The city of Auckland is situated on a narrow strip of land that is flanked by two harbors on the North Island of New Zealand. These two harbors take the form of the shallow Manukau Harbor that lies in the West and opens up to the Tasman Sea and the Waitemata Harbor which lies in the East and opens up to the city center. The latter mentioned harbor also contains Auckland’s main deep water port. Auckland is popularly referred to as the City of Sails as its residents are avid sailors and in fact this Kiwi city successfully hosted the international yachting competition, America’s Cup in 2002/2003.
Auckland is the largest and most cosmopolitan city in New Zealand and a major gateway to the rest of the country though it is also one of the least densely populated urban centers in the world that attracts tourists for this very reason. The best way to experience Auckland is to see it from the waters that surround it. The city has definite laid back vibe but it is by no means boring it is home to trendy bars and restaurants most of which are located by the sea, which plays such an integral part in the life of its citizens.
If you are indeed craving a peaceful holiday away from the madness and hustle bustle of big city, then why not consider scenic Auckland with its charming water front and its verdant green belts? Auckland seems to be half the world away if you are based in a US city but this long haul journey to the city of Sails can actually turn out to be quite pleasurable experience if you plan to travel business class to Auckland. No matter what people...Read More may say, finding a cheap business class seat to Auckland is a definite possibility if you plan well and in advance for several airlines like Air New Zealand, Qantas, American Airlines and others who provide connections to Auckland from various US cities offer business class deals to Auckland in an effort to promote their services to this charming destination.
Often these deep discount airfares to Auckland sometimes have time and advance purchase restrictions as requirements for acquiring that particular fare. However this is a small price to pay to acquire a cheap business class fare to Auckland for it usually affords you all the amenities and luxuries of business class travel like fully flat beds, excess luggage allowance, priority check-in and airline lounge access and unending supplies of good food and wine, served by attentive to your every need, flight attendants.
If you don’t happen to chance on such a discount business class airfare to Auckland, then you can always try your luck with a reputable airfares consolidator. Airfares consolidators have a treasure trove of deeply discounted airfares to various global destinations as they are awarded exclusive consolidator contracts on the basis of their established sales record and high volume of sales. They are guaranteed to supply you with a cheap business class fare to Auckland which is likely to be almost 70% less than the regular business class fare. Once you have acquired your discount business class ticket to Auckland you can embark on your journey.
Luckily for you, Auckland experiences an almost tropical climate which is characterized by warm, humid summers and mild, damp winters so you can decide to take off at anytime on your journey and are not restrained by weather conditions. Summer is actually the ideal season to visit Auckland which experiences its summer between the months November to February as it is located in the Southern Hemisphere. However you should always back an umbrella in your luggage for Auckland which typically has 260 days of sunshine but also receives rainfall all throughout the year.
Auckland is served by its Auckland International Airport which is located at a distance of 22 Km or 14 miles from the city center. This airport which receives several international carriers and is well connected to the city by way of shuttle bus, taxi and rental cars.
Auckland like any other global urban center has a wide assortment of hotels that cater to myriad accommodation needs. Some of the most popular hotels located here include the Hilton Auckland, the Langham Hotel Auckland, the Hyatt Regency Auckland, the SkyCity Grand Hotel Auckland, the Stamford Plaza Hotel Auckland and smaller boutique hotels like Mollies, the Cotter House Retreat and the Aachen House Hotel. Once you have arrived at your hotel which is most likely to be located in the heart of the city you can set out to visit the many attractions that Auckland has to offer.
Auckland in fact is well equipped with an efficient transport system which is made up of buses, taxis, ferries and trains though the latter are largely used by commuters to come into the city center from the Northern suburbs.
One of the premier attractions in Auckland is its Auckland Museum which is located on, the Domain, a parkland located in the center of the city. This parkland is actually situated on one of Auckland’s extinct volcanoes and thus it affords great views of the city and the Waitemata Harbour. This museum was originally built as a WWI memorial in 1929 though the building is now dedicated to those kiwi soldiers who lost their lives in both the wars. The museum has exhibits of Maori and Pacific Island artifacts s along with displays of much war memorabilia.
The Sky Tower is another prominent attraction in Auckland which soars to a height of 1,076ft (328m). This towering height has qualified it as the tallest building in Southern Hemisphere and it affords panoramic views of the city, the harbors and the gulf islands from its observation deck. In addition to the observation deck, the Sky Tower is also equipped with an entertainment complex which has a casino, theater and conference center.
As mentioned earlier, the best way to enjoy Auckland is to experience it from the water bodies that surround it and tourists to this gorgeous city enjoy doing just that by sailing around its harbors or by taking ferry trips to the many islands that dot the Hauraki Gulf like as Rangitoto, Waiheke and Great Barrier Island which are located close to the mainland and provide an opportunity for an enjoyable day trip from Auckland. Of these three islands ,Waiheke is the most popular retreat equipped as it is with scenic bays, beaches, wineries, cafes and art galleries all of which are major tourist magnets. Sailing to the picturesque Bay Islands is yet another favored past–time of visitors to Auckland who like head out the historical townships of of Paihia, Waitangi and Russell of the Bay Island which offer fantastic opportunities for recreational aqua based activities like kayaking, swimming, diving an Hide