My Home Base: Auckland City, New Zealand

I have called Auckland home for fifteen long years now. I thought just like Sydney to Australia, Auckland was the capital of New Zealand before I came to live here!

Auckland is not the capital of New Zealand, Wellington is. Located about 23-24km from Auckland International Airport, it is the main port of entry to the country. Nick named "City of Sails" Auckland has found her place as one of the major yachting venues in the world.

Surrounding Auckland to the east is the Pacific Ocean and the south-west by the Tasman Sea, while the south and north west is bounded byt he Hunua and Waitakere Ranges. The narrow isthmus between Auckland City and North Shore City goes out to the Manukau Harbour on the Tasman Sea while on the other side is the Waitemata Harbour on the Pacific Ocean. There are only very few cities in the world to have harbours on two separate bodies of water.

Because Auckland enjoys a temperate climate all year round, most if not all tourists activities and attractions are open all year round. Temperature ranges between 15 - 24 degrees (Celsius) in summer and 5 - 15 degrees (Celsius) during winter.

I consider Auckland a safe city to visit. But just like any cosmopolitan city in the world, travelers and tourists must exercise safety and common sense. New Zealand has a deep love affair with alcohol that affects around 40% of the population directly or indirectly. Sad but true. Stay out of the streets in the wee hours if you are alone and don't go on an adventure in the bush on your own either. Better be safe than sorry or disappointed!

Compared to bigger cities you'll find Auckland pretty laid back and like I said, pretty safe! People do not haggle when you walk her streets and not much to worry about pick pocketing or things of that sort that you have to be vigilant of in crowded places like in Asia's big cities or the Mediterranean. Most people here are honest and probably would be one of the few places in the world you can hope to be reunited with a thing or things you lose.

Most of the international flights arrives at Auckland International except Qantas and Singapore who flies I believe direct to Christchurch. Auckland is a great place to base your self. Accommodations from 5stars to backpackers abound. I personally prefer to recommend Sky City. It is home to the well known "Sky Jump" and now the "Sky Walk". The complex boasts two hotels on site, the 5 star Sky City Grand Hotel and the older "Sky City Hotel"; it has 2 casinos and 18 restaurants and a theater. I call it the "little city within a small city". Apart from the reasons above, here below are other reasons that makes this the best base in Auckland:

1. National Shuttle/Tourists Buses departs and arrives here.
2. Airport Shuttle Bus departs and arrives every 15 minutes to and from Sky City
3. Local buses including the Free Auckland Bus stops just outside the hotel.
4. It is just a block or two away from Auckland's main street, Queen Street.
5. In-house theater venue for national and international shows/productions.
6. You can dance the night away at a couple of bars inside and outside the casino.
7. There is an i-site or tourist information centre at the ground floor.

Just take your time and enjoy New Zealand as leisurely as you can in one of the many wineries that dots the Auckland region or it's many and beautiful beaches that surrounds it or you can take the ferry to outer-lying islands. For adrenaline junkies, you don't have to travel far. Just a couple of minutes from Sky City is the Auckland Harbour Bridge, home to AJHacketts Bungy and Harbour Bridge Climb or book to sail on one of the America's Cup Yachts. Otherwise try abseiling/canyoning under one of her many waterfalls or take a leisurely walk within her virgin forests and coastal plains.



If after watching the video you find your self planning your trip to Auckland,  leave a comment after this post if I can be of any help. Otherwise you can email me at: orientalkoru@gmail.com