So a lot of Kiwi's don't really like Auckland and I can see why because there are so many other beautiful places to visit in New Zealand. Auckland is the biggest city in New Zealand with a population of 1.5 million. There is not a massive amount to do for tourists but it's definitely a very livable place with a chill atmosphere. We stayed at Base Hostel for £7 a night. The location was excellent as it was right next to the SkyTower. In this post I will talk about how we spent the weekend in Auckland.
Get coffee
For those of you who know me, you'll know I'm not a coffee drinker - I'm a hot choc kinda gal. But I was travelling with avid coffee drinkers which meant that we started everyday hunting for the best coffee shops.
One of my favourites was 'the receptionist' which is a tiny little coffee stall in the wall of Lorne st.
Just along the street is also a cute pancake place called No1 Pancake which does Korean pancakes. We stopped here for some breakfast. I would recommend the cinnamon and sugar.
2. Waterfront/shopping
So the main shopping street that we explored is Queen street. There are retail stores like CottonOn (which has become my new favourite store). Then you have stores like Mecca and Sephora, and then if you're really boujee there are stores like Gucci and Prada further down the street, near the waterfront.
The water front is really beautiful. We spent the afternoon/evening exploring and taking photos of the beautiful view and urban architecture. There are some really nice restaurants and bars where you can grab a drink and enjoy the evening sunset across the water.
Photos = @dteo827
3. SkyTower
The SkyTower is definitely a highlight. There is a restaurant up top as well as a viewing deck. It cost a student $23NZD to go up or $32NZD for an adult.
Alternatively you can walk around the edge or Jump off the tower!
I jumped off the tower. Read more about my experience in my last blog post.
4. Aquarium
Another must is SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium . It's a 15min Uber ride from the SkyTower. You can catch a bus but due to Covid-19 it was easier and cheaper for us to get an Uber. Student tickets cost $30NZD and adult tickets cost $39NZD, I think they're slightly cheaper if you pre-book tickets online.
5. Rugby game
A trip to New Zealand is not complete without watching a Rugby game! We were fortunate enough to be in Auckland for the first Rugby Game of the delayed season due to Covid-19, so the game was sold out and tickets were super cheap! $20NZD for general admission.