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Things to do in Auckland
An excellent starting point for a visit to Auckland is Aotea Square, not least because it contains the city's tourist information centre. It is also a very relaxed place to take in the warm weather and contains some beautiful older buildings. Its central location makes it ideal as a starting point for travellers to head off on tours around the city.
Not far from the square is Auckland Art gallery, impressive for its 18th century structure as well as the fact that it is home to the largest collection of New Zealand art in the country.
The Auckland Domain is a large park in the heart of the city, which includes a variety of flora and fauna for visitors and locals alike to enjoy. On a hill in the south-eastern part of the Domain lies the Auckland Museum, which contains the world's largest collection of Polynesian artefacts.
Also on display at the museum are a wide variety of items relating to the country's natural history, making a trip to the museum a particularly interesting visit.
For those who enjoy breathtaking sights, New Zealand is certainly the place to be and Auckland is no different.
For wonderful panoramic views of the city, travellers can take a walk up either Mount Eden or One Tree Hill, both of which are formed from long-extinct volcanoes. Mount Eden is perhaps the more spectacular of the two, as a trip to the top of the mountain provides a 360 degree view of everything Auckland has to offer, from its cityscape and bays to the islands which seem to float just off the shore. Eden is also home to the pretty Eden Gardens park and on the way to the summit walkers will pass remains of former Maori fortified villages.
One of the most distinctive landmarks in New Zealand is Auckland's Harbour Bridge. This was originally a four-lane bridge but through an impressive feat of Japanese engineering, its width has been extended. The engineers figured out a way of adding extra lanes to the bridge, making it one of the most unusual and technologically advanced bridges of its kind.
For those interested in the history of Auckland, a visit to Parnell Village is a prerequisite. This is where the majority of the city's founders lived and worked and sites which still remain today include some of the settlers' first homes, as well as their church and cemetery.
While taking a visit to this area is a cheap way of finding out much about New Zealand's past, a number of expensive restaurants have sprung up in the area over recent times as they make the most of the influx of visitors.
Many people come to New Zealand for the wonderful sand and sea. About an hour's drive from Auckland's centre, travellers can enjoy the wonderful surfing conditions the islands have to offer in places such as Karekare Beach. Just a short walk away from the beach lies Karerkare Falls, which offer visitors a tranquil and relaxing alternative to the crashing waves and exciting surfing action that can generally be found on the beach.
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Things to do
