Auckland: NY Times Profile, Options, Ideas!

From the New York Times Travel Section coming this Sunday morning, they will have this headline: “36 Hours in Auckland” with these highlights: “The New Zealand city is laid-back and outdoorsy, but its sophistication shines in its expanding art scene, thriving fashion industry and a new generation of chefs embracing native ingredients.”

 

As detailed in my live/blog connected below, we really enjoyed our time in Auckland. Fun, interesting city with great food and sights!! This NY Times profile also shared: "The construction cranes that pierce the Auckland skyline are a visual indication of the growth New Zealand’s largest city is experiencing. Close to one-third of New Zealand’s estimated 4.5 million population lives in Auckland, a geographically blessed — and traffic-cursed — city spread over at least 50 volcanic cones on a North Island neck of land between two large harbors."

 

If planning a visit to Auckland, I would check out this article. Lots of options to consider for NZ's largest city. Lots of nice pictures are used in this profile. Brings back nice memories from our time there!!

 

Full story at:

https://www.nytimes.com/section/travel?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&region=TopBar&module=HPMiniNav&contentCollection=Travel&WT.nav=page

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Enjoyed a 14-day, Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2014, Sydney to Auckland adventure, getting a big sampling for the wonders of "down under” before and after this cruise. Go to:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

for more info and many pictures of these amazing sights in this great part of the world. Now at 198,144 views for this posting.

Terry, thanks for sharing this.

 

Keith

Including Waiheke Island is a bit ambitious for a "36 hours in ..." article!

Thanks so much! Perfect timing for me!

Flying out to Auckland tomorrow night from San Francisco. Arriving Monday morning and leaving Friday afternoon! It is going to be go, go, go from the second we land but plan on taking in as much as we can. We are also doing Waiheke as well as Waitomo Caves and Rotorua, a wine tour to Kumeu, Huapai, Murwai Beach and Ararimu Vallley as well as the HOHO bus around Auckland and the sites there.

I love the NY Time's 36-hour series.

Including Waiheke Island is a bit ambitious for a "36 hours in ..." article!

 

Appreciate these nice follow-ups and the very good comment/question from Globaliser related to Waiheke Island. The NY Times wrote it up as doing this "day-trip" for a Sunday afternoon. Maybe that is possible, but it does take some time for the ferry logistics, plus exploring so many of the options on this wonderful island. Below are some some visuals from our visiting Waiheke Island.

 

Here are some of my nots for what we did in these areas:

Auckland: When arriving, those in our group had made arrangements through alan@elitetour.co.nz for being picked up at the dock and being given an introductory tour around this scenic town. Then, we were transported, with our luggage, to our hotel, Skycity Grand, 90 Federal Street. All worked well. We stayed two nights in Auckland. Maybe the best dining for our entire trip down under was at O’Connell Street Bistro in Auckland. We discovered why this small, quaint dining place has gained such high ratings. Wonderful food and setting!!

 

Waiheke Island: Super enjoyed this island that only about eleven miles from the largest city in New Zealand. You can check ferry schedules at:

http://www.fullers.co.nz/tickets-fares/timetables/waiheke-island.php

We had a rental car from Fun Rentals Waiheke Ltd. and visited a winery, beach and spent the most time at the Cornell Bay sculpture park. See more at: www.connellsbay.co.nz. Advance reservations are needed to visit here, plus your own transportation.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

SE Asia/Mekong River, Etc.! Just completed a Jan. 21-Feb. 20, 2018, first adventure through Southeast Asia with stops in Hong Kong and Bangkok, before traveling all over Vietnam and Cambodia. This includes seven days sailing on the Mekong River. Lots of fun, interesting pictures!! See more at:

www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2591474

 

Here one of the many great views on Waiheke Island. Lots of varied hills and great water views, including this picture showing the twisting and turning roads on this island. Some paved. Many not. This shows one of those "unsealed" roads that requires slower speeds, much care, etc.. Unsealed is clever term to describe just a basic dirt road. Plus, the fun of driving on the "wrong side".:

(Open your screen/viewer wider to see these pictures larger/better!)

 

At the Man O' War Winery on Waiheke Island near Auckland, their main building was overlooking the beach as a part of its scenic location. This picture shows friends Ed and Karen from Central Ohio enjoying a tasting plate with a variety of good food items, plus, of course, their wine that is produced on this scenic island. Great way to do a "lunch break" and soak up the style, character and beauty for this artsy island. Their website: www.manowarvineyards.co.nz.:

 

We started with owner Jo Glow picking us up promptly at 2 pm at her hilltop gate. She first took us to see a large reception area with many original models or machetes prepared by the artist prior to producing each work. Here is one of the first art pieces we saw at the start of our tour near this reception building.:

 

This is a uniquely-crafted piece of special stainless steel that had been made into a metal leaf that can move and shift with the wind.:

 

Here is a picture from Waiheke Island's two kilometer stretch of white sand on Onetangi Beach. Here are Karen and my wife Penny sitting, enjoying this nice setting before our return to Auckland.:

At the Man O' War Winery on Waiheke Island ...

We were impressed with this winery's wines (easily the best of the handful that we visited), and the food is pretty good too. I'd recommend this for anyone visiting Waiheke who's interested in winery visits. And its location means that it's away from the more built-up bits of Waiheke, some of which are frankly indistinguishable from boring suburbia.