Day 3: What to see in Auckland in one day: Mount Eden, Wynyard Quater, Viaduct Harbor, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Sky Tower
What to see in Auckland in one day, it will be our plan today after picking up our Jucy motorhome in New Zealand, with which we will tour the White Cloud Country for 33 days.
We started the day at 6 in the morning, a little later than usual to what we are accustomed to on trips, but considering that the flight to New Zealand arrived almost at dawn yesterday, today we preferred to rest a little more and so be energized for all things to do in Aukland We have scheduled.
We leave Auckland Airport Lodge, our accommodation in Auckland tonight, when it's 8 o'clock in the morning back to the airport, with its free transfer service, for breakfast there are a couple of coffees and a couple of yogurts with cereals for 23, 50 dollars and buy a couple of adapters for New Zealand for 19NZD, since the ones we bring from home are universal, but they don't include the type I, which is the one needed here.
After these first steps in the city and before starting the route through the places to see in Auckland, at 8:30 we call Jucy, which is the company with which we have rented the motorhome in New Zealand, so that they come to look for us with their free transfer and we go directly to the door 11 of the international terminal, right next door McDonalds, where transfers are made to hotels or car rental companies to go finally, to pick up what will be our house on wheels these next days and with which we will share this trip to New Zealand in 36 days.
The journey to the Jucy offices is not more than 10 minutes and once there and after delivering the international card and credit card, where we will make the motorhome deposit, we spend 45 minutes with the staff that explains all the details of the operation of our caravan and some points about traffic rules in New Zealand, with which we already felt safe to start this trip with the piggyback house.
With everything already clear and the keys in our possession, we take the moment to tidy up all the clothes in the backpacks, place it and adapt it, so as not to have to worry about this again and finally start the route through the places to see in Auckland in one day.
Jucy office at Auckland airport
Before continuing with today's route through the places to visit in Auckland, we want to comment that our choice has been to book with Jucy for this New Zealand in a motorhome, but if you are interested in making a trip of this type, we recommend you look at the Motorhome Republic page where you can see all the available options, prices and Make the reservation directly.
And so, when it's 10 in the morning we can finally say that our trip to New Zealand begins with a route through the places to see in Auckland in one day more essential, among which are included how could it be otherwise, Mount Eden 14 kilometers from the airport, where we arrived at 10:30 in the morning and where we first parked the motorhome in one of its free parkings.
Places to see in Auckland in one day
Known for being a gateway to many of the must-see places in New Zealand, Auckland is probably the place that welcomes you and pampers you in your first hours in the White Cloud Country.
Known for its attractions and also for being the place where the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean almost touch, Auckland is the most cosmopolitan city in New Zealand as well as being named city of volcanoes, something that you can see from the first viewpoint, when you see how the city and its surroundings are dotted with numerous volcanic cones.
Although the list of places to see in Auckland in one day It is endless, considering that most travelers spend a day or a few hours in the city, we want to leave you a list of places to visit in Auckland more interesting.
Auckland in one day
Mount eden
Without a doubt, Mount Eden is the best viewpoint in the city as well as one of the places to see in Auckland on a must day, especially if the day is clear and you can enjoy the incredible views offered by the highest volcanic cone in the city.
With a perfectly symmetrical crater 50 meters deep and almost 200 meters high, Mount Eden is one of the most sacred places in New Zealand, so the first thing you should keep in mind is that you can walk around the area and see the areas where remains of terraces remain and even a small pa (fortified town), but in no case access the crater.
Mount Eden in Auckland
Tips for visiting Mount Eden in Auckland
- The first thing to keep in mind is that although Mount Eden is one of the Auckland's most visited tourist places, it is important to have a clear day to enjoy it to the fullest. In case you have several days or have several hours of the city, we recommend you do it when the day is clearer and thus be able to enjoy the incredible views it offers.
- The access time of the road that leads to the top is from 7 am to 11 pm.
- Admission to Mount Eden is free and the visit takes approximately 45-60 minutes.
- Another thing to keep in mind is that there are several parking areas and in all of them you can park during the hours indicated on the signs. The problem is that if you have a very large motorhome, it is not allowed to park in the area, so you must arrive by public transport or on foot. When carrying a Jucy Chaser, which does not reach 5 meters long, we have not had any problems, being able to park in the authorized areas.
Auckland in one day
More practical information to prepare your trip to New Zealand
- 10 essential tips for traveling to New Zealand
- 10 essential places to see in New Zealand
- The best travel insurance for New Zealand
After the visit to Mount Eden, where we are practically 1 hour, we decided that it is best to go to the place where we will sleep with the motorhome and thus start the route through the most central area of Auckland in one day from there, already this time walking.
Before continuing with today's story, we want to tell you that finding a place to sleep in the city with the motorhome is not exactly easy. Unlike most areas of the country, where there are many places where you can spend the night with your motorhome, whether paid or free, in Auckland, if you want to stay in a central area, the thing is more complicated.
We, after thoroughly reviewing the Campermate application, which as we have already said and will be saying, is the New Zealand bible For these issues, we have opted for the first of the free parkings where you can spend the night with the motorhome. This is Z-Pier, located very close to Wynyard Quater, where you can spend the night on 20NZD.
Keep in mind that you can only leave the vehicle on the lines marked white and with overnight signs, that your vehicle must be self-contained and that the maximum is 4 nights. They have public service of bathrooms and showers for 2NZD (10 minutes) and dump station, but no electrical connection or water to charge the tank.
Although they have enough places dedicated to overnight, we advise you not to come too late in high season, since as we told you in the city there are not many places like this and also from here, having a very central location, you can start your route through the places to see in Auckland in one day.
Another option, if you do not have a motorhome, is to opt for one of the best valued and best located accommodation in Auckland.
Z-Pier in Auckland
We arrived at Z-Pier at 11:30 and after making our payment of 20NZD and changing clothes, to something more summery since the heat is increasing as the day progresses, we continue with the route through the places to see in Auckland approaching Wynyard Quater, very close to the parking lot, where in addition to being one of the hot spots in the city, there is a fish market that we want to visit as well as take advantage of eating at one of the sushi places, which we have seen , are highly recommended.
Wynyard Quater
Connected to Viaduct Harbor through a bridge, this area became fashionable at the time of its inauguration on the occasion of the 2011 Rugby World Championship. Known for its restaurants and leisure areas, in addition to the fish market, this is a quiet area highly recommended for a walk and flee the very busy city traffic rarely.
Wynyard Quater
Fish slice
Open from 6 in the morning, best time to go if you want to see the fish auctions, the fish market is another one of the places to see in Auckland in 1 day. After the auction, this place stands out for its cooking school, coffee shops and restaurants, which are the perfect place to stop if you are in the area and try some of the gastronomies present.
After walking around the area, very lively today, we decided to eat in Azabu, a Japanese where we ordered tuna tataki, three crab bao, soda and water for 57NZD, which make us forget about jet lag for a long time. part of the day.
Fish slice
And for dessert, nothing better than a sweet and two coffees from Goodkarma for 14NZD, which we have to confess, disappoint us a little, since we don't just like them, although coffee is delicious.
And from here and after filling the stomach, we continue with the route by places to see in Auckland in one day, heading to the most central area of the city, touring part of Wynyard Quater and Viaduct Harbor, where we can see part of the city and start to get an idea of how it is and how it is lived in this city.
Viaduct Harbor
Known for being one of the most fashionable areas in the city, this neighborhood of Auckland was once a commercial port for later, to undergo different processes of change, in view of the two Copa América disputed in the city, which led it to become in an area of elegant restaurants and venues that blend with sailboats on the horizon.
Although the locals in the area are not especially cheap, we do believe that walking around the area is recommended to see this part of the city.
Viaduct Harbor
After spending practically a couple of hours between Wynyard Quater and Viaduct Harbor, we follow our route through the places to see in Auckland in one day heading to one of its most emblematic points, the Cathedral of St. Patrick, located a few meters from the most fashionable area of the city that also makes us begin to know the part most likely visited by tourists in the city.
St. Patrick's Cathedral
Without a doubt, St. Patrick's Cathedral is the most beautiful building in the city and its visit one of the things to do in Auckland that you can't miss This Catholic cathedral was built in 1907 and it highlights its glittering polished wood in addition to the neo-Gothic details of its interior.
Its schedule is from 7 am to 7 pm.
St. Patrick's Cathedral
From here and after a brief visit, we approach the city symbol and of course, another of the places to visit in Auckland, the Sky Tower, located a few meters from the Cathedral, so we recommend you make both visits in a row, as long as the schedules allow.
Sky tower
At 328 meters high, the Sky Tower is, in addition to the tallest building in the southern hemisphere, the most visible symbol of Auckland. Although the entrance is not exactly cheap, we recommend you to visit to enjoy one of the best views of the city next to those of Mount Eden.
Once in the building, you must go up to the elevator with glass floor that in 40 seconds will take you to the first of the viewpoints included in the entrance, from where you already have spectacular views.
Also included in the price is the viewpoint of the cafeteria and the third viewpoint, located 220 meters away, which is the highest. You can buy the entrance to the Sky Tower here.
What to see in Auckland
The Sky Tower schedule is from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and the price is 32NZD per adult. Although we have climbed in the middle of the afternoon, from what we have read, one of the best moments of the day is in the afternoon, perfect time to enjoy the sunset and dusk of the city.
Views from the Sky Tower
We enjoy the Sky Tower and the views practically for an hour for when it is 4 in the afternoon continue with the route through the places to see in Auckland in one day that we have scheduled for this afternoon and that includes several places in the city, less important than the previous ones, but we don't want to get lost.
If you have little time or want to know the best of Auckland with the help of a guide, we recommend you book this express tour of the city for 3 hours.
Route through some of the places to visit in Auckland
In addition to the places we visited in this Auckland in 1 day, throughout the morning and part of the afternoon, the rest of the day was dedicated to touring other areas, following a route we saw in the Lonely Planet guide, which allowed us to know another side of the city and also another perspective.
Civic Theater, one of the places to see in Auckland
The complete route is about 4 kilometers and a 2-3 hours journey that includes an itinerary through the City Hall of Auckland, Aotea Square, Civic Theater, Khartoum Place, Auckland Art Gallery and Albert Park, one of the green lungs of the city.
From here the route continues in Old Government House, Vulvan Lane and the Britomart area to end on Hight Street, where after a walk, we return to Queen Street, the main artery of Auckland, which we travel again until 6 in the late.
Auckland
And so, trying to keep us a little more awake, when it is 7 pm, we start the way back to our mobile home, stopping before making a quick purchase and then having dinner again at the fish market, repeating in the restaurant, where we ordered some tuna rolls, plus two bathrooms and water for 40NZD, with which we said goodbye this first day of the trip to New Zealand.
After the Auckland route in one day, we have to say that although the city has not disappointed us at any time, we do not believe that it is an essential in New Zealand, being able to know the most important of it in a day or even half a day.
Taking this into account, we think that if you have few days, it would be best to dedicate the hours you have available in the city as an entry or exit from the airport, but not take time for other visits to know Auckland.
In case you have more than one day in Auckland, we recommend you to make some of the most outstanding excursions or tours from the city:
- Tour to Hobbiton and Waitomo Caves from Auckland: With this tour you can discover Hobbiton and Waitomo, two of the most famous places in New Zealand, in a single day from Auckland on a guided tour.
- Piha Beach: This tour begins with a panoramic tour of the beautiful Waitakere mountain range, a stop at the famous Lion's Rock and then reach Piha Beach, where you can enjoy this amazing place.
- 1-day tour of the Bay of Islands: This tour will take you to know this incredible place combining a bus and cruise tour.
- Many more tours and excursions from Auckland here.
Day 4: Auckland - Kawakawa - Bay of Islands (Paihia) - Visit Cape Reinga
