Auckland Region Guide: What to See and Do

By Travel & Places Half year ago

Auckland is New Zealand's largest city and fastest-growing region. If you're coming to New Zealand you will probably start your journey here. It's a vibrant international city and the wider region offers a lot to see and do.

More About Auckland City: People, History and Geography

Exploring the Auckland Region

More than 1.4 million people (one third of the country) live in the Auckland region although the land area (5600 square kilometers) is just 2 percent of New Zealand's total.

Auckland is made up of several sub regions, all worth exploring.

Central Auckland City

The business district and also home the best restaurants and nightlife in the Auckland region. The city sits on the Waitemata Harbor and faces the islands of the Hauraki Gulf. The downtown waterfront area (called the Viaduct) is great to explore.

North Shore

The North Shore is separated from central Auckland City by the Auckland Harbor Bridge. There are great beaches along the North Shore's suburbs. There is good shopping in Takapuna and Milford.

Guide to North Shore Beaches

Rodney District: Hibiscus Coast, Whangaparaoa and the North West

Travel further north and you come to the Rodney district. There has been rapid development in this area in recent years, but there are still some delightful rural areas - and some of the best beaches in the Auckland region.
The Whangaparaoa Peninsula is a finger of land with beaches on either side.

Orewa is rated by many as Auckland's best beach. Further north there is the small town of Warkworth and vineyards and more beaches at Matakana.

West Auckland

The "Wild West" has windswept surf beaches, desolate coastline and the dramatic Waitakere Ranges, a subtropical rainforest with great walking tracks. All close to the center of Auckland City but a world away.

West Auckland also has a number of vineyards around Henderson and Kumeu; it is one of New Zealand's oldest grape-growing areas.

East Auckland

The beachside suburbs of Bucklands Beach, Howick and Maraetai are a bit off the tourist track but are well worth a visit.

Islands Near Auckland

The Hauraki Gulf off the coast of Auckland has many islands, several of which have permanent populations. Rangitoto and Waiheke are the closest and have daily ferry services from central Auckland. Waiheke has vineyards too, famed for some of the best red wines in New Zealand.

Islands of the Hauraki Gulf, Auckland

South Auckland

Rolling farmland and west coast beaches are the features of the southern part of the Auckland region. The Nikau Cave is a highlight, smaller and less known than the Waitomo Caves but nevertheless impressive. Port Waikato is at the mouth of the Waikato River, New Zealand's longest river.