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Auckland
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Auckland

Harbour City of Volcanoes, Beaches and Islands

Plan this trip
2 daysIdeal stay₹7,700From / night₹2,750Food / day₹2,150Entry

New Zealand's biggest city and the arrival point for most flights from India, spread between two harbours and over some fifty volcanic cones. Climb Maungawhau (Mt Eden) or Rangitoto for the view, take a ferry across the Waitematā to Devonport or Waiheke, walk the black-sand surf beach at Piha, and see the Māori galleries of the Auckland Museum. Waiheke Island's vineyards and beaches are 40 minutes away by ferry, and Hobbiton at Matamata is a day trip (about 2 hours each way). Auckland has the country's largest Indian community: Sandringham and Papatoetoe are full of vegetarian restaurants and Indian grocers.

Highlights

  • Sky Tower views
  • Auckland Museum's Māori and Pacific galleries
  • Sunset from Maungawhau (Mt Eden)
  • Ferry to Devonport
  • Rangitoto Island volcano walk
  • Piha and the west-coast surf beaches
  • Viaduct Harbour and Wynyard Quarter
  • Hobbiton Movie Set day trip
  • Indian food in Sandringham

Things to do

  • Auckland War Memorial Museum (Māori Court and cultural show)Morning · 2h 30m
  • Walk up Maungawhau / Mt Eden craterMorning · 1h 30m
  • Ferry to Devonport and North HeadAfternoon · 3h
  • Sky Tower at sunsetEvening · 1h 30m
  • Hobbiton Movie Set tour at Matamata (day trip)Morning · 7h
  • Piha beach and Waitākere Ranges rainforestAfternoon · 5h
  • Ferry to Waiheke Island: vineyards and Onetangi beach (day trip)Morning · 7h

Tours & tickets

Tours & tickets in Aucklandvia GetYourGuideTours & tickets in Aucklandvia Klook

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When to go

Best time: November – April

Heads up

Hobbiton and Summer Bookings

Hobbiton day trips from Auckland, rental cars and campervans are booked out over Christmas and January: reserve them with the flights. Auckland's own hotels are often cheaper in this season, as the city empties for the holidays.

  • Waitangi Day — New Zealand's national day, marking the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. The Treaty Grounds at Waitangi hold dawn services, a waka (war canoe) launch, speeches and a festival, free that day; Paihia's rooms book out weeks ahead. Expect political protest as well as celebration.
  • Matariki (Māori New Year) — The rising of the Matariki (Pleiades) star cluster, a public holiday since 2022: dawn ceremonies, light shows, kai (food) festivals and star-viewing events across the country, biggest in Auckland and Wellington. A long weekend: domestic flights and ski towns are busier.
  • Auckland Diwali Festival — One of the largest Diwali celebrations outside India, held over a weekend near Diwali in central Auckland: dance, music, rangoli and dozens of Indian food stalls, free. Wellington and Christchurch hold smaller ones.
  • Auckland Lantern Festival — Lanterns, food stalls and performances for the end of Chinese New Year celebrations, over a long weekend in February or March. Free, very crowded in the evenings.