The latter is the collection of aircraft, including vintage aircraft from the two World Wars and a replica of the Richard Pearse plane - the first successful powered aircraft, long before the Wright brothers. The main museum has displays on all other modes of transport, a reproduction Victorian village and the Science Centre, with interactive exhibits on technology and communications.
Great North Road, Western Springs
Tel: (09) 815 5800 or 0800 668 286 (information line).
Website: www.motat.org.nz
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1700.
Admission charge.
Howick Historical Village
In 1840, Auckland only had 1,500 inhabitants. This living museum deals with the dramatic and turbulent events of the next 50 years, when the bulk of the settlers arrived from Britain, Ireland and Australia and Maori were forcibly removed from their land. The 33 period buildings have been set in a landscape of reproduction gardens, streets and even a village pond. Staff dress in period costume and on the third Sunday of each month, there are special displays relating to different aspects of this period in the city's past.
Bells Road, Lloyd Elsmore Park, Pakuranga
Tel: (09) 576 9506.
Website: www.fencible.org.nz
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1700 (last admission 1600).
Admission charge.
Kelly Tarlton's Antarctic Encounter and Underwater World
Kelly Tarlton was a local diver who designed this centre, which was opened in 1985, so non-divers could experience the underwater world that he found so fascinating. The perspex walk-through tunnels of Underwater World were the first to give visitors the illusion of walking underwater, for close encounters with sharks, rays and other creatures of the deep. The additional Antarctic Encounter includes a reconstruction of the hut in which Captain Scott and his expedition perished, modern-day studies of life on Earth's frozen continent and a Disney-like ride on the Snow Cat through artificial icebergs and snow drifts.
23 Tamaki Drive, Orakei
Tel: (09) 528 0603 or 0800 805 050.
Website: www.kellytarltons.co.nz
Opening hours: Daily 0900-1800 (last entry 1700).
Admission charge.
Auckland Zoo
Almost 1,000 creatures from around the world are housed at this forward-looking zoo, which tries to place the animals in surroundings that closely recreate their natural environment. New Zealand's native species are represented to the tune of 10%, in particular the hard-to-see national bird, the kiwi, in a nocturnal enclosure, as well as the Tuatara - the most famous national lizard-cum-dinosaur. There is also a large walk-through aviary. The rainforest is such a popular feature that it even has its own website. Here monkeys and apes, parrots, spiders and other rainforest creatures can be seen in their natural habitat. Pridelands is an area that is home to the animals of Africa, including lions, rhinos and giraffes, while Hippo River allows very close-up views of hippopotami. Guided tours are available and there is an informative visitor centre.
Motions Road, Western Springs
Tel: (09) 360 3805/19.
Website: www.aucklandzoo.co.nz
Opening hours: Daily 0930-1730 (last entry at 1615).
Admission charge.
Sky Tower
New Zealand's tallest building stands 328m (1,076ft) high in the centre of Auckland, dominating the skyline in the same way as Seattle's Space Needle. A lift service takes 40 seconds to whizz visitors to the first observation platforms. From here, the views are breathtaking enough but even more so from the very top level, from where visitors can look out over the harbour as well as the city. The tower is one part of the Sky City complex - a casino with cafes, bars and a restaurant. Visitors should note that anyone spending a minimum amount dining here receives a free pass to the very top of the tower. It is possible for visitors to climb even higher, to the crows nest or Sky Deck, a further 50m (164ft) up, as part of the Vertigo experience, which involves wannabe climbers being put through a simulator to make sure they are up for it. Alternatively, there is the world's longest tower-based jump, where a harness and attached wire allow for a 25-second, 192m (630ft) arrested freefall, eye-popping descent where you reach speeds of 85kph (53mph). Adrenaline junkies can keep their suits on and repeat the experience or cross the road and do an inverted bungy, called Skyscreamer.
Sky City
Corner of Federal and Victoria Streets
Tel: (09) 363 6422 or 0800 759 248.
Website: www.skycity.co.nz
Opening hours: Sun-Thurs 0830-2300; Fri-Sat 0830-2400.
Admission charge.
Vertigo
Tel: (09) 368 1917.
Skyjump
Tel: 0800 759 586.
Website: www.skyjump.co.nz
Created in 1845, Auckland Domain is the city's oldest, largest and most attractive park, with semi-formal gardens, a sculpture walk, pathways and ponds, a winter garden with cool and tropical houses, and the Fernz Fernery, with over 100 types of fern. The 81-hectare (202-acre) domain is situated on an extinct volcano, known as pukekawa or ‘hill of bitter memories'. Within the domain is the Auckland Museum, the city's most visited attraction, combining its Greco-Roman style architecture with a contemporary take on the presentation of the displays. The ground floor is devoted to ‘The Pacific people', the middle to ‘The Place' and the top to ‘New Zealand at War', while a small area on the middle floor is given over to the Children's Discovery Centre. The displays include various interactive and audiovisual components. The museum also houses one of New Zealand's most important collection of Maori and South Pacific artefacts and the Manaia cultural performances of song, heralded by a conch blast that reverberates through the museum at 1100, 1200 and 1330.
Auckland Domain
Tel: (09) 303 1530 (domain) or 309 0443 (museum).
Website: www.aucklandmuseum.com
Opening hours: Daily dawn-dusk (domain); daily 1000-1700 (museum).
Free admission although a donation is appreciated (museum); charge for cultural performance.
Auckland Art Gallery
The city's main art gallery has the country's largest collections of both native and international art. The Heritage Gallery, which was opened in 1888, contains the bulk of the collection, with the New Gallery (opened across the street in 1995) concentrating on contemporary art, with revolving exhibitions. In the Heritage Gallery, international artists include Breughel and Millais, with Reynolds and Gainsborough providing a link back to colonial days. Some of the most memorable images are those by Gottfried Lindauer and Charles F Goldie, who depict passive portraits of Maori with moko (facial tattoos). Early in 2007 the Heritage Gallery closed for a substantial NZ$96 million refurbishment, which will mean some interesting changes. The massive upgrade, which includes expanding the premises and making them earthquake proof, is due to take three years to complete. During this time, the Auckland Art Gallery will continue to operate through the New Gallery building, which will show both old and new works, as well as host exhibitions, education and public programmes.
Heritage Gallery
Corner of Wellesley Street and Kitchener Street
New Gallery
Corner of Wellesley and Lorne Streets
Tel: (09) 307 7700 or 379 1349 (24-hour information line).
Website: www.aucklandartgallery.govt.nz
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1700.
Free admission; charge for special exhibitions.
New Zealand National Maritime Museum
In the heart of the Downtown waterfront, this museum pays homage to the debt an island nation owes to its maritime history. It covers almost a millennium of history - from the arrival of Maori and then European settlers, to the 2000 America's Cup. Displays also deal with navigation skills, whaling, sealing and other fishing activities, the first freezer ships to export farm produce (sheep and dairy products) to Europe and the invention of the jet boat. Visitors can see historical boats, make their own model boats and take a trip out into Auckland Harbour. The one-hour guided cruises on the Ted Ashby, a replica of one of the traditional, flat-bottomed, ketch-rigged scows that once worked the North Island tidal waterways, sail Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 1200 and 1400.
Eastern Viaduct, corner of Quay Street and Hobson Street
Tel: (09) 373 0800.
Website: www.nzmaritime.org
Opening hours: Daily 0900-1800 (Nov-Apr); daily 0900-1700 (Apr-Oct).
Admission charge.
Museum of Transport & Technology (MOTAT)
Commonly known as MOTAT, this is the country's largest transport collection. It has a working tramway that links its two sections, the main museum and the Sir Keith Park Memorial Site (free). The latter is the collection of aircraft, including vintage aircraft from the two World Wars and a replica of the Richard Pearse plane - the first successful powered aircraft, long before the Wright brothers. The main museum has displays on all other modes of transport, a reproduction Victorian village and the Science Centre, with interactive exhibits on technology and communications.
Great North Road, Western Springs
Tel: (09) 815 5800 or 0800 668 286 (information line).
Website: www.motat.org.nz
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1700.
Admission charge.
Howick Historical Village
In 1840, Auckland only had 1,500 inhabitants. This living museum deals with the dramatic and turbulent events of the next 50 years, when the bulk of the settlers arrived from Britain, Ireland and Australia and Maori were forcibly removed from their land. The 33 period buildings have been set in a landscape of reproduction gardens, streets and even a village pond. Staff dress in period costume and on the third Sunday of each month, there are special displays relating to different aspects of this period in the city's past.
Bells Road, Lloyd Elsmore Park, Pakuranga
Tel: (09) 576 9506.
Website: www.fencible.org.nz
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1700 (last admission 1600).
Admission charge.
Kelly Tarlton's Antarctic Encounter and Underwater World
Kelly Tarlton was a local diver who designed this centre, which was opened in 1985, so non-divers could experience the underwater world that he found so fascinating. The perspex walk-through tunnels of Underwater World were the first to give visitors the illusion of walking underwater, for close encounters with sharks, rays and other creatures of the deep. The additional Antarctic Encounter includes a reconstruction of the hut in which Captain Scott and his expedition perished, modern-day studies of life on Earth's frozen continent and a Disney-like ride on the Snow Cat through artificial icebergs and snow drifts.
23 Tamaki Drive, Orakei
Tel: (09) 528 0603 or 0800 805 050.
Website: www.kellytarltons.co.nz
Opening hours: Daily 0900-1800 (last entry 1700).
Admission charge.
Auckland Zoo
Almost 1,000 creatures from around the world are housed at this forward-looking zoo, which tries to place the animals in surroundings that closely recreate their natural environment. New Zealand's native species are represented to the tune of 10%, in particular the hard-to-see national bird, the kiwi, in a nocturnal enclosure, as well as the Tuatara - the most famous national lizard-cum-dinosaur. There is also a large walk-through aviary. The rainforest is such a popular feature that it even has its own website. Here monkeys and apes, parrots, spiders and other rainforest creatures can be seen in their natural habitat. Pridelands is an area that is home to the animals of Africa, including lions, rhinos and giraffes, while Hippo River allows very close-up views of hippopotami. Guided tours are available and there is an informative visitor centre.
Motions Road, Western Springs
Tel: (09) 360 3805/19.
Website: www.aucklandzoo.co.nz
Opening hours: Daily 0930-1730 (last entry at 1615).
Admission charge.
Sky Tower
New Zealand's tallest building stands 328m (1,076ft) high in the centre of Auckland, dominating the skyline in the same way as Seattle's Space Needle. A lift service takes 40 seconds to whizz visitors to the first observation platforms. From here, the views are breathtaking enough but even more so from the very top level, from where visitors can look out over the harbour as well as the city. The tower is one part of the Sky City complex - a casino with cafes, bars and a restaurant. Visitors should note that anyone spending a minimum amount dining here receives a free pass to the very top of the tower. It is possible for visitors to climb even higher, to the crows nest or Sky Deck, a further 50m (164ft) up, as part of the Vertigo experience, which involves wannabe climbers being put through a simulator to make sure they are up for it. Alternatively, there is the world's longest tower-based jump, where a harness and attached wire allow for a 25-second, 192m (630ft) arrested freefall, eye-popping descent where you reach speeds of 85kph (53mph). Adrenaline junkies can keep their suits on and repeat the experience or cross the road and do an inverted bungy, called Skyscreamer.
Sky City
Corner of Federal and Victoria Streets
Tel: (09) 363 6422 or 0800 759 248.
Website: www.skycity.co.nz
Opening hours: Sun-Thurs 0830-2300; Fri-Sat 0830-2400.
Admission charge.
Vertigo
Tel: (09) 368 1917.
Skyjump
Tel: 0800 759 586.
Website: www.skyjump.co.nz
View Our Airport Guides for Auckland:
Auckland International Airport
