Best Things To Do In Auckland

Choose Bus Charter In Auckland To Explore The City With A Comfortable Ride

Known as the third most livable city on the planet, Auckland is a thriving multicultural hub of art, music and cuisine. Imagine living in a city with a dozen charming holiday islands, hiking trails and pristine beaches well within access. Let us take a look at some of the best travel pursuits in the city, but don’t forget to get bus charter in Auckland for a convenient ride to these destinations.

Explore Nature’s Beauty At The Auckland Botanic Gardens

What better way to start your trip in Auckland than exploring a garden that can inspire, delight, entertain and soothe your senses. Home to exotic and native collection of plant species, the spot has a growing compilation of outdoor sculpture by national artists. Overlooking the panoramic views of the garden, you can enjoy your lunch at the Huakaiwaka Visitor Centre, after you are done scanning through the beauty and interesting facts about different plants. With sustainable initiatives throughout the year, the Garden is open to public without any entry fee.

Unveil History At The New Zealand Maritime Museum

From the exploration and settlement of New Zealand by Europeans, to the first Polynesians and Kupe to arrive in the country, right through to the motivational story of Sir Peter Blake and modern day yachting success, the New Zealand Maritime Museum reveals stories that reflect the development of the country as a maritime nation.

The fully restored heritage scow of the Museum takes visitors on an hour long voyage with panoramic views of the city skyline and the Harbour Bridge. One can also choose to fasten down the hatches in the rocking cabin, hear the cannon fire, hoist the sails, relax in a kiwi style beach or indulge in some yacht designing.

Get Lost In Another World At The Waiheke Island

Just a 30-minute ferry ride from the city, the Waiheke Island is an ultimate island retreat. It is popularly known for its extensive range of vineyards and wineries, along with some fantastic activities at your disposal. With beautiful beaches, olive groves and wine tastings, the island is a national treasure with many special spots, including diverse wildlife habitats and historic sites forming a significant part of the country’s landscape. The National reserves protect and preserve the cultural and historical heritage to maintain the biodiversity of the planet.

The Hauraki Gulf Marine Park is home to abundant flora and fauna, the quality of which is unmatched. The white sandy beaches are perfect for an afternoon stroll, whereas the adventure seekers can discover the beauty of this island by walking, mountain biking and kayaking.

Commemorate The Lost Souls At The Auckland War Memorial

One of the most significant War Memorials and museums in New Zealand, the Auckland War Memorial houses a major collection of Auckland history, military history, as well as natural history of New Zealand. Sitting nicely on a grassed plinth with a neo-classicist style construction, the museum itself is an iconic structure with its roots way back in 1852, when it was first built in a farm cottage, which is now the University of Auckland.

The assorted collection includes Maori and Pacific Island treasures, including a historic war canoe, Te Toki a Tapiri from 1830 and a carved meeting house, Hotunui, constructed in 1878. Apart from massive image collections, the museum also houses an overwhelming compilation if 1.5 million historical specimens from the fields of marine biology, geology, entomology and botany. There’s also a permanent exhibition highlighting the wars, and the country’s participation in overseas clashes. The Landmarks and Encounters Galleries hold the largest collection of decorative arts.

Admire Public Art Works At The Aotea Square

Located next to Queen Street, the Aotea Square is an eventful public area opened in 1979 by Sir Dove-Myer Robinson. It is generally used for diverse markets, event gatherings, political rallies and open-air concerts, with a capacity of up to 20,000 people at a time. Some of the notable artwork masterpieces at this quarter include:

  • Waharoa, the Gateway in Maori: Located at the entrance of Queen Street, this sculpture was formed in copper and wood by a Maori sculptor, Selwyn Muru. Given the expressionist version, the classic entry gate features symbols like crescent moon, fish and birds, along with a nuclear symbol to reflect the modern influences on country’s art.
  • Bronze Statue of Sire Dove-Myer Robinson: Near the town hall, built by Toby Twiss.
  • Bronze Fountain: The centrepiece of the square designed by the sculptor Terry Stringer, forming the roofline of the modern Aotea centre.
  • 19th Century bronze statue of George Eden.

Experience Native Wildlife At The Auckland Zoo

Spread across an area of 16 hectares, the Auckland Zoo situated next to Western Springs Park is home to native and exotic collection of animals in lush parkland. With more than 875 residents representing over 138 species, the zoological garden is organised into separate exhibition areas group by taxonomy or region of origin. Some of them include:

  • Elephant Clearing: A couple of Asian elephants, Anjalee and Burma taking refuge in a pool with mud wallow and waterfall.
  • Hippo River: An African-style wetland environment featuring flamingos, hippopotamus, cheetah, serval and hamadryas baboon.
  • The Rainforest: Home to naturalistic exhibits including agouti, tarantulas, capybara, siamang gibbons, spider monkeys and Bolivian squirrel monkeys.
  • KidZone: A dedicated kid’s play area with a chance to feed guinea pigs, locusts, chickens, and frogs.
  • Te Wao Nui: It features 6 ecological New Zealand environments including the High Country, The Forest, The Night, The Wetlands, The Islands and The Coast, with 110 native plant species and 60 animal species.

Kelly’s Tarlton Sea Life Aquarium

The main features of the Aquarium are the Underwater World and the Antarctic Counter. Explore a colony of king penguins, red bellied piranha, stone fish, pufferfish, crayfish, moray eels, sea horses and octopus. Learn about the marine world as you come across some of the most deadly shark species that exist on the edges of New Zealand. The aquarium is built in disused sewage storage tanks, and the visitors are glided past the viewing areas using a conveyor belt.

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