Ferries run every :10 and it's a :15 ride for $12. We walked through the wharf and easily found…read morethe bus stop wait. This beautiful island feels more like. Cape Cod than Auckland. There is a very laid back relaxing vibe here, it feels like we are a world away from the bustling city of Auckland. We easily spent 6 hours here & could have stayed longer. Victoria Road is where the shops and restaurants are located . The architecture is Edwardian and Victorian, but I didn't think it looked particularly special. I found some locally made artistic greeting cards & enjoyed the charming gift shops. We stopping for dinner at the Patriot. There are 4 pristine beaches on Davenport. There are a local and also Torpedo Bay Navy Museums here. There are many charming shops, cafés, restaurants and friendly people.

We stayed in Devonport on the beach. It's a charming beach city, but it wasn't as cute as I…read moreexpected. It was not on my favorites list. We ate at several of the restaurants. All were good enough, but nothing was amazing. Mount Vic was the highlight of our stay here. This is definitely worth the lovely walk up.

Queens Wharf in Auckland is a cool mix of old and new right on the waterfront. It's a great place…read moreto walk around, with nice views of the harbour, especially when cruise ships are in. I walked around for an afternoon and went to the shopping area and some of the speciality shops while checking it out.

If you arrive by smaller cruise ships to Auckland you dock here…read more Larger ships dock in the industrial area and a bus takes you to Queen's Wharf. You can't walk through the commercial area. You'll be dropped off at The Cloud on the wharf. Public restrooms are available inside. The wharf is located Quay Street and Queen Street right in the heart of Auckland. The area is a mix of beautiful historical buildings and new. You can shop or dine along the waterfront. Wander in and out of the buildings and enjoy the architecture too. Passenger ferries can be caught here also. Leave the wharf through the stunning red brick gates and enjoy the high end shopping of CBC of Auckland. Know that days a ship is docked, the area is quite congested with foot traffic.

Our hotel was a walking distance from the ferry terminal. Really nice to stroll around. We boarded…read morethe Fullers 360 to Waiheke Island. The information and ticket offices was just in front of the terminal. Very easy to find.

The Auckland Ferry Terminal is a beautiful Edwardian Baroque building. It was built in 1912. Its…read moredesign is similar to the San Francisco Ferry Building in California. The terminal connects Auckland with ferries going to the North Shore, West Auckland, South Auckland and the surrounding islands. It is centrally located at the end of Queen Street. It was the principal way to reach the North Shore until the Auckland Harbor Bridge was opened in 1959. Nice place to sit and enjoy the view on a sunny summer day in Auckland.

Anawhata is exactly what makes Auckland City amazing. It is pure paradise, better than any…read morehoneymoon brochure. And Anawhata is on a whole other level to other Auckland beaches because it is so hard to get it. You travel on a really long windy road, then walk down a track. But it is so worth it. When you get there is the most secluded beach, with nothing but the sand and seagulls to keep you company. I love that there's also a lagoon so if the surf is too dangerous (which it often is) you can still swim safely. We usually take a picnic and settle in for the day, but make sure you take a sun shade as there aren't many trees. This beach is a must see for every Aucklander and tourist alike.

Great wharf for fishing and viewing. Directly across from Auckland so you can see the city scapes!…read moreStunning views.

We took the 807 bus here & walked along the beach. Here we saw the entrance to the Torpedo Bay…read moreNaval Reserve that is stationed here to protect Auckland. There was a monument to the officer in charge who was murdered along with his family here in 1847. The murderer was caught & hung here too.

This does not compare to Sydney, it actually looks more like the old railway bridge connecting…read moreQueens to Manhattan. They do have bridge climbs and jumps from here. Originally built in 1959, this long-standing bridge and city icon doubled its lanes from 4 to 8 and recently added pedestrian walkways as well as a special bridge-climbing adventure for most ages and abilities. There is an island underneath with views of the city & harbor.

One of my favourite places to drive and park at in the city is Westhaven, just under the cityside…read moreof the Harbour Bridge. It's a perfectly tranquil spot to sit and contemplate how Auckland isn't actually that bad when you find the pretty spots. A few months after I discovered this place, I used it as a location for a magazine I was working on at the time. It was a motoring themed issue and we had a classic car club come down during "the magic hour" and pose with their gorgeous vehicles and gorgeous smiles amongst gorgeous evening light. Bliss! Out of all the covers I've ever art directed, this was in my top five. Great lighting, great Harbour Bridge backdrop. Awesome.

I f you want to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city for a weekend afternoon, Duder…read moreregional Park a few kilometres past Maraetai could be just the place for you to visit. Situated on the Whakakaiwhara Peninsula looking out towards the Coromandel, the park offers a choice of walking options. The farmland option provides expansive views of the Hauraki Gulf, with one walk taking about 1i/2 hours and the otherabout 1 hour. However the day we went we chose the short walk soft option along the coast line. The peace and tranquility we encountered, with hardly another soul around made the 50 min drive from Auckland well worth while. There are public toilets at the park entrance, and clearly marked maps available. There are signs warning about leaving valuables in the car, which is a useful reminder.

Wow what a beautiful view you get from Birkenheard Wharf, sssssssssshhhh don't tell anyone so it…read moredoesn't get busier than it already is. But wow, wow, wow, if want some great views overlooking the water and the city then come to Birkenhead Wharf. You can come here just to look at the views, or do some fishing, go to the little cafe or the childrens playground. It might get a little windy in winter, but in summer its just glorious, you might have some trouble finding a park during the week, but weekend should be fine.

If you're looking for a place to have a bit of a fish, and a place that is close to the city, then…read morethis ferry wharf in Birkenhead isn't too bad. Even though the water is relatively deep here, there still doesn't seem to be that many big fish around. However, there are plenty of little fish around; mullet, piper etc. So if that's your thing then you can get quite a few from this spot. This would be the perfect place for taking the kids to have a little fish because you can just park up the car close to the water's edge. But this place is probably best to visit at night when the ferries aren't running because then you can pretty much utilise the whole area.