Auckland holidays offer an enchanting taste of life in a city filled with natural beauty and cosmopolitan culture.
Sitting pretty on New Zealand’s North Island, Auckland is blessed with not one but two harbours boasting spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea.
A ferry ride away you’ll find the beaches and serene splendour of Waiheke Island.
This is a city with a vibrant and effortlessly stylish side. You’ll be able to admire landmarks such as the Sky Tower (which you can leap off for the ultimate adrenaline rush), dine at hip restaurants in Ponsonby and Saint Heliers and enjoy a little retail therapy in the boutiques of Queen Street and Parnell.
If you’re looking for culture, you can learn about the local heritage by taking in the Auckland War Memorial Museum or attending a traditional Maori feast.
Browse our Auckland holiday packages today and begin your antipodean adventure.
Holidays in Auckland combine all the fast-paced fun of a city break with the relaxation of a coastal getaway. Whether you want to shop, hike or swim, you’ll be spoilt for choice.
There are plenty of art galleries and museums to satisfy your inner culture vulture on a holiday to Auckland. Start at the New Zealand Maritime Museum, which chronicles the city’s rich seafaring history.
Next, make your way to the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki.
This is the biggest gallery in New Zealand, with a collection that includes work by the likes of Paul Cezanne, Henri Matisse and Salvador Dali.
You can also learn about New Zealand’s inventions at the immersive MOTAT (Museum of Transport and Technology).
Waitemata Harbour is a must-see, not least because it’s home to the Auckland Harbour Bridge. If you’re feeling brave, join a bridge-climbing tour or bungee jump over the water.
You can also get a new perspective on the local scenery with a spot of kayaking, or simply enjoy a wander around the boats bobbing in the harbour – you’ll soon see why Auckland is known as the ‘City of Sails’.
At more than 1,000 feet tall, the Sky Tower dominates the Auckland cityscape. Built in the 1990s and open 365 days a year, this landmark site is home to bars and restaurants, a theatre and a casino.
If you’re feeling brave you can test your nerve by taking on the SkyJump challenge or trying out the similarly thrilling SkyWalk experience which delivers panoramic views of Auckland from a high-rise observation deck.
Auckland is a destination with plenty to offer lovers of the great outdoors.
Take the 25-minute ferry to Rangitoto Island and head to the summit of its volcano on foot or by road-train to be rewarded with epic views.
Make your next stop the Hunua Falls which is among the most dramatic waterfalls in New Zealand and just an hour’s drive from Auckland.
In the suburbs of the city, you’ll also find the volcanic peak known as One Tree Hill – or Maungakiekie – which provides mesmerising views of both local harbours.
Sitting in the Hauraki Gulf, just a 40-minute ferry ride from Auckland, Waiheke Island is a gorgeous place to spend a day. Oneroa Beach, Palm Beach and Surfdale Beach are just three of the glorious coastal spots here.
You’ll find plenty of scuba diving and snorkelling opportunities as well as walking trails, ziplines and kayaking.
The island’s other attractions include the Connells Bay sculpture park, the Goldie Estate vineyard and Whittaker’s Musical Museum.
To experience the city’s upscale suburbs, look no further than Parnell. This is a fabulous area for couples enjoying a holiday to Auckland, with its fine eateries, gorgeous boutiques and trendy cafes.
The area is also very close to Auckland Domain where you’ll find the Auckland War Memorial Museum.
You’ll also discover a saltwater pool at Parnell Baths where you can take a dip on a summer’s day.
The central business district, often referred to as ‘Downtown’, is an ideal base for a first visit. It’s the city’s main hub, filled with cafes and restaurants to explore on one of our Auckland packages.
There are plenty of key attractions in this area, including the shops of Queen Street and the cobblestones and character-filled corners of Chancery Square.
Enjoy a blissful stay with Etihad at one of Auckland’s five-star hotels.
Top choices include the Pullman Auckland, which is a short walk from the Sky Tower and packed with amenities such as an indoor pool, fitness suite and full-service spa.
The five-star Stamford Plaza Auckland has an enviable position close to Queen Street and Viaduct Harbour.
The currency in Auckland is the New Zealand dollar (NZD). You’ll find plenty of ATMs here, while debit and credit cards are accepted in most hotels, shops and restaurants.
Auckland’s Link bus services are the most convenient way to explore the city. Trains also run to suburbs such as Swanson and Onehunga.
English is the main language in Auckland and the rest of New Zealand. You may also hear other languages spoken such as Samoan, Hindi and the native Maori.
Auckland Anniversary Day is observed each year on the Monday closest to 29 January. New Zealand’s ANZAC military commemorations take place on 25 April.
Auckland is a city that’s serious about its food. Look out for local produce, particularly lamb and seafood – and don’t leave without trying a flavoursome curry at the Cassia eatery.
If you’re celebrating a special occasion, treat yourself to a nine-course meal at the sophisticated Grove Restaurant or head to Ponsonby’s Sidart, where you’ll be served salty scallops and coconut scampi.
For the best Japanese-European fusion fare, head to the Newton neighbourhood’s Kazuya restaurant and tuck into venison tataki or tender Waitaha Wagyu beef.
Fans of Italian food will enjoy the Amano bistro-bakery in the Britomart area.
Auckland’s impressive galleries and art spaces have earned the city a deserved reputation as one of the world’s leading cultural hotspots.
It’s also a city which proudly celebrates its Maori culture. Find out more about New Zealand’s indigenous people by taking a fact-filled walking tour around the dormant volcano of Mount Eden (Maungawhau in Maori).
You can also hop over to Waiheke Island and investigate the Waiheke Museum and Historical Village. Attractions here include a 1930s-style cottage and an old jail as well as a quirky collection of exhibits housed in a woolshed.
Auckland was declared the capital of New Zealand in 1841, following the Treaty of Waitangi.
Although capital status was later switched to Wellington, Auckland remains New Zealand’s largest city. Learn more about the local heritage at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.
Here you’ll find a range of artefacts, from textiles to clothing dating back to the city’s earliest days.
During your visit, you might be lucky enough to witness a Maori cultural performance. These traditional shows bring the history of Auckland to life through song, dance and interpretation.
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