Auckland Vacations, Auckland Vacation Reviews, Tourism Guide

Auckland, the "City of Sails", is New Zealand's most populous city located on the North Island. It is a culturally diverse city; home to people from all over the world. Auckland's skyline boasts the famous Sky Tower and is also home to Eden Park sports ground, where the All Blacks rugby team plays some of its home test matches. There is also the Auckland Harbour Bridge joining the Auckland central city with the North Shore. Auckland is just like big cities elsewhere in the world with lots of traffic and people. If you like city life there is so much to see and do - shopping, cafes, nightlife (Viaduct area is good for this), volcanoes (One Tree Hill, Mt. Eden, Mount Victoria, North Head to name a few), parks, and beaches. The city sits surrounded by the Waitemata harbour. In the Maori language, Waitemata means "sparkling waters". Further out is the Hauraki Gulf, containing several islands that can be visited. The most populated is Waiheke which is also home to some fantastic vineyards and cafes. Don't miss the chance to take a boat and explore the harbour and islands. The beaches on the east coast are sheltered bays but on the west coast you find the wild surf beaches such as Karekare, Muriwai and Piha. There are also many more vineyards to visit in the west of Auckland.