what to do near aukland?

[wendellt]

i've got 3 spare days in Aukland NZ next week
wondering if any one had any tips on scenic locations to visit that can be done within a day tour

previously i have visited the bay of islands during a day but i thought the mountainscapes were way better than the bay scapes

thanks in advance

[sheepie]

Best advice I have if you're stuck in Auckland for three days is to get out of there!

Seriously, if you can, get down to Rotorua or Taupo. Try to get to Ruapehu and area if possible as well. If you're able to get down to Rotorua, give me a yell - there's a few good spots well worth going to that aren't your 'normal' tourist stops.

[wendellt]

Best advice I have if you're stuck in Auckland for three days is to get out of there!

Seriously, if you can, get down to Rotorua or Taupo. Try to get to Ruapehu and area if possible as well. If you're able to get down to Rotorua, give me a yell - there's a few good spots well worth going to that aren't your 'normal' tourist stops.

hi sheepie

i've been to Rotorua

thanks for the tips, i'll make sure i spend as little time in the city

[the foto fanatic]

Take a day trip to Waiheke Island. Ferries leave regularly from the ferry terminal near the main waterside area.
http://www.gotowaiheke.co.nz/

Waiheke Island has wineries, vineyards and restaurants; as well as lots of beaches and ocean views. Plenty of photographic opportunities.

I would also recommend a shot ferry ride to Devonport, an Auckland suburb where you will find plenty to photograph. You can walk to the top of Mt Victoria for lovely views of the harbour across to Auckland. Look here:
http://www.devonport.co.nz/things.htm

You could also drive to Hamilton. A very quiet town (ask the Wallabies!) but also quite photogenic, particularly along the Waikato River.
http://www.hamilton.co.nz/

[sirhc55]

You could always stand in a paddock Wendell, and count sheep

[Antsl]

Hmm, Auckland.... lets think.... the South Island is nice this time of year!

OK... thats mean of me... get the chance take a drive up to the Bay of Island and have a look about there... very nice. Another option is to go down to the Coromandel Peninsula.

[ozimax]

Let me think and make a list of things to do and see in Auckland.....

1.
2.
3.

No, nothing comes to mind.

Seriously, the coast around AKL has some rugged spots and some black sand but it might be tad cool and windy this time of year. You could hire a car and head down to New Plymouth and Stratford and try and photograph Mt Taranaki, then come home via the Desert Hwy, taking in Mt Ruapahu and Mt Tongarriro, and heading back via Lake Taupo. The distances are not that far in NZ but it does take a long time to get anywhere because of the skinny roads. Have fun.

Ozi

[stubbsy]

Wendell

Waiheke is a must - some interesting wineries and nice scenery. The ferry trip over is interesting too.

But make sure you go to Murawai beach. You'll love the spot - black sand and lovely glassy reflections . Here and in the 2 images that precede it is a sample (taken with my old Kodak DC4800 when I was a newbie photog - hence the crap composition). There is also a gannet colony there - this one was taken in October 2001

[sheepie]

I'm getting the impression I'm not alone in my dislike of Auckland

I think it's drummed into you from an early age over there - people above the Bombay Hills are not interested in the rest of NZ, so why be interested in them?

The problem with the North Island is that it suffers from the emphasis on Rotorua and Auckland, and other than that people go to the South Island - there are plenty of great spots to see in the mid to lower North Island, and Ozimax has summed up many of them nicely - that would be a great trip for anyone looking to spend a week or so there.

[casnell]

Mt Rangitoto is a fairly speccy volcanic island daytrip.

[wendellt]

thankyou very much everyone got alot to research now

[Onyx]

Piha beach/Lion Rock - about an hour west, thru the Waitakere ranges. Natural black sand beach. And a distinct rock formation.

To the north - Orewa/Waiwera; northern suburbs or separate townships that have awesome beach scenery.

Or head south to Coromandel Peninsular. The drive there on Hwy 2 is majestic. Cobble-stoned rivers/streams running parrallel to the road, mountain scenery, etc.

Waitomo glow worm caves - somewhere south of Hamilton...

If you prefer to stay within Auckland and its harbours - I definitely second the suggestions of a daytrip out to one of the harbour islands, Waiheke or Rangitoto for instance. So much to see within themselves, but also views of the city of sails from higher vantage points.

Are you there for business or pleasure Wendell?

[wendellt]

onyx

thanks for that
i'm considering all options

'im there for business and a little pleasure

[Justin]

Don't forget to take some photos!

[Matt. K]

Wendel
When in 'Aukland' do what the 'Auklanders' do. Auk!

[Nikkofan]

Wendell

If you feel like just country driving to a really pretty spot, you could hire a car and go down to the Bay of Plenty and see Tauranga and Mt Maunganui. It's so lovely down there and is only about 3 hours or so from Auckland. You could incorporate that into a trip to Rotorua if you want to. Mt Maunganui also has fantastic natural hot springs baths and you feel like a $million after one of those - and it's dirt cheap to do.

Or (and I'm mostly jesting here) you could head to Pairoa (spelling?) and see the home of L&P softdrink, which I quite liked while I lived in Tauranga. It's short for "Lemon & Pairoa" and it's a sort of lemony tasting lemonade, if that makes sense? Once you get to Pairoa, there's not much to do though! Basically all around there is really scenic rolling farmlands anyway, so even if you're "on the road to nowhere", it's really pretty all the same!

Where are you staying in Auckland? Ponsonby Road is a nice area in Auckland to visit - very trendy & a bit Paddington-ish. My cousin has a jewellery shop there (Shell Shock), so if you go in there, she might be able to give you some tips. Just ask for the owner, Merete. If you want to PM me, I'll be happy to give you her phone no if you want to give her a bell and ask for suggestions.

Don't knock Auckland too much. I really like it, especially if you have a car to drive around in for a day. The other 2 days, I would get out into the countryside. NZ is fantastic, I absolutely love the whole place!

Also in Auckland is a really tall tower - forgotten the name - but it has a good restaurant (apparently) with superb views and an external glass walkway around the top that you can freak out over. Just a thought.

Enjoy your stay.