Auckland, New Zealand

Location

Marker
Auckland
Leaflet Tiles © Esri — Source: Esri, DeLorme, NAVTEQ, USGS, Intermap, iPC, NRCAN, Esri Japan, METI, Esri China (Hong Kong), Esri (Thailand), TomTom, 2012

Auckland is called the City of Sails, and visitors flying in will see why. On the East Coast is the Waitemata Harbour—a Māori word meaning sparkling waters—which is bordered by the Hauraki Gulf, an aquatic playground peppered with small islands where many Aucklanders can be found "mucking around in boats."Not surprisingly, Auckland has some 70,000 boats. About one in four households in Auckland has a seacraft of some kind, and there are 102 beaches within an hour's drive; during the week many are quite empty. Even the airport is by the water; it borders the Manukau Harbour, which also takes its name from the Māori language and means solitary bird.According to Māori tradition, the Auckland isthmus was originally peopled by a race of giants and fairy folk. When Europeans arrived in the early 19th century, however, the Ngāti-Whātua tribe was firmly in control of the region. The British began negotiations with the Ngāti-Whātua in 1840 to purchase the isthmus and establish the colony's first capital. In September of that year the British flag was hoisted to mark the township's foundation, and Auckland remained the capital until 1865, when the seat of government was moved to Wellington. Aucklanders expected to suffer from the shift; it hurt their pride but not their pockets. As the terminal for the South Sea shipping routes, Auckland was already an established commercial center. Since then the urban sprawl has made this city of approximately 1.3 million people one of the world's largest geographically.A couple of days in the city will reveal just how developed and sophisticated Auckland is—the Mercer City Survey 2012 saw it ranked as the third-highest city for quality of life—though those seeking a New York in the South Pacific will be disappointed. Auckland is more get-up and go-outside than get-dressed-up and go-out. That said, most shops are open daily, central bars and a few nightclubs buzz well into the wee hours, especially Thursday through Saturday, and a mix of Māori, Pacific people, Asians, and Europeans contributes to the cultural milieu. Auckland has the world's largest single population of Pacific Islanders living outside their home countries, though many of them live outside the central parts of the city and in Manukau to the south. The Samoan language is the second most spoken in New Zealand. Most Pacific people came to New Zealand seeking a better life. When the plentiful, low-skilled work that attracted them dried up, the dream soured, and the population has suffered with poor health and education. Luckily, policies are now addressing that, and change is slowly coming. The Pacifica Festival in March is the region's biggest cultural event, attracting thousands to Western Springs. The annual Pacific Island Secondary Schools’ Competition, also in March, sees young Pacific Islander and Asian students compete in traditional dance, drumming, and singing. This event is open to the public.At the geographical center of Auckland city is the 1,082-foot Sky Tower, a convenient landmark for those exploring on foot and some say a visible sign of the city's naked aspiration. It has earned nicknames like the Needle and the Big Penis—a counterpoint to a poem by acclaimed New Zealand poet James K. Baxter, which refers to Rangitoto Island as a clitoris in the harbor.The Waitemata Harbour has become better known since New Zealand staged its first defense of the America's Cup in 2000 and the successful Louis Vuitton Pacific Series in early 2009. The first regatta saw major redevelopment of the waterfront. The area, where many of the city's most popular bars, cafés, and restaurants are located, is now known as Viaduct Basin or, more commonly, the Viaduct. A recent expansion has created another area, Wynyard Quarter, which is slowly adding restaurants.These days, Auckland is still considered too bold and brash for its own good by many Kiwis who live "south of the Bombay Hills," the geographical divide between Auckland and the rest of New Zealand (barring Northland). "Jafa," an acronym for "just another f—ing Aucklander," has entered the local lexicon; there's even a book out called Way of the Jafa: A Guide to Surviving Auckland and Aucklanders. A common complaint is that Auckland absorbs the wealth from the hard work of the rest of the country. Most Aucklanders, on the other hand, still try to shrug and see it as the parochial envy of those who live in small towns. But these internal identity squabbles aren't your problem. You can enjoy a well-made coffee in almost any café, or take a walk on a beach—knowing that within 30 minutes' driving time you could be cruising the spectacular harbor, playing a round at a public golf course, or even walking in subtropical forest while listening to the song of a native tûî bird.

Auckland, New Zealand Itineraries

71 Nights

Grand Spice Route Quest

Departure Date
25 Mar 25
Cruise LineRegent Seven Seas Cruises
Cruise TypeOcean
ShipSeven Seas Voyager
RegionWorld-wide
Departure PortAuckland
Destination PortCape Town
Itinerary
Auckland, Bay of Islands, Sydney, New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Newcastle, New South Wales, Townsville, Queensland, Cairns, Queensland, Darwin, Northern Territory, Darwin, Northern Territory, Komodo Island, Benoa, Bali, Benoa, Bali, Celukan Bawang, Bali, Surabaya, Semarang, Singapore, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, Kâmpóng Saôm, Laem Chabang, Laem Chabang, Ko Samui, Singapore, Singapore, Port Klang, Georgetown, Penang, Phuket, Phuket, Colombo, Cochin, Mangalore, Mormugao, Goa, Mumbai (ex Bombay), Dubai, Dubai, Dubai, Khasab, Mahé, Mahé, Nosy Bé, Mayotte Island, Maputo, Durban, Durban, Gqeberha (ex Port Elizabeth) and Cape Town

From £44,489pp

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18 Nights

Passage To Oz

Departure Date
25 Mar 25
Cruise LineRegent Seven Seas Cruises
Cruise TypeOcean
ShipSeven Seas Voyager
RegionAustralia & New Zealand
Departure PortAuckland
Destination PortBenoa, Bali
Itinerary
Auckland, Bay of Islands, Sydney, New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Newcastle, New South Wales, Townsville, Queensland, Cairns, Queensland, Darwin, Northern Territory, Darwin, Northern Territory, Komodo Island, Benoa, Bali and Benoa, Bali

From £11,499pp

Plus substantial savings from Deluxe Cruises

22 Nights

Oceania To Indonesia

Departure Date
26 Mar 25
Cruise LineOceania Cruises
Cruise TypeOcean
ShipNautica
RegionAustralia & New Zealand
Departure PortAuckland
Destination PortSingapore
Itinerary
Auckland, Bay of Islands, Sydney, New South Wales, Townsville, Queensland, Cairns, Queensland, Thursday Island, Queensland, Darwin, Northern Territory, Kupang, Waingapu, Sumba, Benoa, Bali, Benoa, Bali, Jakarta, Singapore and Singapore

From £4,689pp

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24 Nights

Oceania Voyager

Departure Date
04 May 25
Cruise LineOceania Cruises
Cruise TypeOcean
ShipInsignia
RegionAustralia & New Zealand
Departure PortFremantle, Western Australia
Destination PortAuckland
Itinerary
Fremantle, Western Australia, Busselton, Western Australia, Albany, Western Australia, Esperance, Western Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Penneshaw, Portland, Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Geelong, Victoria, Burnie, Tasmania, Eden, New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Picton, Wellington, Napier, Tauranga and Auckland

From £8,329pp

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61 Nights

Southern Seas Explorer

Departure Date
04 May 25
Cruise LineOceania Cruises
Cruise TypeOcean
ShipInsignia
RegionWorld-wide
Departure PortFremantle, Western Australia
Destination PortSan Diego, California
Itinerary
Fremantle, Western Australia, Busselton, Western Australia, Albany, Western Australia, Esperance, Western Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Penneshaw, Portland, Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Geelong, Victoria, Burnie, Tasmania, Eden, New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Picton, Wellington, Napier, Tauranga, Auckland, Auckland, Bay of Islands, Nouméa, Mystery Island (Inyeug), Port Vila, Champagne Bay, Espiritu Santo Island, Lautoka, Suva, Apia, Pago Pago, Bora-Bora, Bora-Bora, Uturoa, Raietea Island, Papeete, Tahiti, Papeete, Tahiti, Moorea, Fakarava, Nuku Hiva Island, Honolulu, Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, Hilo, Hawaii and San Diego, California

From £16,579pp

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20 Nights

Polynesian Seascapes

Departure Date
28 May 25
Cruise LineOceania Cruises
Cruise TypeOcean
ShipInsignia
RegionPacific
Departure PortAuckland
Destination PortPapeete, Tahiti
Itinerary
Auckland, Auckland, Bay of Islands, Nouméa, Mystery Island (Inyeug), Port Vila, Champagne Bay, Espiritu Santo Island, Lautoka, Suva, Apia, Pago Pago, Bora-Bora, Bora-Bora, Uturoa, Raietea Island and Papeete, Tahiti

From £5,769pp

Plus substantial savings from Deluxe Cruises

57 Nights

Epic Tropical Vistas

Departure Date
28 May 25
Cruise LineOceania Cruises
Cruise TypeOcean
ShipInsignia
RegionWorld-wide
Departure PortAuckland
Destination PortNew York, New York
Itinerary
Auckland, Auckland, Bay of Islands, Nouméa, Mystery Island (Inyeug), Port Vila, Champagne Bay, Espiritu Santo Island, Lautoka, Suva, Apia, Pago Pago, Bora-Bora, Bora-Bora, Uturoa, Raietea Island, Papeete, Tahiti, Papeete, Tahiti, Moorea, Fakarava, Nuku Hiva Island, Honolulu, Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, Hilo, Hawaii, San Diego, California, Cabo San Lucas, Zihuatanejo, Puerto Quetzal, Corinto, Puntarenas, Cartagena, Georgetown, Grand Cayman, Miami, Florida, Port Canaveral, Florida, New York, New York and New York, New York

From £24,979pp

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37 Nights

Polynesian Parade

Departure Date
28 May 25
Cruise LineOceania Cruises
Cruise TypeOcean
ShipInsignia
RegionPacific
Departure PortAuckland
Destination PortSan Diego, California
Itinerary
Auckland, Auckland, Bay of Islands, Nouméa, Mystery Island (Inyeug), Port Vila, Champagne Bay, Espiritu Santo Island, Lautoka, Suva, Apia, Pago Pago, Bora-Bora, Bora-Bora, Uturoa, Raietea Island, Papeete, Tahiti, Papeete, Tahiti, Moorea, Fakarava, Nuku Hiva Island, Honolulu, Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, Hilo, Hawaii and San Diego, California

From £16,179pp

Plus substantial savings from Deluxe Cruises

92 Nights

Grand Pacific Explorer

Departure Date
14 Sep 25
Cruise LineViking Ocean Cruises
Cruise TypeOcean
ShipViking Orion
RegionPacific
Departure PortVancouver, British Columbia
Destination PortAuckland
Itinerary
Vancouver, British Columbia, Ketchikan, Alaska, Sitka, Alaska, Valdez, Alaska, Seward, Alaska, Homer, Alaska, Kodiak, Alaska, Sapporo, Sapporo, Tokyo, Tokyo, Tokyo, Shimizu, Shimizu, Osaka, Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Beppu, Kyushu Island, Oita, Kagoshima, Nagasaki, Keelung (Chilung), Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Ha Long Bay, Ha Long Bay, Chan May, Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Sihanoukville, Sihanoukville, Laem Chabang, Laem Chabang, Laem Chabang, Port Klang, Singapore, Jakarta, Jakarta, Semarang, Surabaya, Benoa, Bali, Benoa, Bali, Lombok, Rinca Island, Darwin, Northern Territory, Darwin, Northern Territory, Thursday Island, Queensland, Cairns, Queensland, Townsville, Queensland, Airlie Beach, Airlie Beach, Mooloolaba, Queensland, Newcastle, New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Melbourne, Victoria, Hobart, Tasmania, Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Napier, Tauranga, Auckland and Auckland

From £57,440pp

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30 Nights

Australia, New Zealand & Indonesia

Departure Date
14 Nov 25
Cruise LineViking Ocean Cruises
Cruise TypeOcean
ShipViking Venus
RegionAsia
Departure PortBenoa, Bali
Destination PortAuckland
Itinerary
Benoa, Bali, Lombok, Rinca Island, Darwin, Northern Territory, Darwin, Northern Territory, Thursday Island, Queensland, Cairns, Queensland, Townsville, Queensland, Airlie Beach, Brisbane, Queensland, Newcastle, New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Melbourne, Victoria, Hobart, Tasmania, Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Napier, Tauranga, Auckland and Auckland

From £14,680pp

Plus substantial savings from Deluxe Cruises

30 Nights

Australia, New Zealand & Indonesia

Departure Date
16 Nov 25
Cruise LineViking Ocean Cruises
Cruise TypeOcean
ShipViking Orion
RegionAsia
Departure PortBenoa, Bali
Destination PortAuckland
Itinerary
Benoa, Bali, Lombok, Rinca Island, Darwin, Northern Territory, Darwin, Northern Territory, Thursday Island, Queensland, Cairns, Queensland, Townsville, Queensland, Airlie Beach, Airlie Beach, Mooloolaba, Queensland, Newcastle, New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Melbourne, Victoria, Hobart, Tasmania, Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Napier, Tauranga, Auckland and Auckland

From £14,880pp

Plus substantial savings from Deluxe Cruises

14 Nights

Sydney to Auckland

Departure Date
17 Nov 25
Cruise LineSilversea
Cruise TypeOcean
ShipSilver Moon
RegionAustralia & New Zealand
Departure PortSydney, New South Wales
Destination PortAuckland
Itinerary
Sydney, New South Wales, Hobart, Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Bluff, Port Chalmers, Lyttelton, Picton, Wellington, Napier, Gisborne, Tauranga and Auckland

From Please Call

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