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.

Auckland's got a bad track record of hanging on to our historic buildings. Noteworthy architecture?…read moreImportant cultural heritage? Nah, let's tear it down and put up a featureless grey box full of leaky apartments. Sigh. At least we've got it right here though. Alberton House is from the mid 1800s, and it's a pretty neat place. It's a good venue for events (I was here for a wedding), but even without that it's cool just to have a wander around looking at the building itself, with its rabbit-warren servants' quarters and wooden everything. Also if you go upstairs (I say stairs, it's more like a ladder built for elves), they've got a few rooms set up with period furniture, and some of the creepiest dolls I've seen in a long time. This place is worth a visit, especially if the weather is good.

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.

I was wandering around Blockhouse Bay the other day when, for the first time in my life, I saw that…read morethe Armanasco House was open. This is quite the rarity apparently, with the Blockhouse Bay Historical Society being the keyholders and guardsmen of this historical landmark. So I went in and checked out the exhibition they had on - a selection of historical photos of Blockhouse Bay. Under the eagle eyed supervision of a lady who reminded me a little too much of the exorcist in "The Poltergeist," I checked out the old photos - but my attention wasn't held for too long . For out the back window stood the prime attraction of the house - the dunny. An old longdrop that has been preserved all these years. There is something poetic about the preservation of a toilet - I'm not sure if I can put it into words, but if that dunny could speak, it would definitely have some stories to tell. Armanasco house is worth a look if you are in the area and it's open - but it is also available for viewing by appointment.

Nice and easy. Tap on/off (remember the off part...that wasn't explained to me) and quick ride to…read moreDavenport. Also did the Waiheke ferry which was a bit chaotic on Thursday midday. The line for the 11 am was sooo long, I missed that ferry and had to wait another hour. Thankfully the peeps I was around engaged in conversation which made the time fly by.

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.

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!]

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!

Ferndale House is another historic homestead in Mt Albert albeit on a smaller scale than the grand…read moreAlberton. It is set within a lovely little park and although it's on New North Road, it's a calm and peaceful place. The rooms are hired out by Auckland City Council and although it's well used regularly by many different groups, it still has a heavy sense of history and maintains its olde worlde character. I came here over a series of weeks for an acting course and even the stacks of chairs are plush and classical. Not to freak anyone out but from the moment I walked in I could feel the ghosts here and the slightly faded grandeur adds to the feeling of being in another time. There's an ancient smell of wood and previous generations, and the little servants' attic of the kitchen is like a secret hideout. I really loved spending time here and I'm sure any spirits present are friendly as there's a relaxing serene aura about the place.

If I was just rating this building on looks alone, I would have given it 5 stars. It's a beautiful…read moreold heritage type building that was constructed in 1930 and has been called " one of the most self- consciously monumental public buildings erected in early twentieth century New Zealand". True to its name it was the former main railway station of New Zealand before services were moved to the Britomart station. The inside lower floor is just as visually stunning as the outside, with mural like floors and grand staircases. However all this just belies the sham it houses now. It is now used as housing for Auckland University students and shoddy housing it is too. Tiny kitchenettes that lead off to even tinier bedrooms, the most basic bathrooms ever, and a communal cooking and eating area. It's not even that well priced, it should be at clearance level rent. Honestly I feel sorry for anyone who has to live here voluntarily, but the apartment market in Auckland is so tight at the moment it really is needs must. It's such a shame that such a wonderful, historic building is really going to waste.

I'm not 100 percent sure that you can just walk on into this place if you don't live here, but I…read moredid anyway because the building is truly amazing. Actually I am pretty sure you can walk into the main entrance part because there are no security doors here, but the next part is where it has been converted into small apartments, so don't go getting yourself into trouble. Anyway this is the old railway building, and I can remember using it when it was still operational many years back. It is architecturally a fantastic place to visit, both outside and inside, and such an iconic building that it should be used as something worthwhile, like a museum. But alas it is being wasted as budget accommodation, and pretty dodgy accommodation at that. It makes me sad. And now I'm confused as to how to distribute my rating stars.

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!!

I won't say much but second the great reviews. This is a great library and as a backpacker i spent…read moremany days in here using the wifi, getting info, etc. Not many backpackers here, mostly locals. Quiet. clean. very nice :)