Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I had such a great time! This place is so much fun! Whether you're an…read moreAuckland native or a tourist. This place is a must! I can't believe I haven't done this earlier. Do I sound too enthusiastic? But seriously. Do it. Instructors here are AWESOME! Great demonstration, very interactive people. We took the 90min lesson so they were constantly around and giving us tips on how to become better paddle boarders. You get to paddle around Mission Bay, and I suppose if you aren't doing the lesson and have more time, you could paddle to St Heliers bay if confident: two beaches down and back. The equipment they use are a mixture: My life jacket looked pretty old, but the board I was on was quite new. Nonetheless, all good quality. I fell in the water 5 times, and was still afloat so I have nothing to complain about! I am definitely gonna hit this up again before summer ends! Things I would note: -Don't forget to slip, slop, slap and wrap! I ended up buying $10 sunnies from the convenience store because I didn't wanna get seawater on my Raybans! So that's an option. -Kids must be over 8. Under 16's must have adult supervision. -You can chuck your belongings in their trailer which is well-looked after while you are out on the water.

I really love do anything water sports related, and I was keen for my partner and I to get active…read moreso I booked us both in for an hour session of paddle boarding down at beautiful Mission Bay. Showed up on a weekend day about 1 pm, and met with the Water sports team Ollie and Charlie, on quite a windy day, they were not too sure if as beginner paddle boarders we would have a lot of fun, with a swell running and the water choppy. I was given the choice to either re book another day or take the risk and try it out; I decided to give it a go. The staffs were super supportive and welcomed the motion, and about 1/2 an hour later we were set up with life jackets, paddles and boards. With some precautions to take and some advice about how to paddle, we were sent on our way with a kind wave. Surely was a workout, and had heaps of fun paddling out, falling of a few times and gliding back in smoothly. Great views, awesome fun and a must try for all those water babies.

Having decided to try visiting this bird sanctuary on a lark (thanks folks, I'll be here all…read morenight), I was impressed enough with it. One visits by boat either from downtown Auckland (which I imagine is a scenic ride) or from a more remote peninsula near the island where the boat stops just before reaching it (which is nice if you want somewhere free to park for the day). The boat ride is most of the cost; for a small additional fee you get a guided tour lead by one of a remarkably large number of local volunteers. Why not? The guide leads you through the middle of the island with some narration, before finishing at a lighthouse and leaving you the second half of the day to roam alone. There weren't that many visible birds during New Zealand "winter"; you'd here more than you see. The island was once a farm before being purposefully replanted as a forest. Things grow fast here; it looks quite wild. Up to the point of reaching the light house, I'd probably have written a four star review. However, they buried the lead. Exploring alone yielded vast panoramic views of the entire region. The island is centrally located between the city and a variety of other islands. New Zealand's indigenous people are of Polynesian descent, and while you walk around here you might confuse the volcanic landscapes, abundant greenery, and clear turquoise water for a more archetypically Polynesian vacation spot. There are a few swimmable spots. It is a big enough island that there were significant areas of track that I did not see even after hustling around the coastline. Always leave 'em wanting more, the saying goes. If I had occasion to, I wouldn't mine going again, which having paid $60 to see an island that had no trees at the time I was born is something. Tips: *There were a ton of local schoolkids, but the guides kindly separated out kids and adults for the tour, and once you're off the boat, it really isn't an issue. *Adults get free tea and coffee at the end of the tour, but no food. There is literally nothing even to buy. Bring decent food. *A truck loads any bags you might want to leave at the wharf, and carries them to the lighthouse and back, meaning you do not need to carry what you bring while walking the island. *They are very concerned about biosecurity, so wear clean shoes and bring only closed, zippable bags. *Apparently the name means that it's a really windy island. Which it really is. Be ready for wild temperature differences based on wind and shade.

Seriously one of Auckland's greatest outdoor treasures. This pest-free island is a magical place…read morethat harkens back to the days before massive deforestation for farming, hunting, and introduction of pests shrank the population of New Zealand's birds. The bird songs you'll hear here are incredible! Amazing work has been done to reforest native plants and trees, and reintroduce rare birds on this island. You can see hihi (stitchbirds), saddlebacks, kakariki (red crowned parakeets), bellbirds, north island robin, heaps and heaps of tui, wood pigeon, little blue penguins, kokako (if you're lucky) and of course, my favorite - the takahē (a population of less than 300 exist in the world, and this is one of the few places you can see them in the wild - plus BABIES!) So worth paying the $70 to take the ferry out there. Pack your lunch and your sunscreen, bring your swimsuit and good hiking shoes, and get ready for an amazing day. The extra $5 for the guided tour is worth doing at least once. The guides are very knowledgable and will point out the birds and interesting plants and give you a history of the island. However, when we went the second time without the group, we saw heaps more birds, I think as we were separate from many of the larger (noisier) groups. I'm dying to stay overnight at the DOC hut and try to spot a kiwi! The huts are booked well in advance so you're gonna have to troll the website for an opening. Also be sure to book your trip well in advance as the ferry can book up during peak season, and you don't want to miss out!!

Coming from the perspective of an avid climber, it's rare and great to find gyms like this one…read more There was a great variety of bouldering problems and rope climbs and an extensive kids area. I am deducting a star though for a definite lack of upkeep. Lots of places were losing paint etc. More importantly, I had to hire (rent) some shoes being on a vacation and we had to check 4 pairs before I found some that didn't have holes clean through and mine were pretty torn up. I've spent time at a number of gyms and you can tell which ones let things drop and which don't and signs of things being run down make it harder to trust the safety equipment you rely on. If this place took more pride in upkeep, it would be a gem.

What an awesome indoor climbing gym! Ample parking and suitable for all ages. There was an…read moreabundance of kids earlier in the evening with special courses and rooms dedicated solely to the little ones and even some of New Zealand's top climbers were spotted training here last night. There is also quite an array of routes with multiple routes per level and belay instructions are included for first-timers at no additional charge. There is no pretentiousness here. I am a complete novice and was climbing at their busiest time flanked on both sides by very experienced climbers. Everyone is really encouraging and content to wait their turn, even if it does take you a little longer than average to reach the top. For entrance and shoe and harness rental, the combo price for adults is $27.50. Entrance alone is $17.50 if you already have your own equipment. Package deals and monthly rates are also available. Best to go in even numbers as all routes require a belayer.

Great way to experience nature and learn from an experienced animal advocate. We did the night hike…read moreand it was thrilling to go thru the forest with Tristan. He provided a tasty picnic dinner near the beach. This was the last night of our 3 weeks in New Zealand and enabled us to end on a great non-touristy note. Highly recommend Tristan's tours.

Looking for a shore excursion off the beaten path in Auckland that would take me into nature and…read moreout of the city and after much research I settled on Habitat Tours. I am so glad I did. Tristan picked up my guest and I in the harbor downtown where our cruise ship was docked and off we went. We had opted for the Waitakere Half Day Tour which included a short hike through the beautiful sand dunes leading up to Lake Wainamu, a walk through the Cascade Kauri Park among the majestic and ancient Kauri trees, and some play time at Bethell's Beach to stroll the sands, wade into the waters, and take it all in (with tea and cookies waiting for us when we finished). It was just my guest and I on our tour so everything was tailored to us and very intimate. We loved chatting with our guide Tristan and we felt great about supporting a local small business. If we had more time we would have done a full day tour. Really just a fantastic day and would highly recommend Habitat Tours to anyone wanting to get out and explore nature around Auckland.

Explored Auckland , we walked in Viaduct harbor and marina. Great place to visit . There were…read moremuseum, cafe , shops, souvenir and restaurants to choose. Walking along we found the crossing bridge. Saw boats crossing and kids swimming while watching the city view. Really enjoyed it.

This place was cool and reminded me so much of home! I've lived in a harbor city for the past 14…read moreyears! That said, there are a ton of shops and restaurants consolidated here, plus a brewery. I noticed a lot of people running in this area too, so it seems to check a lot of boxes. Check out Viaduct Harbour if you're in the area. Lots to do and see...and eat.

My wife and I were on a week long vacation to Auckland and we saw many good reviews for this tour…read more We boarded and took a 40 minute trip to Waiheke Island for some scientific readings and then it was off to see some dolphins and birds and whales. They told us if you find these cool Gannett birds, it should tell you where the dolphins are. They divebomb the fish as the dolphins rile them up. We saw at least 400 dolphins on this trip and then we saw a whale, and they kept us out for an extra hour to check out a dolphin in the harbor. Great crew, that was very fun and you can order beer on the trip. Plus!

We had the most fabulous time today! We saw manta rays, wholes, dolphins and even a shark! Zara…read moretaught us a few things about phytoplankton, tiny plants living near the surface of the ocean, that are responsible for producing the oxygen we breathe for 3 of 5 breaths ! If we do Ty take care of our oceans, we'll have a hard time breathing! My 5 yo and 8 yo said it was a great day that they will never forget.

I have become really fascinated with the sport of Paddle Boarding; it's not hard when you look at…read morethe waters that surround our home city. We are blessed with beautiful oceans to set sail on, paddle, surf, swim, the list is endless. My partner told me that there was a free trial paddle board coming up on the weekend after seeing a sign pop up near Birkenhead Point. Saturday morning after breakfast, I threw my swimmers and boardies on, and jumped in the car headed for a paddle board in the waters off Little Shoal Bay. Point Paddlers team were waiting beach side with the Pioneer Brand stand up paddle boards that they also sell online priced between 1,699 and 1,999 dollars. I was able to be fitted with a life jacket and the perfect board appropriate to my height, and then off I went. A fantastic opportunity to try out the quality products of Point Paddlers, I was more than happy with my experience, and I think I might start saving towards that paddle board.

Offering perhaps the best view of Auckland on one side and Rangitoto on the other, Mount Victoria…read moreis an active and beautiful free activity in Devonport. Located a quick walk from the middle of town, you can easily walk here and immediately get to a trail that will take you winding to the top. Alternatively, you can take the road, part of which is blocked to car traffic. On top is where you want to be - amazing views on every side watching the ship traffic, clouds, and rolling hills. There's a whether station and giant cannon, the only remnant of when this was a military fort. There are also topographical 3D maps that show the names of the islands and points of interest all around. It's free to come here and well worth the short hike (maybe 20-30 minutes up depending on speed), and a great picture opportunity. If you want to see how beautiful Auckland is, it's best from up here.

An awesome way to spend the day & a really fun easy hike - it only took about 25 minutes and you…read moreget stunning views of Auckland. Perfect place to chill out. Read a book on the one of many benches or a great spot to have a picnic on the top of the hill.