Visiting Auckland - What to See and Do

(Auckland International Airport AKL, New Zealand)

Located on New Zealand's North Island, Auckland earns its nickname as the 'City of Sails' for its enthusiasm for the sport of sailing. This beautiful city is situated on the coast next to the Hauraki Gulf and has many bays and harbours. Although Auckland is not New Zealand's capital city, it is the biggest city on New Zealand's North Island and has a population of around 1.3 million people.

The city of Auckland is famed for its part in the America's Cup yachting regatta. As the oldest active trophy in international sports, the America's Cup carries a lot of prestige and is contested between the world's best designers and sailors.

Ten things you must do in Auckland

• Journey to the top of The Sky Tower on one of its glass fronted elevators. As it is the tallest building in New Zealand, you can expect a stunning panoramic view of Auckland from each of the three observation levels.
• Visit some of Auckland's landmarks such as Auckland Town Hall, noted for its impressive Italian-style architecture or Auckland Harbour Bridge, connecting the North Shore with the city.
• Go to an Auckland Blues rugby match and witness New Zealand's passion and excitement for the sport.
• Explore some of Auckland's most interesting historic buildings, such as Acacia Cottage, made from wood and famed for its age, and Highwic House, built in the middle of the 19th century and packed full of typical features from that period.
• Make time to see the Anglican Cathedral Church of St Mary, one of the best examples of a wooden Gothic-style church that you will find. Another church worth viewing is Saint Patrick's Cathedral, built in the 1880s.
• Take a look around the Museum of Transport and Technology and Social History (MOTAT) and enjoy the displays of vintage planes, cars and trams.
• Visit the incredible collection of paintings displayed in an impressive Victorian building at Auckland Art Gallery. Art lovers will be pleased with the number of works from all over the world.
• View an array of artefacts chronicling New Zealand's past at the impressive Auckland War Memorial Museum.
• Walk along the many coastal routes and through stunning landscape at Devonport on the outskirts of west Auckland. Also popular among surfers, Devonport has good sea conditions for the sport.
• Take a boat trip around the superb Hauraki Gulf Islands, where you can see around 50 islands including Rangitoto, Waiheke, Great Barrier and Motutapu islands.