Watching NZ play Australia in World Cup cricket. Couldn't get tickets to the game so had lunch at…read moreMamak and now am at Vulture's Lane. Seems to be the place to be. Massive selection of beers and nachos are $5.00 today. Had a pint of Garage Project and now thinking about a pint of 8WiredSemiconductor!

A charming little lane off Queen Street with lots of good bars and other shops of interest. It's…read morethe little lanes like this that make the CBD interesting and offer welcoming relief from the blandness of Queen Street. There's a few good bars, namely The Belgian Beer Cafe; O Carrolls Irish bar and the best of all: Queensferry Hotel. The first time I came here in 2007 (on holiday) I recall browsing in a cool record store and buying a Bob Dylan album. That store is gone now but it indelibly marked Vulcan Lane as one of the cooler places in the CBD. The Vulcan cafe is a good spot to watch the people go by and another useful addition to the lane is Wishbone Deli. In case you haven't read my review, it's got a great selection of pastas and risottos which are great if you are on the go. A bit of cult place to Aucklanders, there's a lively vibe here and there is always something going on.

This place seems to go by two names; Orakei Domain and Okahu Bay Reserve. It's also pretty…read moreimportant historically too as this is apparently where Ngati Whatua handed over most of Auckland's CBD to Governor Hobson in 1841 - a deal that went down more successfully than subsequent arrangements at nearby Bastion Point. Whatever you want to call it, this spacious patch of greenis an interesting mix of field, church, cemetery and playground but it's beautiful and and is of course, right opposite the beach. The playground is pretty legendary for those who know about these things (kids) and the wide open space is irresistable for a sprinting race from the car. There's so many cool things about Tamaki Drive and I've always had a soft spot for the sleepy family friendly Okahu Bay beach. Even the toilet blocks with the constant stream of tog-clad swimmers rinsing off their feet are just such a classic Kiwi summer sight. So bring a picnic, park up, swim then play.

Ah, Kohi beach. The…read morenext beach along from teeming Mission Bay, Kohi provides a welcome departure from the throngs of crowds, and a bit of peace and quiet. Granted, there aren't nearly as many shops & cafes around (Kohi beach cafe/the Store are really the only beachfront options), but as long as there's nice coffee and/or ice cream available, I'm set :) A bit of local flair: Thursday nights during summer, Kohi beach transforms into a swimmer's haven, with casual swim races and prize giving starting at 6PM. Fun to participate in (can sign up on the day) or attend to cheer on your friends! Pro-tip: Kohi's also an ideal spot for kitesurfing on a windy day, if you're into that sorta thing.

In my opinion, Kohimarama Beach is one of Auckland's prettiest (urban) beaches along with St…read moreHeliers Beach, which is the next one around on Tamaki Drive, Auckland. It is lined with gorgeous Pohutukawa trees and other greenery, benches and stone wall that separates the beach from the pavement. Across the road are some great cafes where you can purchase Allpress coffee, takeaway anything to sit and ponder while looking out to Rangitoto Island. You can swim, sunbathe, sit, read, eat ice cream - enjoy the scenery. Be aware of the seagulls and other birds, they like to enjoy your cafe food, as much as you do! There are lime scooters available to hire also. Parking is plentiful and free. Yelp! Yelp!

Khartoum Place is a square situated between Kitchener and Lorne St in the heart of Auckland city…read more It is right beside the Auckland Art Gallery and is just as worth a visit as the gallery is. The Place is characterized by a multi-level waterfall and paintings of the Women's Suffrage Movement - a part of history very important within New Zealand, as we were the first country to give women the right to vote. This pedestrianed square therefore acts as a memorial to women's suffrage. Not only is a Place the quickest way to cut through from the university to Queen St, it is also a lovely place to meet friends for lunch or coffee. A downside however is that it doesn't get much sun so it can be quite nippy there in the late afternoon. I recommend taking a jumper and grabbing a hot drink from the Esquires cafe located directly opposite the Place.

Nestled between Lorne Street and Kitchener Street beneath the Art Gallery and Albert Park beyond,…read moreKhartoum Place is perhaps my favourite public square in Auckland. The surrounding buildings give the square a feeling of being a semi-enclosed outdoor room, while the two large plane trees set in the middle of the square always keep it feeling cool and secluded. It's somehow serene in a way that belies its central city location, and ever so slightly grungy with the arty types (and homeless) that often occupy the space. The stairs that take you up to the Art Gallery are a tiled artwork/water feature commemorating the Womens' suffrage movement, so there's even a bit of history built in. In short, this little square has character in spades - great place to just sit and people watch.

A stunning open to the public park with over 5000 roses. We explored the gardens, then meandered…read morealong the paths to the overlook above the water. Gorgeous, with plenty of benches so you can sit and appreciate the peace and beautiful that's absolutely free. Long expanses of green space make it a perfect place for children!

This place is a gem. I can't believe it's just open to the public. Anyone can access it and it's…read moreabsolutely free. The roses are gorgeous. There are small restaurants where you can order take away and eat here or at a nearby park. You can smell the roses as soon as you start walking in the garden. This place is quite a distance from central Auckland, but it's worth a stop!

Awww how I wish we had something like this in Hawaii. ALL the foods looked great. The smoked salmon…read morewas by FAR the best I've had. So delicious, wish we had bought more! But it was our last night in Auckland. Some of the extras actually made the journey with us to Queenstown. Enough vendors to get your fill on the spot as well as to go. A nice assortment of foods that you still need to prepare, sides, breads, smoothies, etc. Worth a visit as a local or a tourist!

Voted Auckland's best food market by a local newspaper, La Cigale French Market is held every…read moreSaturday from 8 AM to 1:30 PM and Sunday from 9 AM to 1:30 PM. This market is inspired by the wonderful food markets found in France. This market didn't exist when I lived in New Zealand in 2003, but I figured it would be an eye-opening experience to compare and contrast the Otara Polynesian Market. This market is just a 20-minute drive from the Otara Market, but will feel worlds away with its much pricier food options, perfectly primped dogs, live jazz performances and wine bars. If you're into high-end experiences, this will be your jam.

Who doesn't love a garden? I especially love a flower garden and this is one of Auckland's best and…read moremost beautiful. I don't have green thumbs and all attempts at creating my own gardens have been, if not complete failures, then somewhat challenged. This kind of gorgeousness, while all natural, takes a lot of time, care and effort and it's lovely to have a place to come and literally stop to smell the flowers. The volcanic Maungawhau rock makes it something special and there's a cafe too which is always a bonus. You do have to pay for entry but that's ok, it's well worth it. It's actually a great family activity because while not immediately springing to mind as something kids might be into, they actually really enjoy the space (5.5 hectares of it) and the magical storybook quality of this urban oasis.

A lovely place to visit and walk around the gorgeous lush tropical like native NZ gardens and walk…read moreto the top of the hill and look at the amazing views over Auckland and out to Devenport and further. There is even a resident hen, and gold fish in the pond, which gives the place a lovely homely feel. The entry store has some great gifts too.

A very picturesque spot in Auckland behind the stunning St Patrick's Cathedral, St Patrick's Square…read moreis a place to take a breather from the inner city rush. Whether you'd like to sit next to a relaxing fountain stream, read a book underneath the shade of a tree on some well-kept grass, feed the pigeons or read the wall of important things to do before you die, this spot has all of those. The neon blue glow at night reminds me of a stage musical, as the water cascades down the hill in a dramatic way. It's an enjoyable place. I wish there were more spots like it, both inside and outside the city.

Auckland is slowly playing catch-up with providing quality urban public spaces, and St Patrick's…read moreSquare is a perfect case in point. This is urban design at its best. The focal point is the eponymous St Patrick's Cathedral at the southern end which is surrounded by stately paving. The northern end forms a series of grassy steps with a water feature and cool sculptures. It's a favoured lunchtime spot for the office workers in the area, as well as the hordes of students at the nearby language schools, so it's always colourful and full of people during the day. At night the water features glow a cool neon blue - very cool!

The downtown area is fairly small but quite interesting. Lots of things to do, places to shop and…read morean abundance of restaurants and hotels. The entire city though stretches over quite a large area if you include all the residential areas. If you are looking for adventure, there are many tour companies to keep you busy either within the city or with daytrips to the surrounding areas. I also highly recommend the Auckland War Memorial Museum and the Auckland Zoo. Or attend one of the local festivals. There seems to be something going on at all times.

My husband, sister, and I arrived in Auckland on the afternoon of May 3rd and then flew off to Fiji…read moreMay 9th. While it was a relatively short trip, we were able to see and do quite a few things. What we did: May 3: Arrived in Auckland, had disgusting pizza from Hell Pizza for dinner, and relaxed at the hotel. May 4: Did the Wētā Workshop tour and went to Taco Medic for lunch. My husband rested in the hotel in the evening while my sister and I went to Cafe Hanoi for dinner. May 5: We spent the day on Waiheke Island, touring the wineries. On the island our first tasting was at Wild Estate, then we stopped at Heke Kitchen, Brewery & Distillery for lunch, Stonyridge Vineyard and Cable Bay Vineyard for two more wine tastings, and Mudbrick for dinner. May 6: Walked around and stopped in the Gow Langsford Gallery temporary satellite space on 131 Queen Street, had lunch at the Indian restaurant "1947 Eatery", and then my husband went to a workshop at Wētā (which unfortunately sucked and was not what he was expecting) while my sister and I went to the Auckland War Memorial Museum. Drinks at Bar Albert in the evening. May 7: We booked with the tour company Bush and Beach and did an all day tour to Hobbiton and Waitomo Glowworm Caves (and as a bonus, the awesome driver took us to the Arapuni Suspension Bridge). May 8: Went up the Sky Tower, walked up Mount Eden Domain, had lunch at the Garden Shed, and dinner at Orbit. May 9: We flew off to Fiji! While we were in Auckland, it was very rainy, more so than usual. (New Zealand declared a state of emergency due to severe flooding a couple of months before our trip and the Auckland airport had flooded. While parts were still closed and under repair, it had fortunately reopened when we went.) Despite the rain, it didn't bother us -- we're from Vancouver, you can't control weather, and my husband bought a really nice rain jacket on Waiheke Island. While there were some days where it was POURING rain, the weather was fine when we went to Waiheke Island, just a few sprinkles when we went to Hobbiton, and May 8th was dry, which was fortunate as that was the day we had planned to go up the Sky Tower and walk around the city and Mount Eden. So even though some days were miserable weather-wise, the days we were out side were dry. The day we left for Fiji it was pouring, and as we arrived at the airport, we all received alerts on our phones about a severe rain storm (we had NZ SIM cards). Luckily the storm did not affect our flight. While I enjoyed my time in Auckland and experienced some amazing things, the reason why I am giving Auckland three stars is it is not one of my favourite cities I have visited, and five days was enough (the weather has no bearing on my rating). While I would liked to have seen other parts of New Zealand, because none of us drive, we can't just drive out to the country, so we had to stay in the city (except when we went to Waiheke Island or hired a a driver to take us to Hobbiton and Waitomo). I'd love to go back to new Zealand, but I've seen enough of Auckland and I'd rather see other parts of the country if I ever have the opportunity to go again. [Yelp collections: NZ/Fiji 2023; New Zealand 2023; Cities]

I suppose you can guess by the name that not everyone knows about this little gem of a cakery. They…read moredon't have a physical address but they make all of their cakes to order you just have to enquire, they are quite possibly the best cakes in Auckland. For one, each cake is a work of art I mean they are just stunning and they also taste incredible, you can tell that all the ingredients are top quality. You can order from their awesome website which has a full gallery showing all the different cakes they can do (as well as cupcakes). Their instagram account is also so much fun to follow just search amyssecretkitchen. My favourite cake of theirs is the hot pink rose case, it would be perfect for a birthday especially a 21st. They top their cakes off with this adorable miniature bunting and it really finishes everything off, they look so beautiful you almost don't want to cut into them, but then you do :) Note: They don't have opening hours they just make to order.