What to see in Auckland in one day, is going to be our plan today after picking up our Jucy motorhome in New Zealand, with which we will be touring the White Cloud Country for 33 days.
We started the day at 6 o'clock in the morning, a little later than what we are used to when we travel, but considering that the flight to New Zealand arrived yesterday in the early hours of the morning, today we preferred to rest a little more and thus be energised for all the things to do in Aukland that we have scheduled.
We leave the Auckland Airport Lodge, our accommodation in Auckland tonight, at 8 o'clock in the morning straight back to the airport, with its free transfer service, to have a couple of coffees and a couple of yoghurts with cereals for 23.50 dollars and to buy a couple of adapters for New Zealand for 19NZD, as the ones we brought from home are universal, but do not include the type I, which is necessary here.
After these first formalities in the city and before starting the route through the places to see in Auckland, at 8:30 we call Jucy, which is the company with which we have rented the motorhome in New Zealand, to come and pick us up with their free transfer and we go straight to gate 11 of the international terminal, right next to McDonalds, where the transfers to hotels or car rental companies are made to go finally, to pick up what will be our home on wheels these next few days and with which we will share this trip to New Zealand in 36 days.
The journey to the Jucy offices takes no more than 10 minutes and once there and after handing over the international ID card and credit card, where we will make the deposit of the motorhome, we spend 45 minutes with the staff who explains all the details of the operation of our caravan and some points about the traffic rules in New Zealand, with which we already feel safe to start this trip with the house on our backs.
With everything clear and the keys in our possession, we take advantage of the moment to put all the clothes in the backpacks in order, place them and adapt them, so that we don't have to worry about this again and finally start the route through the places to see in Auckland in one day.
Jucy's office at Auckland Airport
Before continuing with today's route through the places to visit in Auckland, we want to comment that our choice has been to book with Jucy for this New Zealand in motorhome, but if you are interested in making a trip of this type, we recommend you to look at the Motorhome Republic page where you can see all the available options, prices and make the reservation directly.
And so, at 10 o'clock in the morning we can finally say that our trip to New Zealand begins with a route through the most essential places to see in Auckland in one day, including, of course, Mount Eden, 14 kilometres from the airport, where we arrived at 10:30 in the morning and where we parked the motorhome for the first time in one of their free car parks.
Places to see in Auckland in one day
Known for being the gateway to many of the must-see places in New Zealand, Auckland is probably the place that will welcome and pamper you in your first few hours in the Land of the White Cloud.
Known for its attractions and also for being the place where the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean almost touch, Auckland is New Zealand's most cosmopolitan city as well as being named a city of volcanoes, something you'll notice from the first viewpoint, as the city and its surroundings are dotted with numerous volcanic cones.
Although the list of places to see in Auckland in one day is endless, considering that most travellers spend a day or a few hours in the city, we want to give you a list of the most interesting places to visit in Auckland.
Auckland in a dayMount Eden
Mount Eden is undoubtedly the best viewpoint in the city and one of the must-see places in Auckland in a day, especially if the day is clear and you can enjoy the incredible views offered by the highest volcanic cone in the city.
With a perfectly symmetrical crater 50 metres deep and a height of almost 200 metres, Mount Eden is one of the most sacred places in New Zealand, so the first thing you should be aware of is that you can walk around the area and see areas where there are remains of terraced fields and even a small pa (fortified village), but under no circumstances access the crater.
Mount Eden in Auckland
Tips for visiting Mount Eden in Auckland
The first thing to keep in mind is that although Mount Eden is one of Auckland's most visited tourist attractions, it's important to have a clear day to enjoy it to the fullest. If you have several days or hours to spend in the city, it's best to do it when the day is at its clearest so you can enjoy the incredible views.
The access road to the summit is open from 7am to 11pm.
Entrance to Mount Eden is free and the visit lasts approximately 45-60 minutes.
Another thing to bear in mind is that there are several parking areas, all of which are open for parking during the hours indicated on the signs. The problem is that if you have a very large motorhome, you are not allowed to park in the area, so you will have to get there by public transport or on foot. We had no problem with a Jucy Chaser, which is less than 5 metres long, and we were able to park in the designated areas.
Auckland in one day
More practical information to prepare your trip to New Zealand
- 10 must-see New Zealand travel tips
- 10 must-see places to visit in New Zealand
- Best travel insurance for New Zealand
After the visit to Mount Eden, where we are almost 1 hour, we decide that it is best to go to the place where we will stay to sleep with the motorhome and thus begin the route through the most central area of Auckland in one day from there, and this time walking.
Before we continue with today's story, we would like to tell you that finding a place to sleep in the city with the motorhome is not exactly easy. Unlike most areas of the country, where there are plenty of places where you can spend the night with your motorhome, either for free or for a fee, in Auckland, if you want to stay in a central area, things are more complicated.
We, after thoroughly reviewing the Campermate application, which as we have already said and will continue to say, is the New Zealand bible for these issues, we have opted for the first of the free car parks where you can spend the night with your motorhome. This is Z-Pier, located very close to Wynyard Quater, where you can spend the night for 20NZD.
Please note that you can only leave your vehicle on the white lines marked with signs for overnight stays, that your vehicle must be self-contained and that the maximum stay is 4 nights. There are public toilets and showers for 2NZD (10 minutes) and a dump station, but no electricity or water connection to charge your tank.
Although they have plenty of places for overnight stays, we advise you not to come too late in the high season, as there aren't many places like this in the city and from here, as it's centrally located, you can start your tour of the hotels in Auckland on tophotels.com. One of the great options is Ascot Epsom Motel. Itl is a convenient and comfortable accommodation option in Auckland. Located in the charming Epsom neighborhood, this motel offers a range of well-appointed rooms to suit different preferences and needs. With its close proximity to attractions like the Auckland Domain and the vibrant Newmarket shopping district, guests can easily explore the city's highlights.
Another option, if you don't have a motorhome, is to opt for one of the best rated and best located Auckland accommodations. On the other hand, if you are a traveler looking for a more home-like feel during your stay in Auckland, consider a North Island B&B at northislandnz.net. These bed and breakfast accommodations offer a cozier, more personal experience than a traditional hotel or motel, making your New Zealand adventure even more memorable.
Z-Pier in Auckland
We arrive at Z-Pier at 11:30 and after making our payment of 20NZD and changing into something more summery as the heat is increasing as the day progresses, we continue with the route through the places to see in Auckland approaching Wynyard Quater, very close to the car park, where besides being one of the trendiest places in the city, there is a fish market that we want to visit and also take the opportunity to eat in one of the sushi places, which we have seen, are highly recommended.
Wynyard Quater
Connected to Viaduct Harbour by a bridge, this area became fashionable when it opened for the Rugby World Cup in 2011. Known for its restaurants and entertainment areas, as well as the fish market, this is a quiet area to stroll around and escape the city's rarely bustling traffic.
Wynyard QuaterFish Market
Open from 6am, the best time to go if you want to see the fish auctions, the fish market is another of the places to see in Auckland in 1 day. After the auction, this place stands out for its cooking school, cafes and restaurants, which are the perfect place to make a stop if you are in the area and try some of the gastronomy present.
After a walk around the area, which is very lively today, we decided to eat at Azabu, a Japanese restaurant where we ordered tuna tataki, three crab bao, soft drink and water for 57NZD, which made us forget about jet lag for most of the day.
Fish market
And for dessert, nothing better than a sweet and two coffees from Goodkarma for 14NZD, which we have to confess, we are a little disappointed, as we don't really like them, although the coffee is delicious.
And from here and after filling our stomachs, we continue with our route through the places to see in Auckland in a day, heading to the most central area of the city, going through part of Wynyard Quater and Viaduct Harbour, where we can see part of the city and start to get an idea of what it is like and how people live in this city.
Viaduct Harbour
Known for being one of Auckland's most fashionable areas, this area of Auckland was once a commercial harbour and then underwent a process of change in the wake of the two America's Cups held in the city, which led to it becoming an area of elegant restaurants and bars that mingle with the sailboats on the horizon.
Although the local eateries in the area are not particularly cheap, we do think that a stroll around the area is a good way to see this part of the city.
Viaduct Harbour
After spending almost a couple of hours between Wynyard Quater and Viaduct Harbour, we continue our route through the places to see in Auckland in a day by heading to one of its most emblematic points, St. Patrick's Cathedral, located a few metres away from the most fashionable area of the city, which also makes us start to know the part of the city that is probably the most visited by tourists.
St. Patrick's Cathedral
Undoubtedly, St. Patrick's Cathedral is the most beautiful building in the city and visiting it is one of the things to do in Auckland that you can't miss. This Catholic cathedral was built in 1907 and features gleaming polished wood and neo-gothic interior details.
Opening hours are from 7am to 7pm.
St. Patrick's Cathedral
From here and after a brief visit, we approached the symbol of the city and of course, another of the places to visit in Auckland, the Sky Tower, located a few meters from the Cathedral, so we recommend you make both visits together, provided that schedules allow you.
Sky Tower
At 328 metres high, the Sky Tower is the tallest building in the southern hemisphere and the most visible symbol of Auckland. Although it's not exactly cheap to get in, we recommend a visit to enjoy one of the best views of the city, along with Mount Eden.
Once in the building, you'll have to take the glass-floored lift up to the first of the viewing platforms included in the ticket price, from where you'll have a spectacular view.
Also included in the price is the cafeteria observation deck and the third observation deck, located at 220 metres, which is the highest. You can buy a ticket to the Sky Tower here.
What to see in Auckland
The opening hours of the Sky Tower are from 8:30h to 22:30h and the price is 32NZD per adult. Although we went up mid-afternoon, from what we've read, one of the best times of the day is in the evening, the perfect time to enjoy the sunset and sunset over the city.
Views from the Sky Tower
We enjoy the Sky Tower and the views for almost an hour and when it is 4pm we continue with the route through the places to see in Auckland in one day that we have scheduled for this afternoon and that includes several places in the city, less important than the previous ones, but that we don't want to miss.
If you're short on time or want to see the best of Auckland with a guide, we recommend booking this 3-hour express tour of the city.
Tour of some of the places to visit in Auckland
In addition to the places we visited in this Auckland in 1 day, throughout the morning and part of the afternoon, we spent the rest of the day touring other areas, following a route that we saw in the Lonely Planet guide, which allowed us to see another side of the city and also another perspective.
Civic Theatre, one of the places to see in Auckland
The complete route is about 4 kilometres long and takes about 2-3 hours and includes an itinerary through Auckland City Hall, Aotea Square, Civic Theatre, Khartoum Place, Auckland Art Gallery and Albert Park, one of the green lungs of the city.
From here the route continues through Old Government House, Vulvan Lane and the Britomart area to finish in Hight Street, where after a stroll, we return to Queen Street, Auckland's main thoroughfare, which we walk again until 6pm.
Auckland
And so, trying to stay a little more awake, when it is 7pm, we start our way back to our caravan, stopping first to do a quick shopping and then have dinner again at the fish market, repeating in the restaurant, where we order some tuna rolls, plus two baos and water for 40NZD, with which we say goodbye to this first day of our trip to New Zealand.
After our one-day tour of Auckland, we have to say that although the city has not disappointed us at any time, we don't think it is a must-see in New Zealand, as you can see the most important parts of the city in a day or even half a day.
With this in mind, we think that if you only have a few days, the best thing to do would be to spend the hours you have available in the city as you enter or leave the airport, but not to take time away from other visits to see Auckland.
If you have more than one day in Auckland, we recommend you to do some of the most outstanding excursions or tours from the city:
Hobbiton and Waitomo Caves Tour from Auckland: With this tour you can discover Hobbiton and Waitomo, two of the most famous places in New Zealand, in one day from Auckland on a guided tour.
Piha Beach: This tour starts with a scenic drive through the beautiful Waitakere Ranges, a stop at the famous Lion Rock and then on to Piha Beach, where you can enjoy this amazing place.
1 Day Bay of Islands Tour: This tour will take you to this amazing place combining a bus tour and cruise.
- Many more tours and excursions from Auckland here.
Route map for things to see and do in Auckland in one day
