What are some "must-sees" in Auckland?

Question

I will have nearly a full day stopover in Auckland, New Zealand in Feb '09, and I was hoping to get some ideas of things to check out during my brief stay. I like culture, nature, and shopping. Thanks!

Answer 1

Your best idea would be to get a one day Explorer Bus Pass where you can hop on and off as you like. You could start by going up Sky tower to get a view of Auckland then go down to the water front and catch the bus. It will take you to Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium, which is lovely with penguins, fish and also has an interesting Antartica display on Shackleton etc. Then bus to Auckland Museum which has a 30 minute Maori Cultural show 3 times daily, an excellent Maori cultural area, and is a very interesting museum. You could go just below the museum ( you can see them) to the Wintergardens where they have two glasshouses and a fernery which is like a New Zealand bush walk.Then take the bus to the Cathedral - there is both a historic all wooden church, and the newer Cathedral which recently had some lovely stained glass windows installed, which have stories attached. The Parnell Village shops are just below the Cathedral so you could walk from the Cathedral, down through the Parnell shops and catch the bus back to the city. If you had time you might like to catch the ferry from the ferry building across to Devonport ( 10 minutes), and back.That would be about all you would have time for.Shuttles from the downtown area go to the airport.

Have a look at http://www.holidays-in-newzealand.com/au... for more information on activities and what there is to do.