Why Go?Paris may be the city of love, but Auckland is the city of many lovers, according to its Maori name, Tamaki Makau-rau. Those lovers so desired this place that they fought over it for centuries.

It’s hard to imagine a more geographically blessed city. Its two harbours frame a narrow isthmus punctuated by vol-canic cones and surrounded by fertile farmland. From any of its numerous vantage points you’ll be surprised how close the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean come to kissing and form-ing a new island.

Whether it’s the ruggedly beautiful west-coast surf beach-es, or the glistening Hauraki Gulf with its myriad islands, the water’s never far away. And within an hour’s drive from the city’s high-rise heart, there are dense tracts of rainforest, thermal springs, wineries and wildlife reserves. No wonder Auckland is regularly rated one of the world’s top cities for quality of life and liveability.

When to Go¨¨ Auckland has a mild climate, with the occasional chilly frost

in winter and high humidity in summer.

¨¨ Summer months have an average of eight days of rain, but the weather is famously fickle, with ‘four seasons in one day’ possible at any time of the year.

¨¨ If you’re after a big-city buzz, don’t come between Christmas and New Year, when Aucklanders desert the city for the beach en masse; the sights remain open but many cafes and restaurants close, some not surfacing again until well into January.

%09 / POP 1.42 MILLION

Auckland

Best Places to Eat¨¨ Depot (p67)

¨¨ Ima (p68)

¨¨ Blue Breeze Inn (p71)

¨¨ Little Bird (p69)

¨¨ St Heliers Bay Bistro (p73)

Best Places to Stay¨¨ Hotel de Brett (p63)

¨¨ Auckland Takapuna Oaks (p66)

¨¨ Verandahs (p64)

¨¨ 23 Hepburn (p64)

Sights...........................46Activities....................... 56Tours............................. 58Festivals.&.Events........60Sleeping....................... 63Eating........................... 66Drinking.&.Nightlife......74Entertainment.............. 76Shopping.......................77Hauraki.Gulf.Islands......81West.Auckland.............. 94North.Auckland............ 99

©Lonely¨Planet¨Publications¨Pty¨Ltd

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Omaha Beach

AnawhataBeach

Matingarahi

Miranda

Kaiaua

Wellsford

Kawakawa Bay

Mangatangi

Kumeu

Waitakere

Pokeno

Paparimu

Tuakau

HunuaDrury

Pukekohe

Bombay

Glenbrook

Parakai

Huapai Riverhead

Whitford

Maraetai

Huia

Waiwera

Leigh

Te HanaPort Albert

Te Henga(Bethells Beach)

Titirangi

Pakiri

Whatipu

Clevedon

Warkworth

Helensville

MuriwaiBeach

Orewa

Puhoi

Auckland

Matakana

Sandspit

Swanson

Patumahoe

Awhitu

Grahams Beach Papakura

MaramaruaMercer

Orere

Woodhill

Waimauku

WaitakereRanges

RegionalPark

TawharanuiRegional Park

ShakespearRegional Park

ScandrettRegional Park

MahurangiRegional

Park

Hunua RangesRegional Park

MangatawhiriForest Park

North ShoreAerodrome

MercerAirfield

WoodhillForest

WenderholmRegional Park

Hauraki Gulf

ManukauHarbour

Pakatoa Island

MotuiheIsland

Kawau Island

Motuora Island

Tiritiri MatangiIsland

MotutapuIsland

RangitotoIsland

Rotoroa Island

PonuiIsland

LongBay

WaitemataHarbour

MahurangiHarbour

KaiparaHarbour

Tamaki Strait

Wai

ka

to River

Anchor Bay

Cape Colville

T A S M A NS E A

#5 Goat IslandMarine Reserve

#4Piha

#4Karekare

#2 HaurakiGulf

#6

WaihekeIsland

#1Volcanic

Field

#3 AucklandMuseum

#7Ponsonby

#8WesternSprings Park

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Barrier Islands

Auckland Highlights1.Going.with.the.flows,.exploring.Auckland’s.fascinating.volcanic field.(p57)

2.Getting.back.to.nature.on.the.island.sanctuaries.of.the.beautiful.Hauraki Gulf.(p81)3.Being.awed.by.the.Maori.taonga.(treasures).of.the.Auckland Museum.(p52)

4.Going.west.to.the.mystical.and.treacherous.black.sands.of.Karekare.(p95).and.Piha.(p96)

5.Swimming.with.the.fishes.at.Goat Island Marine Reserve.(p104)6.Schlepping.around.world-class.wineries.and.beaches.on.Waiheke Island.(p82)

7.Buzzing.around.the.cafes,.restaurants.and.bars.of.Ponsonby.(p69)8.Soaking.up.the.Polynesian.vibe.at.the.Pasifika Festival.(p61),.held.in.March.at.Western.Springs.Park