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Key Attractions Auckland Domain and Auckland Museum Created in 1845, Auckland Domain is Auckland's oldest, largest (81 hectares/202 acres) and most attractive park, with gardens and statues, pathways and ponds, a Wintergarden, and the Fernz Fernery, with over 100 types of fern. Near the Wintergarden, with its cool and tropical houses, are some playing fields, which are located in the crater of the volcano that once existed here. In this same area is the hill known as Pukekaroro, or Hill of the Black-Backed Gull, covered in trees and boasting most notably a totara tree, planted by a Maori princess in 1940 and surrounded by traditional Maori carvings. The Auckland Museum combines the nation's past and present with the latest in new technology. For example, on the floor given over to the country's natural history, computers show the sights and sounds of the wildlife, while among the exhibits are dinosaur skeletons. The museum houses New Zealand's most important collection of Maori and South Pacific artefacts and there are daily Maori cultural performances at 1100 and 1330. A special display, Scars on the Heart, tells the story of New Zealanders at war. Auckland Domain Tel: (09) 303 1530 (Parksline) or 306 7067 (museum info line). Fax: (09) 379 9956 (museum). Web site: www.akmused.co.nz Transport: Explorer Bus. Opening hours: Daily dawn-dusk (park); daily 1000-1700 (museum). Admission: Free (park); NZ$5 suggested donation (museum) plus NZ$8 (Maori performance). Auckland City Art Gallery The city's main art gallery has the largest collections of both native and international art in the country. The Main Building, which was opened in 1888, contains the bulk of the collection, with the New Gallery, opened across the street in 1995, concentrating on contemporary art with changing exhibitions. In the Main Building, international artists include Breughel and Millais, with Reynolds and Gainsborough providing a link back to colonial days. Of particular interest are the depictions by early colonial artists of Maoris and their facial and body tattoos. A free guided tour is available at 1400 daily and there is a programme of regular talks. Main Building: Corner of Wellesley and Kitchener Streets New Gallery: Corner of Wellesley and Lorne Streets Tel: (09) 309 7693 (Main Building) or 307 4540 (New Gallery); or 309 0831 (general information). E-mail: gallery@akcity.govt.nz Web site: www.akcity.govt.nz/attractions/artgallery Transport: Explorer Bus. Opening hours: Daily 1000-1700. Admission: Free (Main Building); NZ$4 (New Gallery). New Zealand National Maritime Museum In the heart of the downtown waterfront, this museum explains the country's age-old relationship with the sea. It covers almost a millennium of history, from the arrival of the first Polynesian settlers to the 2000 Americas Cup. Displays also deal with the arrival of European immigrants, navigation skills, whaling and other fishing activities. Visitors can see historical boats, make their own model boats and take a trip out into Auckland Harbour. Eastern Viaduct, corner of Quay and Hobson Streets Tel: (09) 373 0800. Fax: (09) 377 6000. E-mail: mmuseum@wave.co.nz Web site: www.nzmaritime.org Transport: Satellite Bus from Auckland Museum. Opening hours: Daily 0900-1800 (until 1700 in winter). Admission: NZ$12. Museum of Transport, Technology and Social History Commonly known as MOTAT, from the days before 'and Social History' was added to the name, this is the country's largest transport collection. It has a working tramway that links its two sections, MOTAT 1 and MOTAT 2. The latter is the collection of aircraft housed at the Sir Keith Park Memorial Airfield, including vintage aircraft from the two World Wars. MOTAT 1 has displays on all other modes of transport, a reproduction Victorian village and the Science Centre, with interactive exhibits on technology and communications. Great North Road, Western Springs Tel: (09) 846 7020. Web site: www.akcity.govt.nz/MOTAT Transport: Yellow Bus 45. Opening hours: Daily 1000-1700. Admission: NZ$10. Howick Historical Village In 1840, Auckland only had 1500 inhabitants. This living museum deals with the dramatic and turbulent events of the next fifty years, when the bulk of the settlers arrived from Britain, Ireland and Australia, and many of the Maoris were forcibly removed from their land. The 33 period buildings have been set in a landscape of reproduction gardens, streets and even a village pond. Staff dress in period costume and on the third Sunday of each month there are special displays relating to different aspects of this period in the city's past. Bells Road, Lloyd Elsmore Park, Pakuranga Tel: (09) 576 9506. Fax: (09) 576 9708. E-mail: fencible@ihug.co.nz Web site: www.fencible.org.nz Transport: Bus to Howick; alight opposite Lloyd Elsmore Park. Opening hours: Daily 1000-1700. Admission: NZ$9. Kelly Tarlton's Antarctic Encounter and Underwater World Kelly Tarlton was a local diver who designed this centre (opened in 1985) so that non-divers could experience the underwater world he found so fascinating. The perspex walk-through tunnels of Underwater World were the first to give visitors the illusion of walking underwater, for close encounters with sharks, rays and other creatures of the deep. The additional Antarctic Encounter includes a reconstruction of the hut in which Captain Scott and his expedition perished and modern-day studies of life on the earth's frozen continent. 23 Tamaki Drive, Orakei Tel: (09) 528 0603. Fax: (09) 375 4732. E-mail: ktinfo@kellytarltons.co.nz Web site: www.kellytarltons.co.nz Transport: Explorer Bus. Opening hours: Daily 0900-2100 (Apr-Oct closes at 1800). Admission: NZ$20. Auckland Zoo Almost 1000 creatures from around the world are housed here at this forward-looking zoo, which tries to place the animals in surroundings that recreate their natural environment. New Zealand's native species are well represented, in particular the hard-to-see national bird, the kiwi, in a nocturnal enclosure. The rainforest is such a popular feature that it even has its own web site (see below), and here monkeys and apes, parrots, spiders and other rainforest creatures can be seen in their natural habitat. Pridelands is an area that is home to the animals of Africa, including lions, rhinos and giraffes, while Hippo River allows very close-up views of hippopotami. Guided tours are available, and there is an informative Visitor Centre. Motions Road, Western Springs Tel: (09) 360 3800 or 3819. Web site: www.zoorainforest.co.nz Transport: Satellite Bus from Auckland Museum. Opening hours: Daily 0930-1730. Admission: NZ$12. Skytower New Zealand's tallest building stands 328m (1076ft) high in the centre of Auckland and a lift service takes 40 seconds to whizz visitors to the first observation platforms. From here, the views are breathtaking enough, but even more so if you ascend to the very top level, from where you can look out over the harbour as well as the city. The tower is one part of the Sky City complex, which also has a casino, cafÉs, bars and a restaurant. Note that anyone spending a minimum amount dining here (currently NZ$25.50) receives a free pass to the very top of the tower. Sky City, corner of Federal and Victoria Streets Tel: (09) 912 6400. Transport: Explorer Bus. Opening hours: Daily 0830-late. Admission: NZ$15 to observation platforms, plus NZ$3 to top. |
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