Although this lovely cottage is only open twice a month, 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month, from…read more11.00 am to 3.00 pm. It is worth seeing how the early settlers had to survive. Makes you think how much we take for granted these days!!

A really beautiful historic building that you can visit and explore, and is also a venue for…read moreweddings. I was involved in a wedding here and at the dress rehearsal we had the opportunity to take in the building, and it's really like walking into another era with the old-fashioned wallpaper and pictures on the wall, and seeing into the past as you head upstairs and have a look around. It's a beautiful space for a wedding; the ceremony was on the steps out the front of the house and the hall inside was a nice intimate space for speeches and socialising. The man who we liaised with regarding the function was really great - friendly and flexible. If you are thinking about having a wedding here just keep in mind - no stilettos inside! (Which, if you're me, is a great excuse to take off your bridesmaid shoes that you can't walk properly in anyway.)

Alberton was definitely in the running when I was choosing a wedding venue as it is just so…read morebeautiful. It's one of those places that is constantly used for fashion, film and even music video shoots because its historic character is so well preserved. It is grand, old and beautiful but there are some rules and regulations that apply to keeping it that way so keep that in mind if you are thinking of using it for an event. The great thing is that it's open to the public so all you have to do is wander on in and explore all its nooks and crannies at your leisure. You will have to pay for the pleasure but that's as it should be in order to keep preserve places like this for future generations. The grounds are stunning as well and a visit here can take you back in time for some romantic day-dreaming. Great for kids too - history is so much more interesting when it's tangible.

Waiheke Island is a stunning and short ferry ride from Auckland, New Zealand. This serene oasis of…read morethe bluest water has beautiful, world-class wineries, and unique activities, making for a perfect day trip with friends. Once you land on Waiheke, look behind you for wonderful views of the skyline of Auckland. Ready, set, sip wine!

We spent a day on Waiheke Island, one of the highlights of our trip. The island has over 9,400…read moreresidents and is a popular tourist destination. Just 40 minutes by ferry from downtown Auckland, it made for an easy day trip. Our plan was to visit various wineries and have a nice dinner in the evening. We did wine tastings at Wild Estate, Stonyridge Vineyard, and Cable Bay Vineyard; lunch at Heke Kitchen, Brewery & Distillery; and dinner at Mudbrick. Unfortunately we missed the bus we needed to take us form the ferry terminal to the first winery, and the next one wasn't departing for another half an hour or so. However, the bus driver of another bus route suggested we hop on his bus, which, while it would not take us to our destination, he could drop us off in an area with some shops where we could look around while we wait for our bus. It was a good suggestion, because waiting half an hour in a cute village is much more enjoyable than waiting half an hour at a ferry terminal with nothing to do. Also, while in the village, we had just enough time to stop into a store where my husband found a great rain jacket. So perhaps it was a good thing that we missed the bus! The first winery we went to was Wild On Waiheke, and we walked between Wild, Heke Kitchen, and Stonyridge Vineyard. We took a cab from Stonyridge to Cable Bay, which was in another area of the island, and from Mudbrick back to the ferry. Despite all the rain we experienced on our trip, we got pretty lucky with the weather while we were on Waiheke Island. If you go to Auckland, I highly recommend a day trip to Waiheke Island, especially if you like wine! [Yelp collections: NZ/Fiji 2023; New Zealand 2023; Wine Time!]

Be the seriously greatest person ever with a photo at this true NZ Landmark!!!…read morehttps://www.vroomvroomvroom.com/big-things-to-see/l-and-p-bottle-paeroa/ --Paeroa is located about halfway between New Zealand's largest city Auckland (90 minutes northwest driving) and another urban centre, Tauranga (75 minutes southeast). Paeroa has a population of about 4 thousand - but its WORLDWIDE FAME is thanks to being the birthplace of Lemon and Paeroa, or L and P for short. The popular New Zealand soda was traditionally made by mixing carbonated mineral water from Paeroa's natural springs with lemon juice. --These days it's bottled by Coca-Cola. Over the years, L and P's comical ad slogan "World famous in New Zealand" has become a popular New Zealand saying.

There is more to life than what happens in Auckland !!!!…read more Come and enjoy our lovely beaches and local produce. Who needs the hussle and hassle these days?

Pukekohe is a great place to live & work. There is more here than most other Central City Towns.read more

Cathedral Cove was an amazing experience. To be walking in farmland amongst a bunch of sheep one…read moreminute and then be in a tropical jungle next to a beach the next is amazing. The scenery was like something out of a movie. This is a must see on any New Zealand trip.

35 years ago this place was da bomb. Now, it's over-crowded beyond belief. In the late 1980s and…read moreearly 1990s it was a pristine place where you could have this gorgeous beach all to yourself that only locals knew how to get. Now there's a water taxi, a 1-way 5 minute boat ride from Hahei Beach to Cathedral Cove for $80NZ, there's kayak tours and other signs of commercialization that make this beautiful place swarming with people. It's about an hour walk, up and down hills that are steep, yet paved, with a few steep stairways as well. The amount of tourists overwhelms the beauty, in my humble opinion. Super beautiful spot, but waaaaay too crowded to enjoy the true beauty.

Beautiful views from the Michael Joseph Savage Memorial Park at Bastion Point…read more Take the Explorer Bus to stop #8 and enjoy the park. The bus comes about every 30 minutes. The memorial has a sunken reflecting pool, a huge obelisk and the most beautiful surrounding garden. Climb up and down the steps to get a better view. Walk through the park to get a better view overlooking the harbor. What a difference a day makes. Monday was blue skies and so sunny as compared to the intermittent thunderstorms and overcast skies the day before. A nice way to enjoy a beautiful summer afternoon in Auckland.

Bastion Point is a nice spot to enjoy views of Auckland and Rangitoto, hang out under some trees…read morewith your fish and chips, or kick a ball round with the kids. Or with your mates or family or whoever. I particularly enjoy it at dusk, watching the fading light and sunset colours. Magic. There are also toilets up here which is pretty handy. It can get a bit cool (especially if you take up the evening stroll option) and also windy so best to keep something warm with you. It is, however, a bit more sheltered in the pond/garden area just behind the Michael Joseph Savage memorial (New Zealand's first Labour prime minister) and also it's just a pretty area. Tour buses come up here as do wedding parties, along with a whole host of couples and families and groups of people, yet it never seems crowded. Nice place to hang out or just stop by to check out the views.

This is one of the most beautiful green spaces I've ever seen in my life. I thoroughly enjoyed…read morewandering through the grounds of the domain. Especially the greenhouses. I wanted to stay in those spaces, smell all the flowers, touch all the plants, and pick some of the very ripe fruits and vegetables. I admit to smelling some flowers and touching a few plants, but no fruits or veggies were at risk. Highly recommend the Auckland Domain if you are in Auckland. It's free, beautiful, and walking it is great exercise. It's made of win.

Green lawns, ball fields, gazebos with live music, clean public restrooms, unique trees & shrubs,…read moreendless trails with lots of benches & a very nice day. I loved the trees, I expected to see a Hobbit crawl out. We were walking to the museum & then back to our hotel. We passed pristine rolling hills, a bowling center, tennis center, Olympic aquatic center .... Many were biking, walking, jogging and enjoying the green space. There is a botanic garden near the museum.