Spend a memorable day in Auckland with this amazing itinerary
Thinking of spending a day in Auckland before moving on to your next NZ destination? Auckland is a major city in the New Zealand’s North Island that you can easily explore in 2-3 days. However, for people who can just spend 24 hours in Auckland, here is an itinerary that will prove quite helpful. We are listing 7 destinations that will make your trip meaningful as well as memorable.
New Zealand is renowned worldwide as the Middle Earth – the fictional place from the Lord of the Rings books & movies. New Zealand is also the place where movies were shot; the famous Hobbiton set is real close to Auckland. So, after Auckland, we suggest you make time for at least half a day trip to Hobbiton.
Though Auckland has a good public transportation, a car rental is still a must if you want to explore the place with ease. With a rented car, you will have the freedom to drive about the city at your whim without having to wait for the next bus. The freedom to hop in the car and drive to the next destination is what makes a vacation a vacation, right? Auckland is really easy to drive and in NZ people drive on the left-hand side of the road.
Places to see in Auckland in a day
Start your morning at Wynyard Quarter
Start your day with a lovely breakfast and trust us when we say that there is no better place for it than Wynyard Quarter. This is a beautiful waterfront area dotted with numerous restaurants and cafes. You can enjoy the sunny morning walking down its many walkways that offer breathtaking views over Auckland Harbor. Spend an hour or 2 exploring this wonderful western edge of Auckland’s waterfront.
Pescado (opens at 8 AM) and Williams Eatery (opens at 7 AM) are some good eating places in Wynyard Quarter that open pretty early and have good reviews. The closest parking options near Wynyard Quarter are Downtown and Fanshawe Street car park.
Viaduct Basin
About 10 minutes walk from Wynyard Quarter there is Viaduct Basin – our second stop for the day. Just continue walking along the harbor & when you reach Wynyard Crossing, use this pedestrian crossing to reach Viaduct Basin. Wynyard crossing connects Wynyard Quarter & Viaduct Basin and makes it really easy for the visitors to walk the waterfront.
On crossing the bridge you will come across New Zealand Maritime Museum, another great place to visit if you are up to it. It opens on the weekdays at 10 AM.
Queen Street
After the Auckland Harbor, now it’s time to visit Auckland CBD and to be more specific, we mostly want you to visit its most popular street – The Queen Street.
It is a great place to shop and walk around. Best will be to start your walk at the waterfront in the CBD and then make your way to the Queen street. Once you are done with the shopping, would have worked up an appetite. In addition to clothing brands and other shopping venues, Queen Street also has some great restaurants where you can have lunch.
There are many parking places in or near downtown area where you will be able to park your rental car.
Start the afternoon with the beautiful views from Sky Tower
Sky Tower is just a small walk from Queen Street.
Sky Tower is 220 m high and has been gracing the skyline of Auckland for the past two decades. The place offers 360 views of the city up to 80 kilometers in all directions.
In case, you haven’t had anything for lunch, it is a perfect spot to do so. The place has about 20 bars and restaurants, and a 700 seat theatre in case you want to return and enjoy a show at night. You can easily spend 2 hours here.
The Sky Tower Gift Shop is a great place to hunt for a souvenir. The place opens everyday from 10 AM to 8 PM and has an entry fee. The place has its own parking – The SkyCity Main Site Car Park –which is also Auckland’s biggest Car Park.
Albert Park & University of Auckland
Laid out in 1880s, Albert Park is a public park in Auckland flanked by a couple of historic streets – namely Wellesley Street East, Princes Street, Bowen Avenue and Kitchener Street.
There is also a gallery in one corner of the park that you can visit, Auckland City Art Gallery. On the whole, the park is full of history, features a floral clock, various statues which also include Queen Victoria’s, a Victorian fountain and an Argentinian ombu tree.
Auckland War Memorial Museum
Auckland’s one day trip will not be complete if we miss its most popular museum – Auckland War Memorial Museum. It is the perfect place for the people to know more about the Auckland’s & New Zealand’s history – natural, cultural and military.
Auckland War Memorial Museum is located in Auckland Domain, the part of the city which is full of nature. The drive from Albert Park to the Museum takes about 7 minutes by car.
Spend the evening at Mount Eden
For a perfect sunset experience, there is no better place than Mount Eden. At 196 meters, it is also the best place after Sky Tower, where you will be able to enjoy the 360 degree views of the city. Located 4 km from Auckland CBD and 5.7 km from Auckland War Memorial Museum, Mount Eden is a suburb in Auckland. Mount Eden village also has a heritage trail.
Some of the notable building that are of historic importance are Mount Eden Prison, Tramp-shop and Quaker Meeting House. Essex Rd Car Park is a good place to park your car.
As the night falls, head towards one of its many restaurants for dinner. Village Sushi & Xoong have really good customer reviews.
Where to stay in Auckland?
Stay Auckland, Columbia Apartments & Clevedon Ridge Bed & Breakfast are some of the budget options where you can stay for the night in Auckland.
Have more Time?
If you can spare a few hours the next day, visit Hobbiton, a short drive from Auckland. It is the most popular day trip from the city and you can be there in an hour or so. It makes for a perfect half-day trip from Auckland. A must-do for Lord of the Rings fans.