Auckland Information - hotels, restaurants, golf, weather, maps & more

It is safe to say that no other city on earth has benefited more from being the filming location to a series of films quite like New Zealand benefited from the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The films acted as a 9 hour commercial for the dramatic, breathtaking and seemingly supernatural features of New Zealand, and although the countries largest city, Auckland, was nowhere to be seen, the ripple effect has helped boost tourism here to new heights. Today, more and more tourists are flooding to New Zealand and almost all of them use Auckland as a jumping off point for the rest of the country. And that really is the best way to view a vacation to Auckland. You aren’t visiting just one spectacular city, you’re preparing to embrace a country and a culture that is completely unique on earth and a place people have been known to fall in love with at first sight.

Upon your arrival in this beautiful city, the first thing you’ll likely notice is the mammoth Sky Tower, the largest free standing building in the southern hemisphere. And this really sets the tone for your entire stay in New Zealand. Assuming you leave the city, you’ll be greeted by waterfalls, mountains and landscapes that are truly bigger than life. While Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson, a New Zealand native, used a handful of camera tricks, almost all of the footage of wild New Zealand was completely honest. Even if you’ve come to Auckland for spa treatments and four star accommodations, you’ll be pleasantly surprised time and time again by the fact that you always seem to get more than what you expect at every turn. Auckland is finally considered a world class city on par with any other destination and the residents here seem keen on keeping that title no matter what.

The City of Sails, as Auckland is known, is a paradise for those that love the water. Surrounded by water on most sides, the city is a perfect spot for sailing, fishing, watersports and activities like scuba diving and snorkeling. The beaches here are also top notch and the surfing on some of Auckland’s beaches is legendary. Auckland is also a top destination for photographers, both professional and amateur. The surrounding land as seen from Auckland is dramatic and beautiful. Leave the comfy confines of the city and the scenery only gets better. If you love nature and you love being immersed in some of the most beautiful sights in the world, than this is the vacation destination for you.

So, what are you waiting for? One of the newest and most exciting destinations in the world awaits your exploration! But remember, if you live in the northern hemisphere, the seasons are reversed. Summers here can get quite warm so if you are planning on traveling during the holidays, the height of the busy season here, make sure you bring light clothes, not winter jackets.