Top Five Attractions You Can Only See in Auckland
Just when you think you’ve seen it all, Auckland comes to the table with some amazing unique experiences that you can’t find in any other city in New Zealand, (or the world!). There are so many fantastic places to visit, and fun things you can do only here in the City of Sails, so we’ve put together some of the things that are exclusive to this unique city.
One
Did you know that the Sky Tower is the tallest man-made structure in the entire Southern Hemisphere?!
Take the elevator up 60 floors and test your nerve by standing on the Sky Deck’s glass floors, looking over Auckland from 186 metres in the air.
Or if you want to get an even better view, step out from behind the glass and do a SkyWalk around the outside of the tower. With gravity challenges and 360 degree views, you can take the ultimate walk on the wild side!
Two
Get up close to a McLaren Traction Engine and try your hand at dialing an old-school rotary phone at the Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
MOTAT, New Zealand’s largest transport and technology museum is a great destination to explore, learn, discover and spark imaginations. From the award-winning Aviation Hall at Motions Road, to more exhibitions and activities at the Great North Road location, MOTAT has something for everyone. Travel between the two MOTAT locations aboard a heritage tram, which also stops at Western Springs Park and Auckland Zoo!
Three
The National Aquarium of New Zealand may be known around the world for its “Penguin of the Month” awards, but it still can’t beat Auckland’s aquarium hidden beneath Tamaki Drive.
SEALIFE Kelly Tarlton’s is home to the largest exhibit of sub-antarctic penguins in the Southern Hemisphere. The exhibit Antarctic Ice Adventure is home to King and Gentoo Penguins and is one of the most successful breeding programs on the planet.
Kelly Tarlton’s is also home to the only Spiny Sea Dragons on display in the world. The Spiny Sea Dragon is a deep water creature, however, in New Zealand, they can be found in the shallow waters of the Milford Sound.
Four
Housing the largest and most significant collection of taonga (treasures) in New Zealand (and the world!), the Auckland War Memorial Museum, is home to more than 1000 Māori artefacts displayed in the Māori Galleries.
He Taonga Māori (The Māori Court) offers the opportunity to view items from early Māori culture, ranging from tiny priceless artefacts to an actual full-size marae (meeting house) and waka (canoe).
Te Ao Tūroa (Māori Natural History Gallery), provides visitors with the opportunity to learn about Māori knowledge and gain an understanding of the history of the natural world.
Five
Spread across four floors of exhibitions, The Auckland Art Gallery is New Zealand’s largest art institution.
Established in 1888, The Auckland Art Gallery is the most well-known gallery in Auckland. The buildings housing the gallery blend the old with the new, expressing the area’s fusion of the historical and modern.
The Auckland Art Gallery contains 16,000 items spanning the 11th century to the present. Keep an eye on their website to stay up to date, since they frequently have major international exhibitions in addition to their permanent displays.