Green Travel in Auckland

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Auckland is one of the best places to visit for a green traveler, as much of the area is committed to sustainability.

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Author: JennyMM


Day 1 - Auckland


Eden Park is a quaint, beautifully decorated four room bed and breakfast across the street from the park and close to Mt. Eden which has its own garden, rain water collection, and composting systems. The inn also uses local ingredients for the home-cooked guest meals, which are delicious. Set out for a walk around downtown Auckland after you get checked in at the hotel. Walk there along Queen Street, the city's main thoroughfare. There are a number of important and interesting buildings and landmarks along the way, and some great people watching. Downtown, the Auckland Sky Tower provides a great first way to see the city, as you can see for miles around from the top. There are several large parks around the area, but Auckland Domain is the oldest and one of the largest. There are a several sports fields in the park, several glass houses, a duck pond, the War Memorial Museum, and plenty of room for a stroll, of course. For lunch, try one of Auckland's specialties, raw fish. Tanuki Sushi and Sake Bar has traditional sushi and sashimi, full of flavor and freshness. After lunch, hop on a Pacific Ferry for the half-hour ride to Waiheke, a small island with its own unique atmosphere. The most fun way to explore the island is to rent a couple of bicycles and ride around the hilly countryside. Stop into a few wineries for a tasting and some snacks if you feel like sampling what the local wine scene has to offer. Catch one of the evening ferries back, preferably so you can enjoy the sunset while on the water, and then head to Euro Bar, one of Auckland's best restaurants, for dinner. The food is organic and locally sourced, and is superb yet unpretentious.


1

Eden Park Bed and Breakfast

Location:

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20 Bellwood Avenue Mt Eden
1234 Auckland, New Zealand


2

Queen Street

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Location:

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Queen Street
1001 Auckland, New Zealand


3

Auckland Sky Tower

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Location:

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Corner of Federal Streeet and Victoria – Entrance via the Sky City Casino
(Sky City)
1001 Auckland, New Zealand

Phone:

+64 9 363 6000


4

Auckland Domain

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Location:

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Park Road
(Across Grafton Bridge)
1001 Auckland, New Zealand

Phone:

+64 9 379 2020 (Tourist Information)


6

Tanuki Sushi & Sake Bar

Location:

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319 Queen Street
1010 Auckland, New Zealand

Phone:

64 9 379 5353


7

Pacific Ferries

Location:

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117 Quay Street
Pier 4
1001 Auckland, New Zealand

Phone:

+64 9 303 1741


8

Historic Ferry Building (The)

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Location:

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99 Quay Street
1001 Auckland, New Zealand

Phone:

+64 9 979 7060 (Tourist Information)


9

Waiheke Island

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Location:

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Hauraki Gulf
1240 Auckland, New Zealand

Phone:

+64 9 372 9999 (Tourist Information)


10

Euro Bar

Location:

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Shed 22, Princes Wharf
Quay Street
1010 Auckland, New Zealand

Phone:

64 09 309 9866


Day 2 - Auckland


Waitomo Caves is one of those truly unique natural phenomena that you'll never forget. You've never been spelunking like this before. One of the best ways to enjoy the caves is by "black water raft", which involves floating in inner tubes through the cave systems. The Black Water Rafting Company is licensed by the NZ Department of Conservation, too, so you won't have to worry about the tours upsetting the cave ecosystem. Stop into the small town of Matamata on the way back to Auckland for a Lord of the Rings Tour (complete with "Welcome to Hobbiton" sign) if you're a fan, or to go on one of the beautiful nature hikes in the area, such as to the Wairere falls or on a tour of an alpaca farm. There are a few cafes with traditional food in Matamata, such as the Horseman, the Horse and Jockey Inn, and Cafe Florian, or you can just grab a snack and then have dinner back in town at Kitchen. Located in one of Auckland's finest hotels, the recently renovated De Brett, Kitchen is in an open atrium and has great traditional New Zealand cooking.


2

Waitomo Caves

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Location:

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Waitomo Caves Road
Otorohanga
2564 Auckland, New Zealand

Phone:

+64 7 878 8227


3

Matamata

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Location:

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Matamata
2271 Auckland, New Zealand

Phone:

+64 7 888 7260


4

Black Water Rafting at Waitomo Caves

Location:

Auckland, New Zealand


5

Kitchen

Location:

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3B O'Connell Street
Auckland, New Zealand

Phone:

64 9 969-1545


Day 3 - Auckland


It may seem exciting to visit the highest volcano in the area, but Mount Victoria's real draw is the spectacular view and historical relevance. You can see much of the harbor and the gulf from its peak. Continue westward by ferry to Rangitoto Island, and take a walk through the remarkable lava fields and lush forests full of trees, ferns, and flowers of many persuasions. Finish up your westward journey with a stop for lunch at Ridgeview on Waiheke Island, and then a long afternoon at Oneroa beach, a beautiful beach for sunning and swimming. Finish up the day with dinner on the harbor at Soul Bar, where seafood is the specialty but everything is fresh and delicious.


3

Rangitoto Island

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Location:

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Hauraki Gulf
1020 Auckland, New Zealand

Phone:

+64 9 379 6476 (Department of Conservation Visitor Centre)


4

Oneroa Beach

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Location:

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Waiheke Island
Hauraki Gulf
1240 Auckland, New Zealand

Phone:

+64 9 979 7070 (Tourist Information)


8

Soul Bar & Bistro

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Location:

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Viaduct Harbour
Viaduct Harbour
Auckland, New Zealand

Phone:

64 9 356 7249


Day 4 - Auckland


Today, head north of town, and stop first at the Muriwai gannet colony. One of the most impressive and easily accessible colonies, you can see over a thousand nesting gannets fighting for space and nurturing their young between August and March every year. Beyond the bird excitement, the black sand beaches here are themselves worth a visit for their beauty. Nearby, you can visit the vineyards and gardens at Matua Valley Wines, one of Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand's accredited vineyards. Continue north, and you can stop and enjoy another beautiful view, this time of the barrier islands and more of the gulf, at the Moirs Hill Lookout on your way up to Pakiri Beach. Here, go for the "Sundowner" horseback ride. The horse ranch and beach is all family-owned and run, and the horses are well-fed and live in large pastures. Refreshments are included, and are served on the beach as the sun sets.


2

Moirs Hill Lookout

Location:

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Off State Highway 1
66 km north of Auckland
1244 Auckland, New Zealand

Phone:

+64 9 426 0076 (Tourist Information)


3

Pakiri Beach Horse Riding

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Location:

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Rahuikiri Road
Wellsford
1242 Auckland, New Zealand

Phone:

+64 9 422 6275


4

Matua Valley Wines

Location:

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Waikoukou Valley Road
Waimauku
1250 Auckland, New Zealand

Phone:

+64 9 411 8301


5

Muriwai Gannet Colony

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Location:

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Muriwai Beach
Muriwai Beach
1250 Auckland, New Zealand

Phone:

+64 9 979 7070


Day 5 - Auckland


Today, take a day trip to one of the spectacular natural landmarks in the area - either the Great Barrier Island, or the Waitakere Ranges. The Great Barrier Island is easily accessible from Auckland by ferry. There are an endless number of things to do here, as there are good diving and snorkeling spots, lovely beaches, great surfing, a wildlife sanctuary, mountain bikes for rental, and miles of trails to hike. Just don't forget a bathing suit and hiking boots. The Waitakere Ranges have some similar activities, but with a different feel. There are several popular surfing spots off of the black sand beaches, but definitely don't miss out on exploring the forests that cover the range itself. Previously heavily deforested to the point of devastation, the forests are recovering, are now heavily protected, and native fauna have returned. Look around Waitakere City, and then hike through the coastal rainforests to a beautiful waterfall or lounge on the black sand.


2

Great Barrier Island

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Location:

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Hauraki Gulf
North-east of Central Auckland
1236 Auckland, New Zealand

Phone:

+64 9 429 0033


3

Waitakere Ranges (The)

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Location:

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Waitakere City
1008 Auckland, New Zealand

Phone:

+64 9 266 2000 (Auckland Regional Council)


Day 6 - Auckland


Try one of Ferg's tours with Ferg's Kayaks, such as the Devenport Meander, or just rent a couple of kayaks to explore the harbor. The tour guides are so friendly and well-informed, though, that the tours are well worth the time and effort. Another beautiful outdoor space to explore in the afternoon is Eden Gardens, near the hotel, which has a massive camellia collection as well as many other native blooms. For dinner, sample the freshest fish in town at Kermadec, where the seafood is caught fresh daily.


1

Ferg's Kayaks

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Location:

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12 Tamaki Drive
Okahu Bay
1071 Auckland, New Zealand

Phone:

+64 9 529 2230


3

Kermadec Ocean Fresh Restaurant

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Location:

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204 Quay Street
1st Floor Viaduct Quay
1001 Auckland, New Zealand

Phone:

64 9 309 0412 / 64 9 307 0019


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