Auckland Attractions

The imposing Ferry Building, with its fine restaurant, forms a striking landmark on the harbor front. Built in English Baroque style of brick and sandstone on a base of Coromandel granite, it was completed in 1912 to the design of Alexander Wiseman.

The city's busy main artery and show street is Queen Street, along which numerous high-rise office blocks occupied by banks, insurance companies and commercial firms have mushroomed. Between the Ferry Building and K' Road are department stores, shops and restaurants. There is a variety architecture in this area, with imposing colonial-period buildings rubbing shoulders with art-nouveau, art-deco and modern buildings.

West of Queen Street is the 328m Sky Tower, which is the new symbol of the city. From the viewing platform and revolving restaurant there is a magnificent panorama. Around the tower are grouped the buildings of Sky City, a postmodern complex with a luxury hotel and several restaurants.

Auckland Town Hall (1911 by the Clark brothers) is an imposing tower. The facade is of Oamaru marble, the base of Melbourne bluestone.

Albert Park, with its fine mature trees, was the site of the first barracks built in Auckland.

Alberton House a two-story mansion on the slopes of Mount Albert in the southwest of the city, was built in 1862; a ballroom and other apartments were added in 1870 by Allan Kerr Taylor, a landowner who had become rich during the gold boom. Attractive features are the corner turrets and the verandas running round three sides of the building. The house is set in beautiful gardens.

To the southeast of the city center is the Auckland Domain, an extensive recreation area with various leisure facilities and sports grounds.

Auckland International Airport is located 21km (14 miles) from the city center. The airport services direct flights to over 20 countries.

The Auckland Symphony Orchestra consists of both professional and amateur musicians and focuses on popular classics, film and show music. The ASO offers a full season of performances annually.

In the eastern half of Albert Park are various institutes belonging to Auckland's renowned university. The university church, St Andrew's, was built in 1849.

In Western Springs is Auckland Zoo, set in spacious grounds. A popular attraction is the Nocturnal House, where kiwis can be seen grubbing for worms - one of the few places in New Zealand where these shy creatures can be seen.

Adjoining the Ferry Building is the Chief Post Office, an imposing building of 1911 designed by John Campbell.

To the southwest of the Chief Post Office is the richly decorated French Empire-style Customs House (1889 by Thomas Mahoney). Originally occupied by officers of the armed forces and later by the customs authorities, it now houses various cultural institutions and shops.

The harbor is spanned by a bridge more than 1km long and some 43m high; the steel central arch is 243m long. The bridge was completed in 1959 and widened 10 years later. The northern districts of the city and the beautiful bathing beaches and bays on the north side of the harbor are easily reached.

The High Court (1868) on Waterloo Quadrant, a richly decorated brick building complete with turrets and gargoyles, was modeled on Warwick Castle. A modern annex housing the district appeal court spoils the effect of the older building.

Near Mount Eden, in the Epsom district is Highwic House, rebuilt in 1862 in a 'carpenter's Gothic' style and later enlarged. It belonged to a landowner named Alfred Buckland and remained in his family until 1978. It is now a museum.

On the southern fringe of the city center Karangahape Road, familiarly known as K' Road, cuts across Queen Street. It is particularly busy on Friday evenings when the shops stay open until 10pm; a colorful touch is added by the many South Sea islanders who congregate here.

At Microworld (23 Quay Street) you can see the 'little things of life' - for example, the surface forms of rocks and minerals, tiny insects and other creatures - through microscopes.

On Mount Albert itself there are slight remains of Maori fortifications.

This 196m high volcanic cone (called after the Earl of Auckland's family name) on the south side of the city, from which there are fine views of the surrounding area, was the most southerly point of the site acquired from the Maoris in 1840 for the building of the new capital. There are slight traces of the Maori fortifications, which may date from the 16th C Nearby is Eden Garden, with fine mature trees.

Old Government House is a timber neoclassical building (1856 by William Mason). After the transfer of the capital of the colony to Wellington in 1865 it served as a summer residence for the governor and a guest house for important visitors. It now belongs to Auckland University.

Opposite Old Government House is the Old Synagogue (1884 by Edward Bartley), now used for small-scale cultural events (concerts, drama).

The Pavilions of New Zealand, which attracted great interest at the International Exhibition in Brisbane in 1988, have been re-erected near the airport. They now house exhibitions on the mythology, history and environment of New Zealand.

The Ponsonby district to the west of the city center retains, particularly in Renall Street, a number of small 19th C. houses, once occupied by workers in the nearby harbor. They are now much sought after as town houses. The Post Office (1912 by John Campbell) is a striking building in English baroque style.

Along the harbor runs busy Quay Street, on which, and on the adjoining Princess Wharf, are the popular dockside markets and the Oriental Market. The markets are held daily in summer and from Friday to Sunday in winter.

To the west of Queen Street, is St Matthew's Church (1902; Anglican).

To the west of lower Queen Street is St Patrick's Cathedral (1848), one of the oldest churches in New Zealand. It has a beautiful tabernacle presented by the Maoris to Bishop Pompallier, who held the first Roman Catholic service in New Zealand in 1838.

On the west side of the city center, occupying the site of a power station (1908) fuelled with refuse, is the extensive Victoria Park Market, which sells fruit and vegetables and other goods. It also offers pleasant restaurants and pubs and a variety of entertainment. Nearby is Victoria Park, laid out in 1905.

Off Queen Street, on the left, is Vulcan Lane, a little street with many cafés that is particularly busy at lunch time and in the evening.

Round the wide sweep of Waitemata Harbour extends the central business district of Auckland with its high-rise skyline. The harbor is enlivened by passenger ships and freighters and by innumerable sailing boats.

There are some very beautiful beaches on the west coast, but with their sheer rocks, heavy surf from the stormy Tasman Sea and treacherous undertow they are dangerous for bathers. The following beaches are recommended for good swimmers: the beach at Piha (40km west), Karekare Beach, White's Beach, Bethell's Beach and the beach at Whatipu, at the entrance to Manukau Harbour.

Muriwai Beach, about 40 minutes from Auckland is another scenic beach area.

The Winter Gardens (greenhouses - tropical and cold), were built for the Auckland Exhibition of 1913. They are now part of Auckland's Botanic Gardens.