Auckland AC logistics

[sailman]

I am planning a trip to be in Auckland for the finals, arriving a few days early with plans for site seeing as well.  Questions:

• B&B or Hotel?
  
• Location? 
  
• Interesting sites in and around Auckland?
  

It will be three of us (myself, wife and son). 

Thoughts?

 

[Rennmaus]

Excellent thread.
We plan to stay for at least a month for the AC proper. Maybe rent a flat and share it with other Anarchists?

 

[Ex-yachtie]

I am planning a trip to be in Auckland for the finals, arriving a few days early with plans for site seeing as well.  Questions:

• B&B or Hotel?
  
• Location? 
  
• Interesting sites in and around Auckland?
  

It will be three of us (myself, wife and son). 

Thoughts?

There’s lots to say here...
 

How old is your son? 

What sort of price range are you looking at?

How long do you think you’ll stay?

 

[sailman]

Yachtie,

He will be 11 when we are down there and the plan is to be there for ~12 days.  Price range?  No idea of what the range is there.

 

[Ex-yachtie]

Yachtie,

He will be 11 when we are down there and the plan is to be there for ~12 days.  Price range?  No idea of what the range is there.

Ok. I was just trying to get a gauge on where you might sit in the market: high end apartment vs. BnB 

Auckland pivots around the city centre. Whilst there are other business and residential hubs, you’ll find all the key tourist attractions are access from the waterfront. If I were you I would try and stay within reasonable walking distance, which probably means North of ~Mayoral Drive, between Victoria Park and Symonds St. The area between Parnell and Ponsonby, North of Grafton and including Devonport and Birkenhead (across the harbour) are well connected with regular public transport.
 

Beyond that, connections become more complex, the key exceptions being the Northern Busway and key train lines. This opens up Newmarket, Takapuna and some of the suburbs further afield.

It would be worth getting familiar with the public transport system. It’s not world class but I couldn’t think of anything worse than driving around Auckland as a tourist. Some maps here  

https://at.govt.nz/timetables#North

You’ll find there will be a full range of hotels (in terms of price and quality) but they will be full. If you want your choice, you’ll need to book early.

I’d like to think that an Air BnB experience would be great here. Despite what you might gather from this forum, we’re a pretty welcoming lot and the AC will be massive. If your hosts don’t sail, they’ll still be up to speed on the cup. Again, having said that, it will be a busy time in Auckland and they will fill up. People will also take advantage of the event. Book early to get somewhere good, at a reasonable price. 
 

In terms of activities, Auckland’s not rich with central city attractions. You kinda need to get a bit further afield. Starting at the centre and radiating out:

- AC village (of course). The city centre is being transformed and there will be plenty to see.

- Queens St. Main shopping street with adjacent lanes and streets adding to the mix. 

- Auckland Art Gallery, Albert Park, High St. Worth an explore.

- Auckland Museum. A good pacific view of the world. Good views.

- Parnell Rd, Ponsonby Rd, Karangahape Rd. (Sub)urban streets with independent retailers, bars, food, ranging from old money pretentious, new money variety and an eclectic alternative collection of shops (including our closest offering to a red light district) respectively.

-Devonport. Ferry ride to a lovely town, walking distance to North Head which looks over most of the race courses. This will be completely rammed during races. 

- Takapuna. Beach side town, lovely beach for swimming. Anticipate the need for ice cream.

- Walk up Rangitoto Island. An extinct volcano with a pretty special view of Auckland and all the race courses. 

- Auckland Zoo is great, but currently being reconstructed. Might be ready for 2021. 

Getting further afield (and briefer)

- West Coast beaches. Piha, Bethells. 

- Tiritiri island. Nature reserve. 

- Rotorua. Tourist focussed city 2-3 hrs away.

- East Coast of Coromandel. Hot Water Beach, Cathedral Cove. Probably 2-3 day trip, by car. 

More later. My thumb’s getting sore, the tent’s getting hot and the children restless. 

 

[Rushman]

I spent 2011-13 in Auckland so I would add OneTree Hill to the above list, perhaps even first stop as it gives a fantastic view over Auckland

The Coromandel is one place I didn’t spend enough time, that I stop of my to do list if I return

 

[Woolfy]

Personaly I'd look at hiring a camper van. I don't know whether they're planning on doing it for the AC but when we had the RWC here the council put a large area of the extensive car parking at Westhaven marina aside as a site for camper vans. Probably the dream location, adjacent to the Wynard quarter where it's all happening. That may not happen as it might be felt that the parking is needed for the berth holders with the AC going on, but it would be great if it does. There are plenty of camp sites on the fringes of the city if it doesn't.

Although camper vans aren't cheap, by the time you factor in the costs of accomadation and eating out virtually all the time they work out at pretty good value, particularly if you were thinking of hiring a car to go exploring.

Where to go? What xy said, but the beauty of NZ is that if you drive in any direction there's something worth looking at.

I suppose I should also plug a visit to Waiheke in as well, foot ferry for a day trip (35-45 mins) or take the van over on the car ferry (45-60 mins) and stay at the camp site you can then explore the parts of the island the day trippers don't get to see, which are in my opinion the best bits. 

If you (or any other readers) do come over to Waiheke let me know in advance and if I'm not working I'm happy to show people around or if I am, suggest an itinery that will avoid you spending a fortune but will help you see all that's worth seeing.

 

[phill_nz]

all the os guests that have visited me have loved one underrated attraction

the hot pools 

miranda or Helensville

waiwera was better with great warm water slides , but its current status is in limbo and not open

has a good caravan / camper van park though

the miscellaneous items to sample are also worth finding out

Whittaker's chocolate bars ( peanut butter flavour for the yanks )

any good quality meat pie plus a cream bun or doughnut from a bakery

the ice cream

 

[Boybland]

A B&B near one of the Auckland train lines, especially out west is a pretty good spot.  You will almost certainly want to try and rent a car for some of it though, a lot of NZ attractions can be harder to get to without one.

If you up for a few hours travel I personally really like Tane Mahuta, it's a 2000 year old Kauri tree about 3 hours drive north of Auckland, there are also some other pretty neat things nearby like horse trekking up Bailey's Beach from Dargaville.

 

[Sailbydate]

If you like walking/hiking, visit Mangawhai Heads, about 1:40 north of Auckland. Lots of well maintained tracks and some incredible bush and ocean views, overlooking the Pacific, Bream Bay and the Hen & Chicken Islands.Good swimming in ocean or estuary waters and lots of interesting eateries and a few bars. Good camping grounds and plenty of holiday accommodation. We locals are fairly friendly and might even say hello. 

 

[The_Alchemist]

This is all great info. 

I am also hoping to make a trip to NZ for the the Prada Cup Finals (see some action and avoid the crowds of the AC finals) which would be in February.  I would only watch a couple days of the races and tie it into a couple weeks traveling around NZ.  

 

[kenergy]

If you have time hit the south island, it's a whole new world down there. 

 

[Priscilla]

I am planning a trip to be in Auckland for the finals, arriving a few days early with plans for site seeing as well.  Questions:

• B&B or Hotel?
  
• Location? 
  
• Interesting sites in and around Auckland?
  

It will be three of us (myself, wife and son). 

Thoughts?

Stay at home, devote half of your expected budget and gift to a needy charity.

The AC is not a spectator sport and is best witnessed from  a big screen.

If you expect to see any boat on boat action this will be simply the most bizarre yachting regatta of all time.

TNZ  have fucked the event big time.

 

[barfy]

Stay at home, devote half of your expected budget and gift to a needy charity.

The AC is not a spectator sport and is best witnessed from  a big screen.

If you expect to see any boat on boat action this will be simply the most bizarre yachting regatta of all time.

TNZ  have fucked the event big time.

Now you are drunk and just trolling. Getta grip.

 

[Forourselves]

If you want to venture further south, definitely visit us here in the sunny Bay of Plenty. Plenty to do here...take a walk up, or around Mauao, the beaches are world class, great fishing, and the weather is great during summer. 

 

[Sailbydate]

If you want to venture further south, definitely visit us here in the sunny Bay of Plenty. Plenty to do here...take a walk up, or around Mauao, the beaches are world class, great fishing, and the weather is great during summer. 

Prolly best to give Whakaari a wide berth though. 

 

[accnick]

I spent six months working in NZ in 1999-2000, and another six months there in 2002-2003. Still go back there periodically for work.

It is truly one of the more beautiful places on earth, with astounding variety from the near-tropical north to the alpine south.

It's a different world once you get away from the big city of Auckland, which is much like any big modern city, only with better bars and food. The people are both friendly and helpful, except for a few cranky curmudgeons that hang out here  on AC Anarchy.

The strong US dollar makes almost everything there good value if it is NZ-produced.

If I had only two weeks, I would either hire a car or a caravan, and cover some miles. Or I might fly to the South Island and hire a car there. 

Others have given good lists of things to do and see. If you like wine,  visit the Marlborough region, even though the scenery on the South Island is more spectacular towards the southern extreme of the island

While you will probably be better off viewing the AC on television, the vibe in Auckland during the Cup will be pretty good if it is anything like the 2000 and 2003 Cups. However, it will be crowded, and there is a lot of traffic.

 

[TimmyHate]

Ok. I was just trying to get a gauge on where you might sit in the market: high end apartment vs. BnB 

Auckland pivots around the city centre. Whilst there are other business and residential hubs, you’ll find all the key tourist attractions are access from the waterfront. If I were you I would try and stay within reasonable walking distance, which probably means North of ~Mayoral Drive, between Victoria Park and Symonds St. The area between Parnell and Ponsonby, North of Grafton and including Devonport and Birkenhead (across the harbour) are well connected with regular public transport.
 

Beyond that, connections become more complex, the key exceptions being the Northern Busway and key train lines. This opens up Newmarket, Takapuna and some of the suburbs further afield.

It would be worth getting familiar with the public transport system. It’s not world class but I couldn’t think of anything worse than driving around Auckland as a tourist. Some maps here  

https://at.govt.nz/timetables#North

You’ll find there will be a full range of hotels (in terms of price and quality) but they will be full. If you want your choice, you’ll need to book early.

I’d like to think that an Air BnB experience would be great here. Despite what you might gather from this forum, we’re a pretty welcoming lot and the AC will be massive. If your hosts don’t sail, they’ll still be up to speed on the cup. Again, having said that, it will be a busy time in Auckland and they will fill up. People will also take advantage of the event. Book early to get somewhere good, at a reasonable price. 
 

In terms of activities, Auckland’s not rich with central city attractions. You kinda need to get a bit further afield. Starting at the centre and radiating out:

- AC village (of course). The city centre is being transformed and there will be plenty to see.

- Queens St. Main shopping street with adjacent lanes and streets adding to the mix. 

- Auckland Art Gallery, Albert Park, High St. Worth an explore.

- Auckland Museum. A good pacific view of the world. Good views.

- Parnell Rd, Ponsonby Rd, Karangahape Rd. (Sub)urban streets with independent retailers, bars, food, ranging from old money pretentious, new money variety and an eclectic alternative collection of shops (including our closest offering to a red light district) respectively.

-Devonport. Ferry ride to a lovely town, walking distance to North Head which looks over most of the race courses. This will be completely rammed during races. 

- Takapuna. Beach side town, lovely beach for swimming. Anticipate the need for ice cream.

- Walk up Rangitoto Island. An extinct volcano with a pretty special view of Auckland and all the race courses. 

- Auckland Zoo is great, but currently being reconstructed. Might be ready for 2021. 

Getting further afield (and briefer)

- West Coast beaches. Piha, Bethells. 

- Tiritiri island. Nature reserve. 

- Rotorua. Tourist focussed city 2-3 hrs away.

- East Coast of Coromandel. Hot Water Beach, Cathedral Cove. Probably 2-3 day trip, by car. 

More later. My thumb’s getting sore, the tent’s getting hot and the children restless. 

I'll add in Kelly Tarltons; (https://www.kellytarltons.co.nz/) esp for the young one

 

[Sailbydate]

Hotel Recommendation:

If you're looking for a smartish-casual Hotel, reasonably accessible to Viaduct Harbour, I can recommend The Haka Hotel, Newmarket. It has a modern, younger vibe, good rooms and beds and includes Backpacker dorms and lounge area options. Reasonable tariffs too. Close proximity to Newmarket shopping strip and Newmarket Railway Station, for a quick trip to Britomart, Downtown Auckland.

https://hakahotels.co.nz/newmarket/