Auckland Region Travel Forum

Hello everybody,

I will be travelling with a child, age 7, to Auckland 4-12 of August, I should be staying in the North Shore.

Till the 9 of August I will might have 3-4 hours free during the day

And 10-11 full days…

What would you suggest to see? Where to go?

Do I need to rent a car or I can use public transport?

Thank you very much

Public transport will get you to the city, but if you want to go further afield you will need a car. Not sure what your intersts are. It's winter, but it's still fun to get out to the wild West Coast beaches, especially if you have never seen black sand. Muriwai Beach, Piha Beach are the two with at least a store on arrival. If you do head out there, it's nice to drive the Scenic Drive which goes almost the length of the Waitakere Range. Even in the wet it can be a nice experience if you are well wrapped up. The beaches will most likely be windy cold.
I always like the Auckland Zoo, which your 7 yr old may enjoy, although it's not exactly "kiwi". Many of the animals are foreign. If you do go to the zoo though, be sure to seek out the Kiwi and Tuatara enclosures, as they are native.
Take the ferry to downtown Auckland and or to Waiheke Island when you have a bit more time.
I also like to recommend people to drive up some of the volcanoes. Mt Eden and OneTreeHill are very worthwhile in the city. And they are free!
If you go up the Skytower your child should enjoy that and of course to stand on the glass panels is fun.
Then there is MOTAT - Museum of Transport and Technology, which has some interesting aircraft too, but this may or may not interest you.
I love to drive/walk Tamaki Drive for the views and that takes you to Kelly Tarlton's sea aquarium which has amazing penguins from Antarctica which are surprisingly huge when you get in to see them. Expensive but well worth the visit. Sharks and stingrays etc too. You travel thru the penguin enclosure in a small Antarctic snowtrain. Fun :-)
If you get a nice day and have some hours, and feel energetic, a walk up to the top of Rangitoto is nice, see about that at the Ferry Building in downtown Auckland.
If you have a day or two free and get a car, a trip to Coromandel is really worth while unless it's bucketing down in rain. This is one of the most interesting areas of NZ. Visit Whitianga or Whangamata for example. Driving in the Coromandel is a bit slow with windy roads, but gorgeous bush and views.
Have a good visit :-)

Great tips by Pam!

Let me add another island in the Hauraki Gulf, Tiritiri Matangi, which is famous as a wildlife sanctuary. It is one of the few places in NZ where you can see the flightless Takahe wandering around.

Plus, there are plenty of other islands in the Gulf to be explored.

Rotorua is not too far for a day or two day trip, as is the Bay of Islands.

Pam is right by suggesting that you do not get anywhere outside the city if you do not have a car. In winter the buses do not even go to famous Piha Beach.

Your child might be interested in a visit to Rainbow's End which is AKL's amusement park.

Thank you very much for your replies, I do appreciate that.

One more question – I read that is around 15C during this time of the year and might rain time to time, in the light that we are coming from Cyprus – where is 36 in shadow – what kind of clothes is better to take?

You need to bring warm clothes. Auckland isn't as cold as the South Island, but it can still get quite cold (never snow) if the Antarctic wind kicks in.
Definitely bring rain/windproof jacket. Layers are the best kind of clothes to bring.
eg: and outer shell and at least two layers of warm.
You can buy cheap versions of these in Auckland at a shop called "The Warehouse", if that suits. THere are many Warehouse stores scattered around Auckland.