How To Enjoy 48 Hours In Auckland City
- Helen
- Mar 8, 2019
- 6 min read
Updated: Jun 4, 2019
You have travelled to New Zealand and given yourself two days to enjoy all that Auckland City has to offer before you move on...
You find yourself in a city that is sprawling from north to south, offering so much and you wonder where to even start?
The options of how to best enjoy just two days in New Zealand's largest city seem overwhelming!
Luckily, help is at hand!
In this post I will offer some suggestions of how you might plan to enjoy the best of what Auckland City has to offer in just 48 hours.
Within this suggested itinerary I have tried to put in sights and activities that will give you a sample of the best bits to Auckland and a taster of what else the city encompasses.
I have also kept the itinerary busy but realistic...
The last thing you want is to be frantically rushing from one place to the next with little time to soak up and enjoy what you are seeing.
I hope the itinerary is also quite kind to your wallet (although Auckland is not the cheapest city to visit in New Zealand!).
In terms of getting from one place to another there are times when public transport might be needed and then your best means is to use one of the Link buses within Auckland city.... These are frequent, inexpensive and easy.
Check out their website for routes!
Ok, let us get on with the details....
48 Hours In Auckland City
Day One
Morning - Parnell
To start your 48 hours in Auckland, begin by enjoying a relaxing time soaking up Auckland's oldest city suburb and an affluent area in Parnell 'village'.
This is a pretty area that lies approximately 1.5 km to the east of the CBD district and offers boutique shops, art galleries, cafes and restaurants.
Have a wander around and then perhaps seek out a breakfast or brunch before moving on.
Late Morning & Afternoon - Auckland's War Memorial Museum
From Parnell, the Auckland War Memorial Museum is just a short distance, located in Auckland Domain, Auckland's oldest and one of it's largest parks.
The museum here is one of New Zealand's oldest (c.1929) and many Aucklander's will also tell you it is considered the most important museum collection found in the country.
The museum aims to,
'tell the story of New Zealand, its place in the Pacific and its people'.
Housing collections that teach about the first Pacific people and Maoris to find and shape New Zealand; exhibits of the natural history of the country and a floor dedicated to providing Auckland space for their public war memorial there is plenty to see and do here.
This is before the temporary exhibitions get a look in!
As you are on limited time the suggestion here is to purchase a ticket for the Highlights Guided Tour that will give you fascinating insight into the important exhibits from a very knowledgeable guide and after this enjoy the Maori Cultural performance at the museum.
The Maori Cultural performance is a 30 minute show by a group of performers of Maori heritage, detailing the history of the Maori people and New Zealand.
The show also finishes with a demonstration of the world famous Haka.
During your visit to the museum, if in need of a spot of lunch and / or afternoon tea, there are excellent cafes on the ground floor to enjoy.
Early Evening - Sky Tower
Once you have had your fill of culture and learning at Auckland's Museum, head back into the city and make your way to the iconic Sky Tower.
No image of Auckland's skyline is complete without the Sky Tower dominating.
At 328 metres high, the tower offers 360 degree views extending up to 80 km.
The Sky Tower in Auckland is one of those iconic city sights that should be included!
If you are feeling particularly adventurous then you might like to take the SkyJump or SkyWalk experiences at the Sky Tower, but failing that just take the ride to the top and enjoy the views...
Hopefully by now it will be coming up to sunset (depending on the time of year) and you can see the city from the tower as the sun sets over it.
When you buy your ticket here ensure to include the 'Sun & Stars upgrade'... this is just an additional NZ$ 4 on top of the normal ticket price and it then allows you unlimited return in a 24 hour period (and we will be returning!).
Evening - Auckland Harbour & Wynyard Quarter
On descending from the Sky Tower walk down towards the waterfront and harbour. Stroll around and enjoy the boats, the general views and ambience.
From the harbour you can walk along the waterfront to Silo Park, where in the summer months there is a regular programme of free events (check their website) and the silos are transformed into giant screens for an outdoor cinema.
The Wynyard Quarter, also located in this area, is a new development in Auckland which offers a range of restaurants, bars and other establishments, ensuring that it comes alive at night!
Enjoy dinner at the harbour here, soaking up the views and reflecting on your day.
Before Bed!
Before you head back to your bed, make another trip en route to the Sky Tower to enjoy the incredible 360 degree views of Auckland when it is lit up at night.
Ok... now you can go to bed!
Day Two
Morning - One Tree Hill
Begin the day venturing out to Cornwall Park, just south of the city, and stretch your legs by taking a walk up One Tree Hill (an easy to moderate uphill walk of approximately 20-30 minutes).
Auckland is surrounded by volcanic cones (caused by volcanoes that have erupted in years gone by).
Within a 20 km circumference of the city are 48 of these cones and One Tree Hill is one of the city's biggest.
The hill here is 182 m high and offers 360 degree views across the city.
One Tree Hill is also steeped in Maori history and at the top is an obelisk Maori memorial with a statue of a Maori warrior, alongside the grave of Sir John Logan Campbell who bequeathed a large sum of money for the obelisk to be built.
From the hill you will gain views across Auckland city, the harbour and out to the islands beyond Auckland's shore line. From the summit here you can see the east and west coast without moving!
Once you have enjoyed the hill and the views, stroll back down into Cornwall Park where there is a cafe to find some refreshments - perhaps time for a welcome Flat White!
Venture back into the city and now head for one last time to.....
Lunch Time - A Final Trip To The Sky Tower
Ok, I know this is the third visit but hopefully by now you have seen the views by sunset and night, so now to fully ensure you get your money's worth from your 24 hour pass, it is time to enjoy those views by day!
By now it is probably also lunch time, so why not stay at the top of the Tower and enjoy lunch with the views at the Sky Tower Cafe?
Early Afternoon - Queen Street
On exiting the Sky Tower this time, head towards Queen Street in the centre of the city.
Queen Street is the main shopping street in Auckland and a hive of activity on any given day.
If you enjoy shopping then you might like to stop for a quick bit of retail therapy, but if not soak up the shopping street and head down it to the waterfront and historic Ferry Building.
Afternoon & Evening - Ferry To Devonport
From Auckland's harbour, take the 12 minute ferry ride across the water to the north side of the city and visit the Victorian seaside village of Devonport.
Devonport offers a relaxed atmosphere, charm and character.
Enjoy the boutique shops, art galleries, specialist stores, cafes and restaurants, alongside admiring the Victorian properties and the sandy beaches.
From Devonport if you are feeling active, visit North Head - a historic reserve and headland formed from another of Auckland's volcanoes.
At one time North Head was used by the military due to it's strategic position and was considered the most significant coastal defence site in New Zealand. Today, there are still historical military relics to see here and tunnels beneath the hill that were originally dug out for defence purposes.
By visiting North Head, however, you also gain more excellent 360 degree views (assuming it is a clear day!).
Once you have explored Devonport, why not enjoy a meal at one of their excellent restaurants or fish and chip shops and watch the sunset over the city skyline?
For much more on Devonport and what it offers, please read my other post - A Visitor's Guide to Devonport.....
Finally, catch the ferry back to the city and sleep well after a busy but I hope enjoyable 48 hours in Auckland!
**To make my travels possible and affordable I do so through international house-sitting, using both Trusted Housesitters and Kiwi Housesitters**
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