Auckland Sightseeing
Special places, markets and streets
Aotea Square
Originally, the Horotiu River ran parallel to today’s Queen Street across the square, which was declared a market square by the city in 1855. In 1908 the town hall, the Town Hall, was built on the edge of the square. The square is now used for events and an arts and crafts market that takes place every weekend. Grouped around the square is also a cinema and the theater complex The Edge, which also includes the Herald Theater.
K.road
The K.road is a street where night life is raging. But there are also second-hand shops and cafes.
Pacific Catch (Fish Market)
West of Viaduct Harbor is the Auckland fish market, the Pacific Catch. Here you can admire the variety of New Zealand fish and taste them in a restaurant. If you are traveling by camper van, you should definitely stock up on fish here. But even without a camper van you can of course grill your fish as a tourist in one of the numerous regional parks in the area. There are permanently installed grills that everyone can use.
Parnell Street
Parnell Street runs through the district of the city of the same name. It is lined with restaurants and boutiques as well as galleries.
Ponsonby Road
Ponsonby Road is a street with boutiques, cafes and bars in the district of the same name.
Princess Wharf
On Princess Wharf there is a modern, very successful building complex that houses offices, apartments and the Hilton Hotel. Like Viaduct Harbor, Princess Wharf has numerous restaurants and cafes on the waterfront.
Queen Street
Queen Street is the main shopping street in the Central Business District and one of the oldest in the city. It leads from the harbor, and from there the Ferry Building to K-Road.
All roads mentioned here are approached by the link bus. The link bus drives both clockwise and counter-clockwise through the city in a circle.
Significant structures
Civic Theater
The building is a modernized cinema from 1929. It was designed by architect Bohringer Taylor and Johnson. The interiors are built in a fairytale Moorish style and have an illusionistic sky ceiling. The building was designed for around 2,000 people. It was modernized in the 1990s and is now used again as a popular cinema and event location.
Britomart
The Britomat, the city’s former main post office, has recently been renovated and converted into the main hub of the public transport system. A through station for diesel locomotives was built under the historic building, as electrification of the railway could not or would not be afforded. Currently, however, the station is a sack station, from which the “Overlander” departs for Wellington once a day in the morning and arrives from there in the evening.
The building with its elaborate technology and equipment is one of the most elaborate in the city of Auckland. The passer-by on the station forecourt can experience the arrival of the trains through an enormous ejection of steam into the round water basin of the square. The steam is said to be reminiscent of the volcanic surroundings of the city.
Harbor Bridge
The bridge over Waitemata Harbor was built in the 1950s. It is the longest bridge in New Zealand. With a length of 1,097 m and a span of 243 m. The middle area of the bridge is at a height of approx. 42 m above sea level. In the 1960s, the bridge was always expanded.
Bell tower of the University of Auckland
The bell tower at 22 Princess Street was built in 1926 to a design by the architect Roy Lippincott. The building is made of reinforced concrete in neo-Gothic style, evil tongues also speak of “Maori Gothic”.
Skytower
The tower is 328 meters high and dominates the skyline of Auckland. It is (2007) the tallest building in the southern hemisphere. From the tower you have a fantastic panoramic view of the Gulf of Hauraki and the city. If you want, you can even jump from the tower as a bungee jumper. Construction began in 1994 and opened in 1997. The tower has three viewing platforms at a height of 182 m and 191 m, the third is in the open air at a height of 220 m. The viewing platform at a height of 182 m has a glass floor, which often causes considerable anxiety in people with height problems. The revolving restaurant with a bar rotates 360 ° in around an hour.
Museums
Auckland Art Gallery
According to cancermatters, the Art Gallery is located at 1 Kitchener Street on the edge of Albert Park. It is housed in the old city library, a new building is currently being planned and implemented. In the gallery there are old European masters as well as classic paintings by Lindauer and Goldie and Hodges. These show New Zealand at the time of European discovery and portraits of Maori chiefs.
Auckland Maritime Museum
The museum is located in Auckland Harbor. The collection includes historic ships with which you can take a trip through the port of Auckland.
Auckland Museum in the Domain
The museum is currently being expanded but is open to the public. It is also a war memorial to commemorate the ANZAC (Australian-New Zealand) army during the world wars. What makes the museum special, however, is its Pacific collection, which contains Maori houses and canoes, as well as artifacts from all over the South Pacific.
Opera houses and theaters
Civic Theater
The building is a modernized cinema from 1929. It was designed by architect Bohringer Taylor and Johnson. The interiors are built in a fairytale Moorish style and have an illusionistic sky ceiling. The building was designed for around 2,000 people. It was modernized in the 1990s and is now used again as a popular cinema and event location.
Herald Theater
50 Mayoral Drive
The Herald Theater is located at the back of the Event Center on Aotea Square. Small, experimental theater productions are performed here.
Maidment Theater
8 Alfred Street
The theater is a studio theater of the University of Auckland.
Pumphouse Theater
The Pumphouse Theater is located in an old pump house in Takapuna in an idyllic location on Lake Pupuke. Shakespeare is often performed outdoors in the summer.
www.pumphouse.co.nz
Silo Theater
Lower Grays Avenue, not far from Aotea Suqares
New Zealand plays are performed in the theater.
www.silotheatre.co.nz
Churches and cathedrals
Saint Patrick’s Cathedral
Address: 43 Wyndham Street
The Roman Catholic Church was built in the Gothic Revival style at the end of the 19th century.
Holy Trinity Church
Address: 446 Parnell Road
The large wooden church is an Anglican church.
Saint Andrew’s Church
Address: Symonds Street
The Presbyterian Church was built in the mid 19th century.
Selwyn Court
The Selwyn Bishopric was built in 1863 by the architect Frederick Thatcher. The farm is located near St. Mary’s Church in Parnell.
St. Mary’s Church
Address: 437 Parnell Road
The wooden church from 1888 is considered one of the most beautiful churches in the “Gothic Revival” style. It was designed by the architect BW Mountfort. It was built by Bishop Selwyn, an Anglican missionary. The wooden church has been moved a bit from its original location throughout history, which is not uncommon in New Zealand.
Universities and other educational institutions
Auckland University of Technology (AUT)
The Auckland University of Technology, founded in 1895, has its main campus on Wellesley Street, near the University of Auckland, and a second campus near the Auckland Harbor Bridge. It is currently attended by around 22,100 students and consists of five faculties.
Unitec Institute of Technology (Unitec)
This Auckland University was founded in 1976 and is a member of the International Association of Universities.
University of Auckland
Auckland’s main university is a public educational institution founded in 1883. At that time it was still part of the former University of New Zealand. Today around 37,000 students study at the university and attend one of the eight faculties.
Stages
Avondale Racecourt
26 Racecourt Parade, Avondale The racecourse is located in a western part of Auckland.
Eden Park
The stadium is located in the Kingsland neighborhood on Reimers Ave. Rugby, cricket and other major sporting events are held here. With a capacity of 43,000, it is the largest stadium in New Zealand. www.edenpark.co.nz
Ericsson Stadium
The stadium is one of the largest in New Zealand. Rugby games are held here regularly. It is located in the Penrose Maurice Road or O’Rourke Road neighborhood.
Zoo, gardens and water
Albert Park
The park in the city center has existed since 1870. It was designed by James Slator (1834-1921). The park is not far from the main shopping street, Queen Street. There are many Auckland University buildings on the edge of the park.
Auckland Domain
In central Auckland Park is the Auckland Museum. From there you have a good view over the Gulf of Hauraki. A large open-air concert with many artists from the country takes place here at Christmas. The visit is free.
Auckland Zoo
In the Auckland Zoo you can see the inactive and very shy kiwi in reality alongside numerous native animals.
Botanical Garden
The Auckland Botanical Garden is located in the south of the city. In addition to many native plants, there are also many others on display. The best way to get to the botanical garden is by car via the “Autobahn” heading south.
www.aucklandbotanicgardens.co.nz
Kelly Tarlton’s Aqarium
In the aquarium you can admire sharks and penguins.
Lake Pupuke in Takapuna on the North Shore
The lake is ideal for windsurfing and model boating.
Auckland harbors
Along with Tauranga, Auckland is one of the most important overseas ports in the country. The city has three natural harbors:
Port of Waitemata, Port of Tamaki, Port of Manukau
The port of Waitemata is adjacent to the city center, the port of Tamaki is in the southeast of the city and the port of Manukau is in the south of the city, which opens onto the Tasman Sea in the west. The latter port is located in the south of Auckland and opens onto the Tasman Sea. The rare Maui dolphins live in the harbor mouth.
Viaduct Harbor
In Viaduct Harbor you can enjoy the flair of the Admirals Cup and marvel at the sailing boats. If you want, you can also sail with the Americas Cupers. From here the boats also leave, from which one can watch whales and dolphins. Otherwise, the Viaduct Harbor, surrounded by restaurants and cafes, is very popular with Aucklanders.
Westhaven Marina
The Westhaven Marina, which is located west of the city center below the Harbor Bridge, offers all sailors the opportunity to dream of sailing boats or to realize a dream and buy a boat from the numerous boat dealers. If you don’t want to spend so much money on the purchase, you can instead rent a sailing boat and explore the Gulf of Hauraki with its numerous islands.
Islands around Auckland
Rangitoto
The uninhabited volcanic island in the Gulf of Hauraki was created around 1,200 AD by a volcanic eruption. The island consists of lava fields in other areas. The islands can be reached in 20 minutes by ferry from the city center.
Waiheke
The island is about 30 minutes by ferry from the center. It has fantastic beaches and several wineries.
