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Attractions

Auckland Museum	The Auckland Museum has an excellent Polynesian section and the best Maori section in the world. There's a grand view of the city from its front steps. The museum shop sells very good quality, authentic souvenirs. The best views of the city, however, are from the volcanic cones that dot the isthmus. Mt Eden, one of the highest, blew its top only a few thousand years ago . . . but yesterday geologically. That'll add spice to a summit visit. (If the ground starts rumbling, run!)
One Tree Hill	Another high point for viewing is One Tree Hill. Yes, it does have a single tree on its crown - though someone recently tried to cut it down. Fortunately he was stopped before completing the job and $160,000 worth of tree surgery later it has been nursed through. The park that surrounds it is worth wandering through and there is a tea kiosk in the grounds for drinks and icecreams.
View from Sky Tower	A recent addition to the skyline is Sky City Skytower, the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere and the seventh tallest building in the world. The view from the top platform is stunning, and you can also walk on glass blocks in the floor that give a splendid view straight down. The lift ride to the top costs $15 . . . but the best value is to go up for a meal. The meals are around $20-25 for lunch and $30-40 for dinner - but the elevator ride is included for free.
Auckland Zoo	Auckland Zoo is popular with visitors because of its well-presented kiwi house. Kiwis (the birds) are a nocturnal species so it's difficult to see them during the day. At the Kiwi House a group of birds, fooled by technology, come out during the day in a specially created and controlled atmosphere. While you're out that way take a look at the Museum of Transport and Technology. The aviation section is particularly good with a replica of Richard Pearse's monoplane, now accepted as the first heavier-than-air machine to fly, beating the Wright brothers by over a year.
Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World	Probably these days the main man-made attraction in the city is Kelly Tarlton's Antarctic Experience and Underwater World. Built in what was formerly sewage holding tanks, it'll give you an inches-away view of such creatures as piranhas, sharks and stingrays. The Antarctic section recreates and presents the life and conditions of the great frozen continent away to the south. The main feature is the penguins - live emperor penguins on display. Tip: Go in the morning when the birds are wide awake and feeding.
The fountain at Mission Bay	While you're out that way - along Tamaki Drive in the eastern suburbs, continue on eastwards. Okahu Bay, Mission Bay, Kohimarama Beach, St Heliers Bay - a line of superb swimming beaches. Safe, unpolluted and only 10 minutes from the downtown area. Lots of on and off beach hire attractions like windsurfers, catamarans, skates, bikes. Mission Bay has a string of restaurants, bars and sidewalk cafes that are a pleasant place to pass the time and watch people stroll by. If there are kids with you, Rainbow's End at Manukau City is a fun-filled day. Not in the Disneyland class perhaps, but they'll love it anyway.
North Head and the Waitemata	But the real mega-star of Auckland is its harbour. Not for nothing do they call this the City Of Sails. There are literally hundreds of thousands of boats in this town. It's no accident that NZ yachties have at one time or another captured every international yachting prize worth winning, culminating, naturally, in their win over Dennis Conner to take the America's Cup. It will the scene in the summer of 1999-2000 of the first NZ defence of the cup. This kind of sport makes Formula One motor racing look like a game for paupers. Each of the 12 defenders will spend a minimum of $17million - with some going well over $50million.
Downtown at the wharves	A quick way to sample the harbour is to take a ferry ride to Devonport. The ferries leave from the Ferry Building at the foot of the city. Devonport is one of those places where time somehow moves slower than it does here in the real world. The village is a lively and entertaining collections of shops, bars and restaurants. Ferries depart evey half hour from 6.15am to 7pm and after that hourly till 10pm. Another way of seeing the harbour is on one of the Fullers Cruises to one of the Hauraki Gulf islands - Waihehe, Rangitoto or Great Barrier Island - or one of the quickie coffee or luncheon cruises of the inner harbour. Everything operates from the ferry wharf.
Westhaven Marina at night	But the No 1 experience on this harbour, the home of the America's Cup, would have to be yachting. The Pride of Auckland boats offer a couple of options for getting on the water - "Sailing and Seafood" cruises at lunch and dinner time, or "Experience Sailing" which gives more hands-on way to see the city from the water, help with the crew work and take the wheel if you like. Both cruises operate daily. Sailing with more than just a whiff of romance and adventure can be had aboard the Soren Larsen, a wooden square-rigger famous for its lead role in the tv series "The Onedin Line". It operates a rather curious mixture of cruises ranging from a 6 hours to 5 days. It winters in the Pacific Islands offering a programme of fly/cruise options.
School lessons at the Howick Historical Village	To see how some of our early merchant princes lived, visit one of the historic houses - Highwic in Gillies Ave Newmarket, Alberton, 100 Mt Albert Rd, Mt Albert. For something more homely see Kinder House, on the corner of Parnell Rd and Ayr St. The morning/afternoon teas are very good - cooked by the ladies who look after the place. A few short steps away is Ewelme (pronounced you-elm) Cottage. Both these houses are a peek at the simple life of early clergymen. Out at Howick Historical Village - if you get that far out of town - is a great replica of a colonial village. Howick was one of the earlier settlements in the Auckland region, built as a garrison outpost to defend the main town against attacking Maori. The village has many original buildings and objects, and shows how early New Zealand settlers lived. It is located in Bells Rd, off Pakuranga Rd.
	Out of town on the other side of the city is West Auckland. Take a drive along the tops of the Waitakere Ranges - great views of the city and a quick snapshot of NZ bush. But the real reason for the western wandering is wine tasting. Some of the oldest vineyards in the country are here and you can spend a pleasant day trying out quality wines.