I was so impressed with Mt Eden! It's a free activity that offers great education on the history…read moreof the site and the people who lived there long ago. It has an excellent boardwalk all around to further enforce the importance of staying on the paths. There are phenomenal 360 degree views of all of Auckland! It's actually quite stunning! It does involve a good amount of incline walking. Nice clean bathrooms available too.

Yes. The answer is yes, this is a view and experience worth walking uphill and up many steps. Take…read moreyour time and enjoy looking every direction out over the city towards the water; imagine the active volcanoes that were once here. Observe the signs that are written in the Maori language as well as English and think about the efforts the people of New Zealand have made to live with each other. If you are stickler for close parking you may be disappointed; just remember this is a volcano. You are not supposed to be able to drive to the top of a volcano.

A lovely place to visit and walk around the gorgeous lush tropical like native NZ gardens and walk…read moreto the top of the hill and look at the amazing views over Auckland and out to Devenport and further. There is even a resident hen, and gold fish in the pond, which gives the place a lovely homely feel. The entry store has some great gifts too.

I came here for the first time with a couple of my girlfriends late last year. I didn't even know…read moreit existed to be honest but it does, this beautiful garden in the middle of the city. We came around the end of tulip season but still got to see the tulips and so many other beautiful flowers as we wandered through the gardens for over an hour. There are also native birds which you can hear singing amongst the trees, it is really idyllic. There is also a waterfall and if you want to take your walk to the next level a path that requires 'appropriate footwear', worth it though for the view. Eden Garden is a nice place to visit, even if just the once so you can experience the beauty of nature that lay hidden within Auckland city.

This is the train station in Newmarket. Besides catching trains here there isn't much else, but you…read morecan buy tickets and top up AT Hop cards here. For a train station it is pretty good, very clean too. Mostly I go here for the dairies, this is dairy central and with four available my Diet Coke and Jelly Belly's are never far away. The inner courtyard space is good for waiting around for people or trains and new benches have just been added too. There are a few other small businesses which surround the station including a Southern Maids which you almost miss because it is hidden in a corner. All their doughnuts are made here so if you're a doughnut fan this is where you can satisfy your inner Homer Simpson.

Newmarket is considered quite a fashionable suburb of Auckland and the renovations and upgrades of…read moreit's train station looked like it was going to keep to the theme. Unfortunately, the train station courtyard if full of uncoordinated council seating, almost as disjointed as it is impractical. The shops surrounding the courtyard have yet to be used to their full potential, although they have tried to use the vacant stores in an art exhibition. The train station itself has a help desk, which is rare for an Auckland train station, but oddly placed gates and only one ticket dispensing machine, in what is possibly busiest station after Britomart. At least they have a street washing machine in the courtyard on a Tuesday night.

I have to say, as free events go, this has to be one of the best I've been to, be that here in…read moreAuckland or back in Blighty (to be honest, the council would have charged for this kind of event back in the UK). The imagination behind the installations at this years Art in the Dark was amazing, with so many of the pieces having my wife and I going "wow". I had no idea that Western Park was so big, as I've only ever passed the park from Ponsonby Road. The event organisers made great use of the space and really showed off the natural beauty of this park. Although, better lighting on some of the footpaths may be something to think about for next year, especially the paths being lifted up by stretching tree roots. From the very cool QR Code mobile to the giant fish riding around on cycles, we very much enjoyed our first time at Art in the Dark and look forward to next years.

I feel like I'm a couple of years late to the Art In The Dark party…read more.. Awesome idea - wander through Western Park in the dark, check out light installations for FREE. The only problem was it was waaaay too busy. Painfully so. The line moved at a snail's pace and with people packed in like sardines it was rather claustrophobic. This was my first time to Art In The Dark so I don't have a point of comparison but I think it was particularly bad this year because of the weather. It had been raining, hard, for a couple of days beforehand so you couldn't leave the paths without the risk of falling over, which we saw several people do. Hilarious, when it's not you... Also, the bad weather meant that come Sunday (the last day and also the first break in the miserable weather), every man and his dog were there. Plus we went just after it got dark. Rookies. My recommendation is to go a little later, after all the kids have gone to bed. I think it's awesome that Auckland plays host to annual free events like this and it's unfortunate that the weather didn't play ball but I can't help that think that perhaps it's time they moved to a bigger (and flatter) park.

Another Film Festival, but also coupled with career workshops, dinners and trade fairs, the Hong…read moreKong Festival happens during July/August each year and proves to be something exciting. I haven't been to the other events, but I'm a BIG fan of Hong Kong Cinema! It's a common mistake to think it's just about kung fu and Jackie Chan. Hong Kong has some of the most clever and subtle movies in the industry, which this Festival aims to prove. I enjoyed watching The Way We Are (2008) and The Gallants (2010) at Rialto, and viewing trailers for the long list of movies they bring to our shores. I would highly recommend giving this film festival a go this year, and exposing yourself to something a little different from the usual Hollywood blockbuster. I'll be heading along to a dinner this year - hoping to catch a dragon dance along the way!

3 stars might be a bit low . This is a good place to hang on a Saturday but there are some…read morecaveats. Hotel California might be playing or Pink Floyd. Get my drift? Not exactly cutting edge sounds coming from the bar. Beer selection is great and drinking is what I think this place is best suited for. Grab a snack if you need to and are hungry but the menu has very few low carb or veggie options so you might just want to have a gin and tonic. House gin is Matakana. Staff are friendly. The outdoor high tables were all slightly sticky to the. Touch. The patio needs a good cleaning and some falcons to eat the pigeons.

The Lumsden Green is a nice patch of grass in the middle of Newmarket, it has a little hill and an…read moreinteresting concrete and water installation where I once saw a hobo having a shower. On a sunny day people sprawl out over the green or sit on the benches and rocks, often you see suits down here catching some sun during lunch hours. You could have a picnic here if you wanted, the space is big enough and this is the only patch of greenery right on Broadway. It's also a good waiting space if you're going to be dining at one of the restaurants on Davis Crescent, instead of standing around awkwardly in the front of the restaurant you can wait on a bench under a tree instead.

Khartoum Place is a square situated between Kitchener and Lorne St in the heart of Auckland city…read more It is right beside the Auckland Art Gallery and is just as worth a visit as the gallery is. The Place is characterized by a multi-level waterfall and paintings of the Women's Suffrage Movement - a part of history very important within New Zealand, as we were the first country to give women the right to vote. This pedestrianed square therefore acts as a memorial to women's suffrage. Not only is a Place the quickest way to cut through from the university to Queen St, it is also a lovely place to meet friends for lunch or coffee. A downside however is that it doesn't get much sun so it can be quite nippy there in the late afternoon. I recommend taking a jumper and grabbing a hot drink from the Esquires cafe located directly opposite the Place.

Nestled between Lorne Street and Kitchener Street beneath the Art Gallery and Albert Park beyond,…read moreKhartoum Place is perhaps my favourite public square in Auckland. The surrounding buildings give the square a feeling of being a semi-enclosed outdoor room, while the two large plane trees set in the middle of the square always keep it feeling cool and secluded. It's somehow serene in a way that belies its central city location, and ever so slightly grungy with the arty types (and homeless) that often occupy the space. The stairs that take you up to the Art Gallery are a tiled artwork/water feature commemorating the Womens' suffrage movement, so there's even a bit of history built in. In short, this little square has character in spades - great place to just sit and people watch.

Voted Auckland's best food market by a local newspaper, La Cigale French Market is held every…read moreSaturday from 8 AM to 1:30 PM and Sunday from 9 AM to 1:30 PM. This market is inspired by the wonderful food markets found in France. This market didn't exist when I lived in New Zealand in 2003, but I figured it would be an eye-opening experience to compare and contrast the Otara Polynesian Market. This market is just a 20-minute drive from the Otara Market, but will feel worlds away with its much pricier food options, perfectly primped dogs, live jazz performances and wine bars. If you're into high-end experiences, this will be your jam.

Awww how I wish we had something like this in Hawaii. ALL the foods looked great. The smoked salmon…read morewas by FAR the best I've had. So delicious, wish we had bought more! But it was our last night in Auckland. Some of the extras actually made the journey with us to Queenstown. Enough vendors to get your fill on the spot as well as to go. A nice assortment of foods that you still need to prepare, sides, breads, smoothies, etc. Worth a visit as a local or a tourist!

I walk or drive past this park pretty much every single day and have never really paid it much…read moreattention until I was stuck in traffic outside it the other day as the sun was setting and it struck me how beautiful the view is from there. You can literally see all the way out to Hobson Bay. It's always got stuff going on too: games of cricket (as it's home to Parnell Cricket Club), which attract really big crowds, kids sports games and I even see crazy people doing bootcamp there at stupid times of the morning. It has the distinct advantage of being completely flat, which is something of a rarity in parks in Auckland, I've noticed! When there's nothing going on there, it's the perfect place to just go chill out in the sun with a book or take the dog for a walk. It's really clean, well maintained and reasonably quiet around when is isn't rush-hour traffic time.

Also known as Shore Road and Bloodworth Park, Thomas Bloodworth Park is great for all different…read morekinds of activities. We usually utlilise the park for games of touch and the occasional game of kicks, however it is now used by a wide range of groups. The flat ground is ideal for sport and it doesn't get too wet during the winter. Floodlights are also available, if organised with the council. There are fitness classes held here such as boot camps, it is home to the Parnell Cricket Club, with pitches across both areas of the park in summer, with nets at both ends. There is a track which has been built which borders Hobson Bay, providing a scenic route for runners and walkers alike. There is a playground near the cricket club facilities with a regular coffee cart frequenting the carpark. Other vendors include florists, grocers, sushi, and sometimes even whitebait if you're lucky.

My husband, sister, and I arrived in Auckland on the afternoon of May 3rd and then flew off to Fiji…read moreMay 9th. While it was a relatively short trip, we were able to see and do quite a few things. What we did: May 3: Arrived in Auckland, had disgusting pizza from Hell Pizza for dinner, and relaxed at the hotel. May 4: Did the Wētā Workshop tour and went to Taco Medic for lunch. My husband rested in the hotel in the evening while my sister and I went to Cafe Hanoi for dinner. May 5: We spent the day on Waiheke Island, touring the wineries. On the island our first tasting was at Wild Estate, then we stopped at Heke Kitchen, Brewery & Distillery for lunch, Stonyridge Vineyard and Cable Bay Vineyard for two more wine tastings, and Mudbrick for dinner. May 6: Walked around and stopped in the Gow Langsford Gallery temporary satellite space on 131 Queen Street, had lunch at the Indian restaurant "1947 Eatery", and then my husband went to a workshop at Wētā (which unfortunately sucked and was not what he was expecting) while my sister and I went to the Auckland War Memorial Museum. Drinks at Bar Albert in the evening. May 7: We booked with the tour company Bush and Beach and did an all day tour to Hobbiton and Waitomo Glowworm Caves (and as a bonus, the awesome driver took us to the Arapuni Suspension Bridge). May 8: Went up the Sky Tower, walked up Mount Eden Domain, had lunch at the Garden Shed, and dinner at Orbit. May 9: We flew off to Fiji! While we were in Auckland, it was very rainy, more so than usual. (New Zealand declared a state of emergency due to severe flooding a couple of months before our trip and the Auckland airport had flooded. While parts were still closed and under repair, it had fortunately reopened when we went.) Despite the rain, it didn't bother us -- we're from Vancouver, you can't control weather, and my husband bought a really nice rain jacket on Waiheke Island. While there were some days where it was POURING rain, the weather was fine when we went to Waiheke Island, just a few sprinkles when we went to Hobbiton, and May 8th was dry, which was fortunate as that was the day we had planned to go up the Sky Tower and walk around the city and Mount Eden. So even though some days were miserable weather-wise, the days we were out side were dry. The day we left for Fiji it was pouring, and as we arrived at the airport, we all received alerts on our phones about a severe rain storm (we had NZ SIM cards). Luckily the storm did not affect our flight. While I enjoyed my time in Auckland and experienced some amazing things, the reason why I am giving Auckland three stars is it is not one of my favourite cities I have visited, and five days was enough (the weather has no bearing on my rating). While I would liked to have seen other parts of New Zealand, because none of us drive, we can't just drive out to the country, so we had to stay in the city (except when we went to Waiheke Island or hired a a driver to take us to Hobbiton and Waitomo). I'd love to go back to new Zealand, but I've seen enough of Auckland and I'd rather see other parts of the country if I ever have the opportunity to go again. [Yelp collections: NZ/Fiji 2023; New Zealand 2023; Cities]

Auckland, a busy city…read more Auckland, also known as Tamaki Makau Rau, means 'isthmus of one thousand lovers', was originally a Māori settlement that began around 1350. After purchasing the land from the Māori, European settlers came and colonise the area. In 1840 the Treaty of Waitangi was signed and Auckland was named the capital city of New Zealand. In 1865 the capital was moved to Wellington but in 1900 Auckland was New Zealand's largest city. Because the isthmus is narrow the area had great strategic qualities. It also has highly productive soils providing for agricultural opportunities. The two harbours offer diverse seafood. Today this city seems to have it all. But since I was only there for a day, I didn't get to see it all. What I did enjoy was the Queen's Wharf and the surrounding area. A mix of high end shops like- Louis Vuitton, Prada, and Gucci, and regular stores like H &M, local boutiques, and souvenir shops. Besides some retail therapy, I took in some landmarks and city parks. Albert Park, the campus of the University of Auckland, the Auckland Domain, the Auckland War Memorial Museum, the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki and the Winter Gardens. (See separate reviews). All in all it is a beautiful and I covered quite a bit of the city on foot. It was easy and I felt quite safe strolling everywhere alone. Late December has great weather. There's still plenty more to explore on a return trip.