Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, with its sparkling harbours full of yachts and iconic Sky Tower, is both laid back and adventurous. What makes the city even more special is its size—you don’t have to go far to escape into nature for new experiences. In just a short drive or ferry ride, you can find yourself on a Bush and Beach Wilderness trail in the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park, or at a vineyard on Waiheke Island with its rolling vineyards and ocean views. Read in to know how we went about exploring Auckland, the ‘City of Sails’, where Maori traditions blend seamlessly with outdoor adventure, picturesque beaches and rainforests.
Our trip to Auckland, New Zealand, was a President’s Club award that my husband, Rafiq, received for excelling in his work and meeting his business targets. As his ‘significant other’, I was entitled to join him on this award holiday. Since we were going ‘Down Under’ to the Southern Hemisphere, it made sense also to visit Australia. But that is another travelogue which you can read here.
Day 1
It’s late in the night as we check into our Auckland hotel facing the Viaduct Harbour. We are exhausted after flying from India to New Zealand and hit the bed. The next morning, after breakfast, we take a stroll on the Viaduct Harbour. It’s a sunny day, and a gentle breeze blows. Yachts are moored to the Harbour against the backdrop of the city skyline of upscale buildings, office spaces and the iconic Sky Tower. It’s a perfect blend of modern vibrance and waterfront charm.
America’s Cup Sailing
Auckland is home to the Emirates Team New Zealand, which has dominated the America’s Cup with multiple wins, proudly representing Kiwi excellence in design and innovation. My husband, Rafiq, takes the entire leadership team to the Design office of Emirates Team New Zealand.
It’s now time to try out America’s Cup sailing —a thrilling experience on a sleek racing yacht similar to those used in America’s Cup, the prestigious sailing competition. Our group of 7-8 award winners and spouses board a yacht that takes us to the sea. While one of the winners bravely tried his hand at steering and handling the sails under the crew’s guidance, the rest of us watched in awe, soaking in the excitement. Imagine taking over the helm and trying to control the sails as the wind changes direction. It’s all about strength, agility and teamwork. If you love sailing and are up for the adrenaline-rushing challenge, then the American Sailing should be on your list of things to do in Auckland.
Welcome Dinner and Maori Haka Dance
In the evening, we assemble for the President’s Club Welcome Dinner at the Waka Rooftop of Park Hyatt. A traditional Maori Haka welcome dance sets the tone for the evening. Dressed in traditional attire with striking moko-inspired markings/tattoos on their faces and bodies, the Maori dancers, led by a female dancer, stamp their feet and chant with incredible energy. They stick their tongues out, eyes bulging; they seem intimidating to us first-timers of this performance. I am instantly reminded of my English textbook at school, where we had learnt about the Maori tribes. The Maori are the indigenous people of New Zealand who hold their culture and traditions with deep pride. Watching a Haka dance up close makes us feel the intensity and pride of Maori culture.
We mingle with the awardees and exchange pleasantries over dinner. Next, we head to the open terraces, which provide a stunning night view of the Auckland skyline. The illuminated Sky Tower in vibrant colour and other high rises make for a spectacular picture. We can’t wait to explore Auckland, and our excitement is palpable.
Day 2
Today we will be setting off on a ‘Bush and Beach Wilderness Tour.’ The plan is to explore the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park, which is known for its dense rainforests, waterfalls, walking tracks, and black-sand beaches. It’s what every nature and wildlife enthusiast would love.
Lower Nihotupu Dam
After breakfast, we hop on a bus that drives us to the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park. We head to the Lower Nihotupu Dam, a natural water reservoir that supplies Auckland with water.
Cornwallis Beach
We then head to Cornwallis Beach, which has soft dark sand and a lovely grassy area with shady trees and a couple of Maori carvings. The sand has a high metal content, our guide explains. He pulls out a magnet and rolls it over the sand as the metal is attracted to it. We stroll over the beach and then head to one of the picnic tables. It’s time for a packed lunch with views of blue skies, lofty green trees, the sand and sea, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Huia Point Lookout
After lunch at Cornwallis Beach, our group heads back to the bus, which takes us to the car park of Huia Point Lookout. We walk to a vantage point that offers panoramic vistas of Huia Bay, Manukau Harbour, and the Tasman Sea. Emerald-green hills with dense vegetation, blue skies with cotton-candy clouds, and the sparkling waters of the sea are picture-perfect. We soak in the views and click pictures.
Rainforest Walk in Waitakere Ranges Regional Park
It’s time for our guided rainforest walk. At the start of our walk is a Pou Whenua, a carved wooden post used by Maori to mark boundaries or places of significance. We encountered several of these during our stay in Auckland.
We sanitize our shoes before entering the forest to protect the endangered Kauri trees, which are susceptible to Dieback Disease caused by a soil-borne pathogen.
Our guide points to several plants, such as kawakawa or pepper plants, the ferns that symbolize New Zealand’s national identity, and finally, a kauri tree. The Maori had a deep connection with nature, and the trees held spiritual and cultural significance, serving as a practical resource. They used kauri timber to make boats, build homes, and create carvings. There are posters on the trail that explain how, when European Settlers arrived in the 1700s, they felled the trees and transported them to the mills.
The walk follows the Karamatura stream, and we see several diverse trees, shrubs, and plants, including Kahikatea, New Zealand’s tallest native tree. Its red berries are a traditional Maori food.
The walk has not only provided us with a glimpse of the rainforest but also insight into how the original Maori valued the forests and had a harmonious relationship with the trees. There is a valuable lesson for us to learn: our forests need to be protected and valued.
Dinner at Esther Restaurant
We head back to our hotel after a long day of exploring the wilderness of Waitakere Ranges Regional Park. In the evening, we head to Esther, a restaurant near the Viaduct Harbour. It’s an elaborate spread with excellent service and lovely ambiance.
Day 3
The next morning, after breakfast, we take a 35-minute ferry to Waiheke Island, located east of Auckland. Since Auckland is a small city, it makes sense to explore the surroundings. What better place to visit than Waiheke Island, which has some of the best vineyards, olive groves, and beaches? The plan is to stop at one of the beaches, visit a vineyard for wine tasting, and then have lunch.
Oneroa Beach
After alighting from the ferry, we get into a minibus that takes us to Oneroa Beach, a long stretch of sandy beach with lots of shells. I can’t stop myself from picking some of the shells and admiring them. There’s a heap of shells in all shapes and sizes, and the child in me is amazed and awed. Also, we realized cabins often called ‘baches’ are part of local lifestyle. While not everyone owns one but most locals regularly have or rent them for weekend getaways, reflecting the Kiwi love for nature and outdoor living.
Vineyard Visit and Wine Tasting at Waiheke Island
We hop back on the bus and then head to Batch Winery, Waiheke Island’s highest vineyard. Located on a hill, it offers sweeping views of rolling hills with vineyards, the island, and the Hauraki Gulf. It is no wonder the winery is popular for hosting weddings. But first, we visit the winery, where the wine-making process is explained to us. Next, we head to the dining rooms for a wine tasting. It features four different types of wines and their accompanying foods. The group is enjoying the wine and food, while I, being a teetotaller, enjoy the accompanying food.
Lunch at Mudbrick Vineyard
After the wine tasting, the group heads to Mudbrick Vineyard for lunch. One after another, these vineyards are stealing our hearts. I don’t need wine to intoxicate me-just the sights of manicured gardens, lavender flower beds and vistas of the azure blue waters of the Hauraki Gulf are enough! Everyone is enjoying wine with a view, while I enjoy the fragrance of the lavender. There is a red double-decker bus in the vineyard, and everyone is excited, clicking pictures with it. It’s time for lunch. The food is average and the service slow. But the ambience, and the company of other awardees and dinner table conversations more than make up for it. The suitable climate and soil conditions of the Waiheke Island ensure that the best varieties of grapes thrive here, resulting in outstanding wines.
Day 4
It’s a Sunday, and except for the farewell dinner in the evening, we have the entire day to ourselves. We decided to meet old friends from Mumbai, India, for lunch at an Indian restaurant. A South Indian lunch of idlis, dosas, and medu vadas ensures we don’t miss home-cooked food. We plan to visit the Sky Tower, an unmissable structure of Auckland’s skyline. En route, we pass Saint Patrick’s Cathedral.
Auckland Sky Tower
The Auckland Sky Tower, at 328 metres in height, is the 12th-tallest tower in the world. It is also the ‘second tallest freestanding structure in the Southern Hemisphere, surpassed only by the Autograph Tower in Jakarta, Indonesia.’ For those seeking adventure thrills you can try sky jumping and sky walking at the Sky Tower. We meet a colleague who is ready for skydiving and wish him luck. We head to the Main Observation Deck on Level 51. The panoramic view across Auckland and the Hauraki Gulf from the observation deck is spectacular. It stands at 186 metres and has a thick glass section of flooring which provides a view of the ground underneath! If you want to play it safe and yet want an adrenaline rush, then try the SkySlide. It is ‘a virtual reality experience that simulates a high-speed slide around the tower.’
I sit and gaze at the vast expanse of the city. I can spot the Viaduct Harbour, our hotel, the Auckland Harbour Bridge and lots more. We head back to the ground, visit the gift shop, and then return to our hotel.
In the evening, we attend the farewell dinner at the Harbour Ocean Bar and Grill. We spent a delightful evening with exceptional food, engaging conversations, and foot-tapping music.
Day 5
It’s our last day in Auckland, so we decide to take a stroll along Queen Street, Auckland’s iconic street. It has several shops, cafes, restaurants, and entertainment venues. We pick some souvenirs and gifts. If you want to know what things to buy in Auckland, you can read the blog here.
We pass the Auckland Ferry Building, an ornate heritage structure from where the tourist boats arrive and depart. The previous evening we had had the farewell dinner at a restaurant in the Ferry Building. We see the WWI Memorial Beacon, a granite obelisk with a lamp on Quay Street. Next up is the New Zealand Maritime Museum, which has exhibits that provide a glimpse into New Zealand’s maritime history. Since we have a flight to catch, we don’t t explore the museum, and only stroll through the museum’s gift shop.
We head back to our hotel near Viaduct Harbour via the Wynyard Crossing pedestrian bridge. We take some pictures of the Harbour, reminiscing about the people we met, and the experiences of the President’s Club in Auckland. It’s time to check out and bid adieu to Auckland.
Final Word on Auckland
Auckland surprised and delighted us at every turn. From the high-adrenaline thrill of American sailing on the Viaduct Harbour to getting to know the Maori culture, and from wandering the serene rainforests of Waitakere Ranges to soaking in the sun at Waiheke Island’s vineyards and beaches, it was a journey of contrasts that perfectly balanced. This city, where modern skyscrapers meet rolling hills and pristine waters, and where Maori traditions blend seamlessly with adventure and nature, left us with memories we’ll treasure forever.
Getting There:
Nearest Airport to Auckland:
The nearest airport to Auckland is Auckland (AKL), with connectivity to major cities around the world.
Distances:
Auckland- Waitakere Ranges Regional Park: 22 km or 30 mins by road.
Auckland- Waiheke Island: 35-40 minutes Ferry Ride.
Where to stay in Auckland?
We stayed at the Park Hyatt Auckland overlooking the Viaduct Harbour. The advantages of staying close to the Harbour are the sweeping views. Auckland CBD (Central Business District) is also popular for accessibility to attractions and public transport. You can do a net search for hotels depending on your budget and comfort level.