Sandra

I am going to New Zealand shortly with my work, I will be staying three months in Auckland with flybacks (to Sydney) every other weekend. That means I will have a few weekends to get out and about. Knowing me this means single day trips only as I will work some bits over weekends.

Any great suggestions how to kill a few hours - I am female, not that active in terms of sports.

Also if I can I will bring the kids over for a weekend - 13 and 11 - any tips for a weekend with them in Auckland?

Thanks for any info

Cheers Sandra

podgypossum

Ahhh...ummm..

If you are used to living in Sydney, then i am afraid Auckland will be soooooo boring!!
You wont find the beaches too inspiring. If you want to have a bit of nice scenery go out to where i used to live..suburb caled Titirangi out west. From there you can drive to Cornwallis and on to Huia. They are very scenic and its a nice drive, but the beaches arent best for swimming.

As i dont have young kids i couldnt tell you about activities for them, i never really noticed much

Sandra

Cheers PP - not sure if I needed the boring bit In all seriousness I live in Sydney burbs which are very boring! St Ives must be the most boring of all no pubs! but perfect burb for other reasons. Beaches - I swim once a year in the sea on Christmas Day, but love the beaches for the kids.

To make this more diffcult - I hate to shop, so Malls are out, I love books and coffee shops and places to sit and watch the world go by. I love eating out, any cuisine as long as edible!

Looks like work will love me being in Auckland I will work all the weekends I stay!

Thanks

podgypossum

There are plenty of restaurants down at the viaduct harbour. They serve good food and its a nice place to sit and people watch, but can be expensive.
If you do go out to Titirangi, you MUST go to the Hardware Cafe. Fantastic food and the serving girls in there are wonderful. It was my favourite haunt when i lived there.

jandjuk

you could jump on the ferry across to devonport and hang out there.

if you're up for a short walk you could climb one of auckland's volcano for a view. north head is in devonport and also has some old ww2 tunnels the kids might like to play in (i'm sydney and a million other places must have similar though)

further afield you could ferry to rangitoto and climb that - you can see old lava flows and again get a view.

these are a bit more active that you asked for but just some ideas.

Pollster

Kelly Tarltons!!!!

It is awesome - we went there when I was a kid and I have never forgotton it and went back last year - your kids will like it.

(although I must say that Sydney Aquarium was better - quite the best in the world I think, and we have been to practically every one as I like that sort of thing.)

CHnJ

I've only spent a few hours in Auckland.

There's the big Space Tower thing with the revolving restaurant at the top .. it's got glass panels in the floor which are real hard to get yourself to walk over - the kids'll love that.

There's also a maritime museum which they could kill some time with if they're at all interested in ships or sailing.

Sandra

Wow the WW2 tunnels sound great - do not know any in Sydney. The other walks sound great too - I might just get more active Thanks

The revolving tower sounds good too CHnJ - the kids loved the AMP tower here - now I have to make sure they get over!

I knew you lot would help out! I am looking forward to some work now!

Cheers

BritboyNZ

Stuff to do in Auckland:

Spend a day or to over on Waiheke island. Some fantastic beaches/wineries/restaurants over there, its quite arty & has a nice relaxed pace of life. Ferry takes approx 35-40 mins & goes from the downtown ferry terminal. Have a look at www.gotowaiheke.co.nz Rangitoto is also good (there's not much there as its just a volcanic island in the harbour, views from the top are fantastic tho)

Skytower as other posters mentioned. If you're feeling REALLY adventurous, you can climb up the inside of the mast to emerge outside on the crowsnest. (they kit you out in overalls / a safety harness) I've done it myself and its bloody awesome. www.4vertigo.com You can also do a kind of base/bungee jump off the skytower as well: www.skyjump.co.nz Can't do neither of these activities in Sydney.

If adrenaline is your thing, AJ Hackett opened up a bungee operation of the Harbour Bridge - www.ajhackett.com/?page=auckland you can also climb the Harbour Bridge (not as spectacular as Sydney, but nice views of the city & a hell of a lot cheaper) www.ajhackett.com/?page=bridge

Beaches - some fantastic beaches in auckland - hire a car & drive over to Piha or Kare Kare on the west coast (about a 30-40 min drive from central auckland). The Piano was filmed at Kare Kare.

Kelly Tarltons as pollster said is good, carry on round Tamaki drive once you've finished to Mission Bay for a coffee / nap on the beach. Kids will like Rainbows End which is a theme park in Manukau, 20 mins from Akl city. www.rainbowsend.co.nz

Also possible to swim with Dolphins in the Hauraki gulf, or take a sailing trip on an Americas Cup Yacht around the harbour.

Plenty to do outside of Auckland within a couple of hrs drive - the Coromandel peninsular is beautiful - has some beaches that are as nice as those in Thailand.

Bay of islands / Paihia / Russell definitely worth a visit - about 3hrs drive north of Auckland. Going south, there's even more to do: Taupo/central plateau/Tongariro National Park & Tongariro crossing (possible to ski in winter), Waitomo (glow worm caves / black water rafting) Rotorua - maori cultural shows/geothermal activity (boiling mud/geysers/mineral spa's etc)

& people say there's nothing to do in Auckland, and it's 'boring'

bondipom

In Auckland itself the only thing is the sky tower and a walk to the Americas Cup Village. Quite frankly walking to the top of a multi storey car park in Croydon is as exciting.

As you say there is plenty around to do in the region but new towns in the UK look exciting and beautiful compared to Auckland.

I went there with an open mind despite being told by a Kiwi that it was a "Shit Hole". I was very disappointed but thank god the company picked up the bill.

BritboyNZ

How did i know BP would jump in and slag off auckland. Did you actually leave your hotel room and see anything whilst you were here BP? apart from the skytower & the viaduct? Dont suppose you got of your arse and had a look round, say, Parnell, Auckland Museum, the wintergardens, MOTAT, Auckland Botanical Gardens, Cornwall Park & the planetarium, or the LionZone brewery tour? no, thought not.

Auckland is a big place - its the same size as greater london yet only 1 million people live here. The CBD is very small & most attractions are out of the city consequently you'll need transport to get around - but if you've got access to a car there's PLENTY to do.

Russ

podgypossum

Russ, i lived there for 2 yrs and my husband is a kiwi..believe me..when compared to other world cities, boring is top of the list!! Of course its a great place for anyone into sports of a danerous nature, NZ has that thing going on all over, but not EVERYONE is into it.
The author of this thread stated she wasnt into sports.

I agree with BP. Going up the sky tower is about as exciting as a tube ride on the metropolitan line in London. But at least on that, you can get off and see something worth visiting!! The casino at the top is dirty and shabby. The restaurant food reminds me of a BHS cafeteria (crap)

BritboyNZ

Umm, i seem to remember she has 2 kids 11 and 13

podgypossum

Agreed..but she will also be on her own most of the time. Try to name me one place a female not into fishing, bungi jumping or bridge climbing could go for a fab night out?

bondipom

Well I had better book myself another flight to check out those establishments.

As I said the region has plenty to do. I went out early to have a look around. The next day I went for a tour round the ranges, to that beach where they filmed the piano, Piha and up one of the Volcanoes.

Even the Kiwis I know don't like the place and I did not listen to them before I went.