Things to see and do Auckland

It's impossible to miss this tower, which serves as a radio and TV transmitter from the air when arriving by plane, from the open sea when arriving by water, or from the SH1 freeway. Built between 1994 and 1997, the Sky Tower rises to three hundred and twenty-eight metres and remains the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere. Like the Eiffel Tower in the French capital, it is the landmark of Auckland and is visited by over a million people every year. Although it also houses casinos and restaurants, it's above all for its excellent panoramic view that you dare to climb this immense concrete frame. The elevator ride up is an experience in itself, thanks to its speed and the windows that reveal the city as you gain altitude. Once up there, two observatories are accessible, at one hundred and eighty-six meters and two hundred and twenty meters above sea level. From here, you can enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the CBD and the surrounding area. The port, the volcanoes, the islands, the different districts, the bay - it's all there, and you can even stand above the void on certain parts of the glass floor. Adrenalin junkies can also indulge in the skyjump, an unforgettable hundred-and-ninety-two-meter bungy between the surrounding skyscrapers. The skywalk is another option if you simply wish to walk to the top of the tower, on an outdoor platform and in complete safety.

Mount Eden (Maungawhau) is one of the ancient volcanoes that make Auckland special. At 196 meters high, it offers one of the most beautiful views of the whole city, with a magnificent panorama and a plunging perspective on the CBD. If reaching the top of the Sky Tower is not in your budget, you should not hesitate to come and console yourself here. Long occupied by the Maoris and their pa, the crater is still clearly visible today. The path leading to the summit is paved. Remember to take water when it is very hot.

Opened in 1959, the huge Auckland Harbour Bridge has become part of the city's landscape and is quite impressive in size: 1,020 meters long, 243 meters wide and 43 meters high. If everyone can cross it by car, it is closed to pedestrians and cyclists and you will have to pay to climb its arches or to jump from the top of the bridge on a bungy. The fall of about forty meters in the bay of the city is quite spectacular.

This is a mythical den. Its name comes from the volcano, Mount Eden, on which it sits. It had the honor of hosting the first match in a Rugby World Cup in 1987, between the All Blacks and Italy. And it was at this match that the famous haka, previously reserved for overseas tours, was performed for the first time in a home match. A few weeks later, New Zealand lifted the inaugural World Cup at Eden Park.

Located just over an hour's drive from downtown Auckland, Karekare beach is a wonderful place to watch the sun set. This very large black sand beach offers other advantages, including a daytime stroll to Kare Kare waterfalls and/or the dunes. You may not have noticed, but this beach became famous thanks to Jane Campion's film The Piano Lesson. There are public toilets and plenty of parking space. Watch out for the winding road to get there.

A central axis of the city centre, Queen Street runs from the port and goes north to Karangahape Road, raindrops on its boutiques of souvenirs and beautiful facades of buildings. Explore the heart of Auckland and then concentrate on the streets and cross-lanes of the centre.

South of Auckland, the Botanic Gardens of the city of Auckland stretch over sixty-four hectares and are home to over 10,000 plants. This public garden, opened in 1982, contains a number of species that are endemic to the city, but there are also camellias, conifers, magnolias, edible species, palms, an African garden and many others. Attracting thousands of visitors each year, the focus is on garden and landscape design. Sustainable horticulture is a daily focus here.

Located below the Sky Tower, this tourist office is a must if you're planning to stay in Auckland for a few days, but also if you're planning a trip around the country. Its staff can provide you with local, regional and national information. This I-Site is one of the country's largest tour operators, and you'll be able to book almost any activity you can think of. Access to the I-Site is via the building next to the tower.

Toi Au Tamaki has the largest collection in the country of both national and international artists. There are works from all over the world and the movements cover many periods and styles of history. The oldest piece even dates back to 1376. There is also a Mojo café and a store on site. If you'd like an expert to tell you all about the place, there are free guided tours every day. A very interesting visit to learn about New Zealand, Maori and European culture.

This mural is an Auckland landmark. It celebrates one of the country's feminist prides: the right to vote granted to women in 1893, a world first. This mural, in bright, cheerful colors, celebrates the women who contributed to this pioneering success. It was painted by two women, Jan Morrison and Claudia Pond Eyley, in 1993, to mark the centenary of women's suffrage. The fresco is rich in detail and symbolism.

Firstly, it features portraits of nine suffragists, seven of whom are highly renowned: Amey Daldy and Anne Ward, who held leadership roles in feminist unions; Lizzie Rattray, one of the country's first female journalists and a member of the Auckland Women's Franchise League (chaired by Amey Daldy); Matilda Allsopp and Fanny Brown, two of the first women to exercise their right to vote; Elizabeth Yates, the first female mayor in the British Empire; Annie Schnackenberg, founder of the National Council of Women.

Above them, the names of two other women: Elizabeth Caradus, treasurer of theAuckland Women's Franchise League, and Meri Te Tai Mangakāhia, the first woman to demand the right to vote in the Māori parliament.

Elsewhere, several symbols of the suffragette movement can be found. Among them, white camellias, distributed to members of parliament who supported the passage of the law; and bicycles, with which the feminists rode hundreds of kilometers to collect signatures on their petition.

A museum that celebrates the country's lesbian culture. In Auckland, the Charlotte Museum contributes to the preservation, revaluation and democratization of the narratives of the lesbian, and more broadly LGBTQIA+, community. In addition to the permanent exhibition, the premises also feature an art gallery, an archive center and a bookshop. The visit is thus a particularly complete, playful and rich experience. A safe place that fosters intellectual and artistic emulation, and allows you to immerse yourself in New Zealand's activism.