5 Best Things to do in Auckland – pt 2

Auckland waterfront on Waitemata Harbor

5 Best Things to do in Auckland – pt 2

I’ve already written an article detailing 5 great things to do in Auckland. They include a cross-country hike, an island visit via ferry across the harbor, an art gallery, a culture museum and an early morning fish market.

Those are all fantastic adventures that I greatly enjoyed during my two visits to New Zealand’s most popular city. But there are more! Here are five equally great things to do in Auckland…

Shark Bus in Auckland New Zealand

Visit Aquarium by Shark Bus

Fabulous Sea Life Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium is situated 5 km / 3 miles east of downtown Auckland along beautiful Tamaki Drive. To encourage travelers to include the aquarium in their itinerary, the aquarium provides a free hourly shuttle bus to/from downtown Auckland. But it’s not just any shuttle bus- it’s shaped like a shark! Where else in the world can you ride a shark bus?

The ride, in itself, is quite enjoyable. Not only do you look out the front window through shark teeth, but views along coastal Tamaki Drive are really spectacular.

But the real reward awaits at the aquarium, which is set completely underground and showcases penguins, sting rays, sharks, turtles, coral reef fish, seahorses, jellyfish and other marine life.

There’s are different zones within the aquarium for each species, including a shark ‘tunnel’ – a long hallway surrounded by huge windows looking into the shark enclosures. The aquarium even offers a shark cage dive!

The aquarium is open every day of the year. Their free shark shuttle bus departs downtown Auckland hourly on the half hour from Quay Street, near the ferry terminal.

LashWorldTour at Mission Bay Beach - Auckland New Zealand

Lash at Mission Bay Beach – Auckland

Spend a beach day at Mission Bay

Cute little crescent-shaped Mission Bay is situated just 1.5 km / 1 mile further east from Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium and is the closest beach to downtown Auckland. The bay features a beautiful curving stretch of powdery golden sand flecked with shells and provides stunning views of huge Hauraki Gulf and nearby Rangototo Island.

Mission Bay Beach makes a perfect beach day for anyone who loves suntanning, swimming in the sea or otherwise enjoying beach life.

But there’s more to Mission Bay than just the beach. It’s actually a small town with lovely restaurants, cafes, bars and shops, some featuring cool historic art deco architecture. The beach is backed by a wide, landscaped park set under big shady trees, with picnic tables, a huge fountain, playgrounds and other facilities.

So Mission Bay makes a great full day or half day trip from Auckland. It’s accessed by beautiful Tamaki Drive so visitors can get there by public bus, bicycle, car or even by walking the 7 km / 4.3 miles from downtown.

LashWorldTour with panoramic view of Auckland from Tamanaki Drive

Lash with panoramic view of Auckland from Tamanaki Drive

Enjoy spectacular panoramic views of Auckland from Michael Joseph Savage Memorial Park

Halfway between Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium and Mission Bay is the grassy rounded peak of Michael Joseph Savage Memorial Park. The 360 degree views from the top are spectacular.

It’s just a 1.5 km / 1 mile hike up Hamanaki Street from Tamaki Drive to reach the peak. A hiking trail runs down the opposite side to Mission Bay, just 1 km / .6 miles to the bottom.

From the top, the most spectacular panoramic view is over Auckland city and Hauraki Gulf. But views over Mission Bay and the interior are really pretty, too.

The hill is a great spot for sunrise and sunset photography, picnics, walking and enjoying the amazing views.

creative squid ice cream -at Giapo

Indulge your taste buds with locally-made Giapo gourmet ice cream

This innovative gourmet ice cream shop offers all sorts of ‘out of the box’ icecream treats. There’s ice cream wrapped in rotis (similar to flour tortillas and Indian naan), ice cream stuffed inside dumplings and ice cream tucked into fried Maori bread.

Then there are ice cream cones decorated with donuts, fruit, spiraled ‘horn’s, and even hot french fries!

Of course Giapo’s also offers a huge assortment of standard and creative ice cream flavors, including avocado, kiwi fruit, truffle, coconut and parsley, among many others.

Giapo’s store on Gore Street in downtown Auckland is a beautiful little upscale boutique, where visitors feel extra special eating their eclectic concoctions. The shop offers master classes in ice cream making, a chef’s table experience, a kitchen tour and other fun learning opps.

This is a unique ice cream experience offered only in Auckland, New Zealand, something that anyone who loves ice cream and adventure should make a point to do while in the city.

Auckland marina at Viaduct Basin

Visit Viaduct Harbor

Viaduct Harbor is situated on the western edge of downtown Auckland. It’s a large area full of upscale restaurants, cafes, bars and boutique shops surrounding a marina filled with sailboats.

Supposedly Auckland’s various marinas hold the highest concentration of boats in the world, giving the city its name ‘City of Sails’. That makes Viaduct Harbor an excellent place to gaze at all sorts of stunning private yachts and racing yachts as well as fishing boats.

Not surprisingly, many of the restaurants at Viaduct Harbor specialize in fresh seafood. Auckland’s huge Fish Market is also located there and is a great place to visit early in the morning.

Auckland’s excellent Maritime Museum is situated at Viaduct Harbor. The area also plays host to several annual racing & cultural events. Last but not least, Viaduct Harbor is one of Auckland’s main nightlife areas due to its great bars and late-night restaurants.

For more great activities in Auckland, check this New Zealand website

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You might find the following articles useful

My First Impressions of Auckland

5 Best Things to do in Auckland pt 1

10 Free Things to do in Auckland

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