Auckland

  • Accommodation:
    • Avani Metropolis Auckland Residences
  • Transport:
    • A pre-pay smart card cllaed AT HOP card can be used across buses, trains and ferries
    • The card gives users at least a 25% discount off single trip cash bus, train and ferry fares (excludes SkyBus bus services and Waiheke ferry services)
    • There are no individual bus or train trips longer than 5 zones. A 1 zone cash fare is $3.50 but $1.95 with the AT HOP card
    • Britomart, in downtown Auckland, is the main transport hub and is where many bus and train journeys start and finish
    • Ferries also arrive and depart from downtown Auckland, just two minutes’ walk from Britomart
    • An adult Waiheke Island day passes is $12.00 for single journey
  • Things to see:
    • Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
    • War Memorial Museum
    • St Patrick’s Cathedral
    • Sky Tower
    • Cornwall Park
    • Queen Street
    • One Tree Hill
    • Auckland Domain
    • Harbour Bridge
    • Waitakere Ranges and Kitekite Falls
    • Mount Victoria
    • Holy Trinity Cathedral
    • Botanic Gardens
    • Binchester Roman Fort
    • The Civic
    • Westhaven Marina
    • Mount Eden
    • Aotea Square
    • Waiwera Hot Pools
  • Tips:
    • Take a trip to Maungauika, which is a volcano forming a headland called North Head at the east end of the Waitematā Harbour.
    • To get to the reserve by car, it takes around 30 minutes
    • You can also catch one of the regular ferries from downtown Auckland to Devonport Wharf
    • The reserve is 2 km from Devonport Wharf. Follow King Edward Parade along the waterfront until you reach the end. Straight ahead is the Torpedo Bay Navy Museum. Once here, take a left turn onto Cheltenham Road, then take the second road on your right – Takarunga Road. The gated entrance to the reserve is at the end of this road
    • Checkout Stardome Observatory, which is a public astronomical observatory situated in Cornwall Park
    • Visit Hot Water Beach, where two hours either side of low tide visitors flock to the usually deserted beach to find hot water bubbling through the golden sand
    • Auckland to Matamata by car takes 1hr 55mins. Here Lord of the Rings fans can visit the set of Hobbiton from Peter Jackson’s movies and take a guided tour. On the tour you will 44 unique hobbit holes, including Bag End