
Auckland is just a stop over city to enter this beautiful country. Its just like any other metro city, so spending 2 nights over here would be wasting your time.
Being the biggest airport in New Zealand, you would invariably land over here to enter the country otherwise you can also land in Christchurch , if you are coming from Australia.
The capital of New Zealand is Wellington, but the financial capital is Auckland, so its a busy city with big buildings and malls. But that is not what you are here for. New Zealand is divided into 2 islands, North & South. Comparatively Southern Island is more beautiful but North Island has still some activites and things to see.
SkyCity Auckland
We stayed at the Skycity Auckland, which is right in the center of the city. It has an Observation tower and also a casino. So even after flight travel, you would not need go faraway to pass your time.
Its a huge hotel in terms of hotel properties in New Zealand. We stayed in a 1 bedroom suite and it was quite big which had walk in shower plus a big bath tub with walk in closets.
Also Auckland goes very quiet after 7-8 pm so SkyCity is a good place if you love playing in the casinos.
Service is prompt and efficient but I hated the part where they charged us for the dental kit. You would not expect from such a big hotel.
Being the biggest airport in New Zealand, you would invariably land over here to enter the country otherwise you can also land in Christchurch , if you are coming from Australia.
The capital of New Zealand is Wellington, but the financial capital is Auckland, so its a busy city with big buildings and malls. But that is not what you are here for. New Zealand is divided into 2 islands, North & South. Comparatively Southern Island is more beautiful but North Island has still some activites and things to see.
SkyCity Auckland
We stayed at the Skycity Auckland, which is right in the center of the city. It has an Observation tower and also a casino. So even after flight travel, you would not need go faraway to pass your time.
Its a huge hotel in terms of hotel properties in New Zealand. We stayed in a 1 bedroom suite and it was quite big which had walk in shower plus a big bath tub with walk in closets.
Also Auckland goes very quiet after 7-8 pm so SkyCity is a good place if you love playing in the casinos.
Service is prompt and efficient but I hated the part where they charged us for the dental kit. You would not expect from such a big hotel.
Sky Tower
Sky Tower is an observation tower jutting right out from the Skycity hotel. It gave a 360 degrees view of the the city. Its better to go here and see Auckland instead of tiring out yourself seeing it on foot or by car. Best time to go is around sunset.
Harbour Cruise
Concierge recommended us to take Harbour Cruise since its one of the best rated excursions, but sadly just sitting out in an open air ferry while it goes painstakingly slow around the harbour is not my cup of tea. Quite boring.
Devonport
Another concierge recommendation about a port accessible by ferry because of nice parks and sea view. But this is something you can find in an any city. If killing your time is a prerogative then do it before you do Harbour cruise.
Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World
If you have ever seen an aquarium before in an international city, you can give this a miss. But if you are dying to see penguins, then you can give it an hour or two. A 20 mins bus ride away, Kelly Tarlton is a small aquarium having a variety of marine life.
If you have kids along, they are surely going to enjoy this but otherwise its strictly ok. Better to see penguins in wildlife in South Island than to see them captivated inside 4 walls .
Now rent a car and drive away to the interiors of New Zealand .....
Sky Tower is an observation tower jutting right out from the Skycity hotel. It gave a 360 degrees view of the the city. Its better to go here and see Auckland instead of tiring out yourself seeing it on foot or by car. Best time to go is around sunset.
Harbour Cruise
Concierge recommended us to take Harbour Cruise since its one of the best rated excursions, but sadly just sitting out in an open air ferry while it goes painstakingly slow around the harbour is not my cup of tea. Quite boring.
Devonport
Another concierge recommendation about a port accessible by ferry because of nice parks and sea view. But this is something you can find in an any city. If killing your time is a prerogative then do it before you do Harbour cruise.
Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World
If you have ever seen an aquarium before in an international city, you can give this a miss. But if you are dying to see penguins, then you can give it an hour or two. A 20 mins bus ride away, Kelly Tarlton is a small aquarium having a variety of marine life.
If you have kids along, they are surely going to enjoy this but otherwise its strictly ok. Better to see penguins in wildlife in South Island than to see them captivated inside 4 walls .
Now rent a car and drive away to the interiors of New Zealand .....