Travel 10 Top Tourist Attractions in Auckland 2015

Auckland is one of the most beautiful city in New Zealand. It is one of the few cities in the world to have two harbours on two separate major bodies of water. The 2014 Mercer Quality of Living Survey ranked Auckland 3rd place in the world on its list, while the Economist's World's most liveable cities index of 2011 ranked Auckland in 9th place. In 2010, Auckland was classified as a Beta World City in the World Cities Study Group's inventory by Loughborough University. Here are 10 top tourist attractions in Auckland 2015:

1. Auckland War Memorial Museum

Auckland War Memorial Museum is New Zealand's first Museum.

The Museum tells the story of New Zealand, its place in the Pacific and its people. The Museum is a war memorial for the province of Auckland and holds one of New Zealand's top three heritage libraries.

It has pre-eminent Māori and Pacific collections, significant natural history resources and major social and military history collections, as well as decorative arts and pictorial collections.

2. Auckland Zoo

Home to the largest collection of native and exotic animals in New Zealand. See giraffes, lions, hippos, penguins, tigers, the native kiwi, tuatara and more. You should also wander through Te Wao Nui's six habitats native to New Zealand (by the way, Te Wao Nui means "the living realm" in Maori). One of the habitats is "The Night" and features a cave filled with nocturnal creatures, like short-tailed bats. The KidZone, complete with a sizeable playground, is a popular pit stop for families.

 

I loved this Zoo, firstly the enclosures are very sympathetic to the needs of the annimals and secondly the information presented was geared towards education and conservation without being too pushy. Its not a huge place but its easily enough to fill most of a day, check the web for timings of the special shows and plan your trip around that. You can take a picnic in with you and there are plenty of places to sit and eat but the concession stands are reasonably priced also.

3. Skycity Auckland

Located right in the heart of the city,  you can't miss this architectural masterpiece. Step inside and you experience the glamour of a cas ino with pepperings of New Zealand culture seen in the design of the building. The world-class cas ino offers hours of entertainment, and when you feel like a bite to eat, there are plenty of restaurants and bars to choose from. Take a ride to the top to enjoy breathtaking 360 degree views as you eat your meal at Orbit Revolving Restaurant or go higher to the 328m tall Sky Tower. You can take a walk around the top of the pergola or for the most daring, make the Sky Jump.

4. Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World

Auckland is a city that takes pride in our sealife and harbour location. So why not head down to the best underwater world around, without getting wet? I'm talking about Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World on Tamaki Drive. This centre was the vision of Kelly Tarlton, an extraordinary Kiwi adventurer, diver, explorer and inventor, who wanted to share his love of the ocean with others. Enjoy the Antarctic Encounter, home to New Zealand’s only sub-Antarctic penguins. Be amazed in the Underwater World by looking at giant stingrays, sharks and the rich variety of species from New Zealand’s coastal waters.

5. Museum of Transport and Technology

MOTAT is New Zealand's largest transport and technology museum. Set on 40 acres, MOTAT will take you on an interactive journey through many of the technological achievements that have helped shape New Zealand. You can take a tram ride, check out old war planes, an historical village and the Pumphouse, with its magnificent Beam Engine, which has had extensive conservation to ensure its significance in Auckland's history is preserved.

6. Great Barrier Island.

The island was initially exploited for its minerals and kauri trees and saw only limited agriculture. In 2013, it was inhabited by 939 people, mostly living from farming and tourism. The majority of the diverse environments (around 60% of the total area) is administered as nature reserve by the Department of Conservation. In 2009 the island atmosphere was described as being "life in New Zealand many decades back", not without some positive emphasis.

7.   .

Waiheke Island is the ultimate island retreat. You’ll feel another world away, and yet Waiheke is just a 35-minute ferry ride from downtown Auckland.Known as the island of wine for its many wineries and vineyards, a wine tasting or tour is a must. Enjoy a day trip or find accommodation and stay longer to really enjoy some of the fantastic activities on offer.

8. Auckland Vineyards.

Auckland has a variety of vineyards that are worth visiting if you enjoy the odd glass of vino, delicious food and a stunning setting. You can either join a wine tasting tour or do an independent trip to one of the many vineyards in the city. From the family-owned Soljans in Kumeu, Babich Wines in Henderson to Stoneyridge on Waiheke Island and Turanga Estate in Whitford, there are plenty of vineyards around the city for you to sample the seasonal wines.

9. Auckland’s harbour.

Head to Wynyard Quarter, Auckland’s most recently developed waterfront precinct, for great dining, family friendly playspaces, and great markets and outdoor cinema in the summer. Enjoy a meal overlooking the water at North Wharf.

10. Muriwai Beach.

Muriwai Beach is a beautiful, windswept beach on Auckland’s wild west coast. Its pounding waves draw surfers and its dramatic stretch of black volcanic sand is perfect for a walk to blow out the cobwebs.

Don’t miss the impressive sight of the huge gannet colonies nestled on the rugged coastline.

10 Top Tourist Attractions in Auckland 2015