Auckland (New Zealand)

Guides: Destinations > Cities > Auckland
Hotels: Countries > New Zealand > Auckland

Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest urban area in New Zealand. Auckland is popularly known as the "city of sails", because the harbour is usually dotted with hundreds of yachts. The recently refurbished Viaduct Basin hosted two America's Cup challenges, and its cafes, restaurants, and clubs add to Auckland's vibrant nightlife. High Street, Queen Street, Ponsonby Road, and Karangahape Road are also very popular with urban socialites. Newmarket and Parnell are upmarket shopping centres. Otara's famous fleamarket and Victoria Park Market are a colourful alternative shopping experience. Auckland International Airport, New Zealand's largest airport, lies beside the Manukau Harbour, in the southern suburb of Mangere, which is part of Manukau. Ongoing negotiations concern the development of a second airport at Whenuapai, a disused military airbase in Waitakere, to the northwest of the Auckland conurbation. Many private flights use the smaller airfield at Ardmore, south of the city but within the Auckland region.