Auckland Region

Travel Guide Oceania Polynesia New Zealand North Island Auckland Region

Introduction

The Auckland Region is the most populous and prosperous region of New Zealand, named after the country's largest city Auckland.

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Geography

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Cities

Auckland

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Sights and Activities

Sky Tower

The Sky Tower is located downtown Auckland. This large observation and telecommunications tower is over 328 m (1,076 ft) tall making it the tallest free standing structure in the Southern Hemisphere and offers great views of the city. For the more adventurous traveller there is even an option to Sky Jump off the tower at speeds up to 85 km/h. A Sky Jump is a cross between a bungy jump and a base jump. Also the Sky City Casino and Event Centre, a large casino and event centre, is located in the Sky Tower complex for a different kind of adventurous traveller. This casino was refurbished in 2006 and has over 1,600 gaming machines. There are also over 100 tables for games like blackjack and roulette.

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Events and Festivals

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Weather

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Getting There

By Plane

Auckland Airport (AKL) is the main airport for New Zealand and is where most travellers start and end their trip in the country. This large airport has direct flights to several countries around the world and is located in a western suburb about 21 kilometres south of the Auckland city centre. Remember the airport has very strict bio-security with the use of dogs and x-ray machines. To avoid any fines just declare any biological material. With over 13 million passengers a year it is the busiest airport in the country and has most international connections.

To/from the airport:

Car: Two state highways connect to the airport. State Highway 20A goes north with access to central Auckland, the western and northern suburbs, and Northland. State Highway 20B leaves the airport to the east and allows access to southern and eastern Auckland, and the rest of the North Island.
Taxis and shuttles are available at both terminals.
Bus: The Airbus Express operates 24 hours and connects the airport to the Downtown Ferry Terminal in the central city via Mount Eden and Queen Street. The Downtown Ferry Terminal is opposite the Britomart Transport Centre, which allows bus and train connections to the wider Auckland area. Bus routes 375 and 380 operate from the airport to Botany Town Centre and Manukau City respectively.

By Train

Tranz Scenic operates several trains a day (some night trains are available) betwee Auckland and Wellington.

By Car

By Bus

By Boat

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Getting Around

By Plane

By Train

By Car

Some of the other options to rent cars include the following companies:

Before you rent, ask the rental company if they have any relocation deals. Even in high season there can be a bottle neck of cars and campers at certain locations that the hire company is willing to offer discounted sometimes free rental to move the vehicle, possibly right to where you want to go. The only down side is the vehicle often has a time restriction, but even this is negotiable, depending on how much the rental company needs the vehicle moved.