Auckland is regarded
as New Zealand’s most cosmopolitan and vibrant city, so I expected something
special. What greeted me was a place full of concrete and glass buildings and a
melange of clashing architectural styles that were not going to win any prizes
for their beauty.
My first impressions
were that it was old fashioned with splashes of chicness. However, after
digging a little deeper Auckland won me over.
This is a city that
seems to live its life in the present with few hints of its past. While the fabled
Sky Tower, which has dominated Auckland's skyline for about 20 years,
may not have been the most spectacular wonder I have ever cast my eyes over,
just seeing it was emotional.
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| Sky Tower seen from the waterfront |
Here I was standing
in front of a tower which, for many years, I have watched on the television
bringing in the New Year with a marvellous firework display. For me it
signified the past is not the direction to be going in, the future is.
From the waterfront
the Sky Tower appeared majestic. The real draw of the city, I discovered, is
that it is only a step away from the sea and beautiful beaches are within easy
reach.
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| A street in Auckland (seen in the rain) |
Cross the Waitemata
Harbour by way of the Auckland Harbour Bridge and you will be rewarded with
stunning vistas of the city.
The waterfront, made
up of Queens Wharf, Wynyard Quarter and Viaduct Harbour is a hive of activity.
Watch cruise ships sail into port and ferries going back and forth to scenic
places such as the Bay of Islands and Waiheke Island. Renowned in the 1970s as
a place where arty, Bohemian types gathered, Waiheke Island now attracts
visitors for its beaches and wineries.
 |
| The Waterfront |
There are also
restaurants and bars galore here. It is a lovely place in which to spend a few
hours. It is hard to have a bad meal in Auckland. People here are really
friendly so you will often find somebody wanting to strike up a conversation
with you.
While Queen Street,
the main shopping area, has a certain grittiness about it, Smith &
Caughey’s, the city’s only remaining department store, is worth popping into.
Housed in a lovely old building, it feels as if it is clinging on to a bygone
era, but do not let that put you off as its merchandise is luxurious and
the service good. It also has a super little café.
Culture buffs will
find some interesting museums here including the Auckland Museum renowned
for its collection of Maori and Polynesian artefacts and Auckland Art Gallery
Toi o Tamaki. Opened in 1888, the collection includes historic and contemporary
New Zealand art as well as featuring works by Māori and Pacific Island artists.
If you like walking
you will like Auckland. It is an easy place to get around. While I did go to
places in New Zealand that had more of a wow factor, Auckland’s energy and
vitality were inspiring. And that had me hooked.
By Daralyn Danns
Getting there
Which city you fly
into in New Zealand will depend on where your tour starts from and therefore,
which airline you choose. Highly recommended are Cathay Pacific cathaypacific.com and qantas.com The service and inflight experience is spot on. Ensure that the flight
you book is operated by the company and not just code-sharing
The tour was part of
the Grand Pacific Ultimate Small Group Tours which I booked through
Trailfinders (trailfinders.com) as I did the flights
The advantage of
travelling aboard the Ultimate Coach is that instead of carrying the normal 48
passengers, it only carries 20. You sit in comfort in leather fully-reclining
seats so no neck ache at the end of a long day. (Distances are vast in New
Zealand.) There is plenty of personal storage. It is much easier being in a
small group, no hanging around waiting for people, no long queues for the loos,
overall much cosier
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