Located on the North Island of New Zealand, Auckland stands as the largest and most populous city in this nation. It is also its economic hub, as it is home to the headquarters of the country’s most important banks and businesses and carries out much of the commercial activity. It is valued internationally as one of the three cities with the best quality of life, although it is also compared with the most expensive cities in Europe.
When talking about Auckland, we must refer to the impressive natural environment that surrounds it, where paradisiacal beaches and exuberant forests steal almost all the protagonism. Similarly, its metropolitan area, known as ¨Gran Auckland¨, deserves special mention if we talk about aspects of beauty because its enormous buildings of modern architecture in contrast with its emblematic monuments offer a spectacle worthy of admiration.
If you are interested in continuing to get to know this charming city, continue reading our article so that you can discover what you can’t miss if you visit.
Sky Tower:
To begin our list of recommendations, I would like to suggest that you do not miss one of Auckland’s most symbolic buildings: Sky Tower. It is a tower 328 meters high, located in the heart of the city and is considered one of the most important tourist attractions.
If you decide to visit it you will have the pleasure of witnessing impressive 360 degree views of Auckland from its viewpoints. In addition, you can access its bars or restaurants and spend a very pleasant time tasting excellent dishes of New Zealand cuisine, as well as have the opportunity to practice ¨Skyjump¨, a jump of 192 meters high that is made from one of the observation points of the tower.
As part of its great attraction we have to mention the lighting of the tower during the night. Its lights adorn the nightlife of the city and are often used as a means to promote and support various causes or national celebrations.
Auckland War Memorial Museum:
This emblematic building is located in Auckland Domain, in the central suburb of Grafton. It is a neoclassical building that houses a large collection of elements belonging to the war and natural history of the country.
As part of the first museums to be founded in New Zealand, visiting its exhibition halls represents a journey back in time where you can get as close as you want to the origin of this nation. Similarly, in its galleries you will have the opportunity to learn about Maori culture, its beginnings and its development. You will be able to appreciate everything from works of art belonging to this culture to typical items such as jewellery and textiles.
In addition, it has one of the three most important libraries in New Zealand where the Museum’s Documentary Heritage is kept, including manuscripts, maps, newspapers, books, photographs and works of art in the form of paintings, notebooks, sketches and drawings, among others.
Mount Eden:
If you want to enjoy contact with New Zealand nature and Maori culture without being too far from the centre of Auckland, a good idea would be to visit Mount Eden. This is one of the most important places for Maori within the city as in the past it served as a defensive stronghold and where Maori rituals are still performed today.
Mount Eden is an inactive volcano 196 meters high (the highest in its surroundings), whose crater measures 50 meters deep and is located 4 kilometers from downtown Auckland, approximately. You can walk from the center or, if you don’t feel like walking, you can opt for public transportation, there are several bus routes that go to their address.
From the top you will have access to breathtaking views of the entire city where I guarantee you will be able to take very good photographs.
Saint Patrick’s Cathedral:
The Cathedral of St. Patrick and St. Joseph is one of Auckland’s historic buildings that you should visit yes or yes. It is located in the heart of the city and is the cathedral of the bishop of Auckland.
Originally built of wood, this 1843 building was designed to serve a population of no more than 400 people, mostly Irish. It was founded by Bishop Jean Baptiste Pompallier, who served as the country’s first Catholic bishop.
In 1908 it opened new facilities with rooms and decorations according to its condition.
Today we can appreciate the architectural beauty of its structure, decorated with works of art of high heritage value and elegant stained-glass windows.
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Toi or Tamaki Art Gallery:
If you enjoy visiting spaces where the most representative of the art of the country in which you are on vacation is collected, in the Toi or Tamaki Gallery you will have the opportunity to get close to the largest national and international art collection that exists in New Zealand.
It currently has more than 15,000 works where you can appreciate representative works of Maori culture, important artists from New Zealand and the Pacific. Its large collection also includes works by renowned artists such as Cézanne, Gauguin, Picasso, Matisse and Dalí.
So much for our recommendation on the sites you can’t miss in Auckland. However, I have to tell you that in its territory there are numerous attractions that fill the city with life. If you are planning your next trip, I hope that our article has helped you to make the decision to set your course for this wonderful destination.