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| Sky Tower at night |
By some, the tackiest sight in Auckland, but it is surely the city’s landmark thanks to its 328 meters height what makes it the tallest building in the southern hemisphere. Sky Tower is a part of the Sky City complex that includes restaurants, cafés, bars and a 24-hour casino. For the ones who want to experience the most beautiful view on the city from this observation and telecommunications tower, there is a lift that takes to the top of it in only 40 seconds at the price from $10 to $18, children pay $8, but in addition of $3, the skyway lift takes to the ultimate viewing level from where one can see the entire region with its numerous volcanoes. The tower contains an observation deck, a place that serves as a start place for bungee jumping, as well as a restaurant and a café, on different levels that provide amazing views on the city. There are more than 1,450 visitors per day (over half a million during the entire year) who decide to begin their journey through Auckland and its region right here, in the city’s most characteristic building.
| Parnell Road, Auckland |
This museum that displays a comprehensive heritage history of Pacific Island and Maori, is located in one of Auckland’s finest heritage buildings in the heart of the Domain, one of city’s oldest parks. Besides from this historic display, there are other, not less interesting, such as the natural world including some of the reamins of New Zealand’s extinct native bird moa, or the country in the state of various wars from the 19th century till the peace-keeping assignements today. Another most interesting thing is that one can follow the development of Auckland’s shops from the first ones that appeared back in 1886. All in all, the museum is home to the city’s, region’s and country’s cultural and heritage history that is available at admissions by donation, with children for $5, in addition of $15/12 for an unforgettable performance of Maori song and dance what one can witness three times per day. One can walk to to museum from the Queen Street, it takes some 25 minutes, but it can be reached by bus to Parnell Road, from where it takes just a few minutes.
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| One of the boats anchored in front of the National Maritime Museum |
New Zealand’s National Maritime Museum is regarded as one of the finest in the world, concerning the country’s maritime history. This takes a long way back, to the times when the country was inhabited by Maori settlers only who lived from their waka, or first European immigrants who came in greater ships, but it also follows the history of the America’s Cup, since it also played a great role in New Zealand’s history. Exhibition galleries include fourteen themed galleries, one contemporary and an art gallery with a special accent on maritime art. Certainly, the most interesting thing to see at this museum are dozens of boats, from historic speciments to most contemporary designs, but there are also some of the recreations of an old historic ships at the price of $12/6 (children). When in visit to the museum on a Saturday on Sunday between 11 am and 3pm, visitors may also join the crew on an old steamboat SS Puke, that runs free around the harbour.
Since it is a most common fact that Kiwis read a lot, it is absolutely necessary to visit some of the sixteen libraries located in the city, but the Central City Library offers some of the most undiscovered things in one library within a tour. This is the right place to learn more about the region’s history with lots of interesting details from amazing basement collections or a newspaper reading room. A few floors up from the basement there is the library’s Preservation Unit where one can learn more about the life cycle of a book or visit some of the Special Collections exhibits. The tour of the central library includes a short visit to the Auckland Research Centre too, in addition of a guide during the whole time, as well as a special assistance for the ones who require mobility assistance or for visitors who cannot hear, a sign language interpreter, as well as interpreters in foreign languages including Chinese. The Central City Library is located in Lorne Street with visiting hours form Monday to Friday from 9am to 8pm and on weekdays from 10am to 4pm. Organized tours take place on Thursdays from around noon and last approximately 50 minutes.
This is New Zealand’s largest and leading transport and techonology museum that covers the area of 40 acres. Visit to the museum assures an interactive journey through many of the technological achievements that have helped shape New Zealand. Western Springs is home to this trainspotting paradise that consists of two parts: Motat I - includes ehxibits on transport, energy and communications and Motat II - features rare and historic aircraft, aircraft parts or railway and military hardware. These two parts are connected by electric trams that drive every 20 minutes from one destination to another, as well as to Auckland Zoo that is situated nearby. All tickets give access to both Motat sites at the price of $14 for adults, $7 to children and senior citizens what includes tram drives as well. The museum is open seven days in a week, from 10am to 5pm except on Christmas Day.
Although small, this zoo is the largest in New Zealand concerning the number of animals. Namely, the zoo is home to 179 different species with over 1300 animals. With a lot of improvements such as a nocturnal house for many native birds, an underwater viewing window for penguins and sea lions or several tunnels for meerkat observation, the zoo is regarded as one of the most progressive in the world. It all began in February 1912 when the zoo counted six lions, a tiger, a panther, one hyena and several monkeys, one of which is Janie, the last of the "tea party chimps" and one of the oldest members of the zoo family. Since in 1949 first kiwi birds came into the Auckland Zoo, today it exhibits several other animal species that can be seen in the dark since it’s their time of day. The zoo organises guided Safari Nights that include a torch-lit walks through the park after which visitors can enjoy the animal sounds that accompany them during their sleep over. There are three options for a Safari Night that vary from $22,50 to $60 per person.
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| Auckland Art Gallery in the 1990s |
| Wesley st, Auckland |
This public gallery is housed in two buildings - the Main Gallery is situated in a French chateau style house and consists of a permanent display of New Zealand art including the art works of Kiwi’s favourite Goldie and his Maori portraits, and the second, New Gallery, displays works of art of contemporary artists from the country and abroad. Auckland Art Gallery is home to the most extensive collection of national and international art in New Zealand with more than 14,000 works dating from the 12th century onwards. The main building of the old Auckland Art Gallery is regarded as one of the most beautiful historic buildings in the city, established in 1888, that has a Gallery café within and a view on the Albert Park. The New Gallery, located at the corner of Wellesley and Lorne streets, arouse in 1995 after an increasing call for the old gallery to show more of its contemporary collections. Admission charges are free, except for special exhibitions when they vary from $7 to $4, every day from 10am to 5pm.
Situated in Auckland's One Tree Hill Domain, the Auckland Observatory and Planetarium better known as Stardome, is New Zealand's leading astronomical attraction. Stardome delivers an information resource and edutainmnet experience to close to 60,000 Kiwis every year, especially chidren. As soon as one enters the Stardome Observatory and Planetarium, there is an all-sky 360°panoramic theatre where one can enjoy the experience featuring 3,500 brilliant stars with digital surroundings no matter what the weather conditions are. Former Auckland Observatory participated in discovery of the atmosphere of Pluto in 1988, and with its two telescope domes and a planetarium situated in 1,000 square meters of inner space, Stardome Observatory has three primary functions: public outreach, education and research for more than 55,000 visitors each year. Astronomy helds an important place in any Kiwi’s life; namely, there are more amateur astronomical societies per head of population in New Zealand than in any other country in the world. There are many interesting things to see in Stardome, most of them require booking in advance with most of the prices that vary from $16 to $8, with extra activities that are payed in addition.
