Auckland
For most tourists, Auckland will be the gateway to New Zealand, and the city is well worth a few days’ stop. Auckland is built on a number of extinct volcanoes. Water sports are perhaps the foremost attraction of the city, but you will also find plenty of excellent museums, galleries, luxury hotels, top-notch restaurants and white sandy beaches.
Auckland is the hottest and sunniest of New Zealand’s cities, although winter temperatures in the period May to September are only around 13-14 degrees.
Auckland is steadily falling on the charts of the world’s best city to live in, and along with the incredibly beautiful areas around the city, Auckland is well worth a few days of visiting.
Norwegians do not need New Zealand visas for stays of up to three months, but please note that you must have a passport that is valid for at least six months if you are traveling through Asian countries, or a new biometric passport (or visa) if you are flying through the United States.
Auckland International Airport is New Zealand’s busiest, 21 kilometers south of downtown. The airport bus to the city center costs about NOK 60, while a taxi usually costs around NOK 250.
City Profile
- Abbreviation: AKLD
- Country: New Zealand
Tourist in Auckland
Auckland is not the capital of New Zealand, but with its 400,000 inhabitants, it is the country’s most populous city. 25% of New Zealand’s population lives in or around Auckland. The city is located on the northern tip of the North Island and lies on a narrow land belt with the Tasmanian Sea to the west and the Pacific Ocean to the east. Founded around 1840, Auckland was New Zealand’s first capital until this title went to Wellington in 1865.
Auckland has been nicknamed the City of Sails because of the thousands of sailboats and yachts located in the marinas of Waitemata Harbor and Hauraki Gulf. No cities in the world have more boats per capita than Auckland.
The most distinctive building in Auckland is the Sky Tower, which really lives up to its name. This is the highest viewpoint in the southern hemisphere, with an altitude of 328 meters. The tower also houses a hotel, casino, theaters and bus station. The adrenaline rush can jump in elastic from a platform of 192 m or take a so-called “Walk around”.
You should also visit the city observatory and planetarium, the Stardome. This is on the slopes of the volcanic hilltop One Tree Hill, of which U2 has a song on The Joshua Tree album. In the park you will also find archaeological Maori excavations and a children’s playground. Also visit the Auckland Zoo, which has over 150 different species of animals, many of which are only found in New Zealand.
Of a little more special experiences you have Spookers, which is located in an old mental hospital. Here you can walk around in haunted houses and in a forest, where creepy creatures and ghosts constantly scare the water off you. The 16-year limit is very reasonable!
Those who want to experience Auckland’s nightlife can head straight for Ponsonby Road, a mere mile of cafes, pubs, bars, restaurants and clubs. Click here for more about Ponsonby Road in Auckland.
Hotel accommodation in Auckland is not very affordable, but it costs around 6-700 NOK per night for a double room in a central and good tourist class hotel. The very few hotels include breakfast in the room rate.
List of Auckland Acronyms
The most commonly used abbreviations about Auckland is AKLD which stands for Auckland. In the following table, you can see all acronyms related to Auckland, including abbreviations for airport, city, school, port, government, and etc.
