Auckland, the "City of Sails" is the largest city in New Zealand. Surrounded by water and studded with volcanic hills, it's an excellent city to travel in. Auckland City recently ranked fourth equal in the Worldwide Quality of Living Survey 2009.
Auckland is very spread-out, the land area is almost equal to Los Angeles but there's less than 1.5 million people there. Legally and administratively, it's divided into four autonomous parts: Auckland City, North Shore, Waitakere, and Manukau.
The low population density means transport options are limited. Most Aucklanders drive everywhere, meaning roads become very congested at peak times. If you are visiting for a short time, you might get by on the busses and trains, but you need to hire a car to have any sort of freedom and to see some of Auckland's best sights.
Auckland International Airport is likely to be your first point of entry into Auckland, New Zealand. There are several ways into the city, but none are cheap! If you are travelling by yourself, the Airbus is a good option, but a taxi will be cheaper and more convenient if there is more than one person. Some hotels provide complementary shuttle services, so check this before you fly.
Bus tickets can be bought from the driver, and price varies depending on the number of stages you pass through. If you will be travelling often, you can buy a smart card which can be preloaded with credits. There is a small discount for buying 10 journeys and you can also elect to get a month long pass. The train network is similar (but ticketing is not integrated between them or the different bus companies).
Top summer events include the free concerts that run through December to February, like Christmas in the Park and Symphony under the Stars. Community events include the famous Lantern Festival in albert Park to celebrate Chinese New Year. Auckland really kicks off with lots of paid and free concerts and sporting events -- especially cricket and yachting. The Rugby World Cup is in New Zealand in 2011 which will be a great event.
Auckland is very spread-out, the land area is almost equal to Los Angeles but there's less than 1.5 million people there. Legally and administratively, it's divided into four autonomous parts: Auckland City, North Shore, Waitakere, and Manukau.
The low population density means transport options are limited. Most Aucklanders drive everywhere, meaning roads become very congested at peak times. If you are visiting for a short time, you might get by on the busses and trains, but you need to hire a car to have any sort of freedom and to see some of Auckland's best sights.
Auckland International Airport is likely to be your first point of entry into Auckland, New Zealand. There are several ways into the city, but none are cheap! If you are travelling by yourself, the Airbus is a good option, but a taxi will be cheaper and more convenient if there is more than one person. Some hotels provide complementary shuttle services, so check this before you fly.
Bus tickets can be bought from the driver, and price varies depending on the number of stages you pass through. If you will be travelling often, you can buy a smart card which can be preloaded with credits. There is a small discount for buying 10 journeys and you can also elect to get a month long pass. The train network is similar (but ticketing is not integrated between them or the different bus companies).
Top summer events include the free concerts that run through December to February, like Christmas in the Park and Symphony under the Stars. Community events include the famous Lantern Festival in albert Park to celebrate Chinese New Year. Auckland really kicks off with lots of paid and free concerts and sporting events -- especially cricket and yachting. The Rugby World Cup is in New Zealand in 2011 which will be a great event.
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Want more Auckland travel information? Download a free Auckland travel guide or check out the huge New Zealand summer feature in the free Indie Travel Podcast online travel magazine.
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