A Travel and Exploration blog for those who love New Zealand

After spending 4 summer vacations in Auckland, we wanted to share our passion for this magic location with the rest of the world. Whether you’re looking for a remote location for telecommuting for a few months, a place to vacation or somewhere to call home, this tucked away setting has something for everyone. 

Tips for Making the Trip 

If you’re in North America, getting to Auckland can be a bit intimidating. Long flights, layovers and jet lag are a few of the barriers to entry you have to be prepared to hurdle. If you’re taking a long flight, consider arranging for a 3-6 hour layover in an airport that has showers and a place to nap. 

Research shows that taking naps along long flights helps the body to adjust more quickly to the new time zone. 

You may want to pack along some natural sleep aids for when you arrive here. Melatonin, Valerian Root and Passiflora are all good, non addictive substances to help you get restful sleep while adjusting to the new time zone – which may be the complete opposite of yours! 

In addition to being surrounded by sparkling blue wathers, you’ll enjoy beautiful scenery, urban eateries you’ll love to dine in, culture, music and the arts. 

Attractions

Some of the more popular attractions are the islands that surround Aukland. 

Waiheke Island 

Love wine? This island hosts wineries, olive groves and beaches. And it’s just a short ferry ride of 40 minutes from Aukland downtown center.  

Rangitoto

You won’t want to miss visiting one of the biggest of the 48 volcanos, Rangitoto. Not only is the size impressive, but it’s home to the largest forest of pohutukawa. 

Tiritiri Matangi Island

You’ll be hard pressed to find a more vibrant community of native birds, thanks to the large scale conservation project happening there. You’ll see birds of all varieties – bring your camera!