The Most Beautiful Spots In Auckland New Zealand

Auckland is a city of wonderful contrasts. It’s a place to admire the most beautiful harbourside vistas, some epic volcanic cones and loads of parks, gardens and greenery. Allow us to introduce you to some of the finest attractions to come out of this stunningly diverse New Zealand destination.

Waitakere Ranges

The Waitakere Ranges is composed of more than 16,000 hectares of native forests and coastlines. In the parkland you’ll find a myriad of walking tracks, waterfalls, rugged outcrops and rocky cliffs. Not only that, but some of Auckland’s most beautiful beaches, including Piha and Te Henga/Bethells, are located right within the park itself. Some of its walking tracks are currently closed to allow the forest to heal itself from Kauri dieback disease.

Waitematā Harbour

Tāwharanui Regional Park

A family-friendly regional park that is adored for its stunning white sand beaches, rolling pastures and native coastal forests. You’ll find it nestled among a remote peninsula within a 90-minute drive north of Auckland. Tāwharanui is also known for housing many archaeological sites, including five pā (ancient Māori fortification sites), various shipwreck remains and fossils for 18 different species of shellfish. The park’s marine reserve is also quite a good spot for diving and snorkelling.

Waiheke Island

Waiheke is the second largest island on the Hauraki Gulf. Being just a 40-minute ferry ride from central Auckland, it is also a favourite day-trip destination for locals and visitors alike. The island is particularly renowned for its viticulture, the beautiful beaches, an artsy flair and a few adventurous experiences like hiking, cycling and zip lining thrown into the mix.

Devonport

Another beautiful spot within a short ferry ride from the central city. Named after England’s Devonport Naval Base, the harbourside suburb hosts the Royal New Zealand Navy, which is the country’s main naval vessel facility. But truth be told, the area is best renowned for its Victorian village charm, and its upscale cafes and restaurants. Hikers and war history enthusiasts also visit Devonport to view the North Head Historic Reserve from up close.

Parnell

The affluent inner-city suburb of Parnell is Auckland’s oldest — and arguably one of the most stylish. French-style bistros, hip cafes and all kinds of restaurants and boutique outlets line the village streets. For the art and history lovers, there’s a collection of small galleries to browse as well as the lovely Parnell Rose Gardens, the Holy Trinity Cathedral and the Auckland War Memorial Museum at the Domain — the latter of which is the ideal place to learn a bit more about Māori history.

Auckland Domain

As the oldest park in the city, the Auckland Domain boasts 75 hectares of beauty. As a testament to its uniqueness, the park is built around the cone of an extinct volcano. Besides the aforementioned museum, the Domain is home to the historic Wintergardens, which showcase a spectacular display of rare plants from around the world, as well as lush walking tracks that are embellished by a trove of interesting art installations.

Mt Eden Summit

A walk up the Maungawhau/Mt Eden Summit will reward you with some of the best panoramic views of the city and its harbours. With a height of 196 metres (643 feet), this is Auckland’s highest volcano. Within the summit’s cone, there is a massive crater that’s approximately 50 metres deep (164 feet) that is bound to amaze all those who see it. There are several walkways to get you up to the summit, and the walk itself should take 5–10 minutes to complete.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.