Auckland, New Zealand

Auckland is located on the north island of New Zealand, situated between two magnificent harbours, the Waitemata and the Manukau. It is the largest city in NZ and is often referred to as the 'City of Sails' due to the large number of yachts which travel in its waters.

Auckland city has a great range of shops including designer boutiques, markets and stalls. It is also home to many fine galleries and museums including the Auckland Museum and the Auckland City Art Gallery. Restaurants in the waterfront suburbs such as Mission Bay or St Heliers and the inner city specialise in local seafood delicacies. There are also a number of attractive public gardens and reserves surrounding the city.

The large Polynesian population in Auckalnd include Maori, Samoan, Cook Island and Tongan people whom all contribute to the city's vibrant culture. Local markets and churches in particular provide an insight to the local cultures.

Things to see and do

* Art galleries & museums
* Kelly Tarlton's Antarctic Encounter and Underwater World
* Sky tower & casino
* Cruise the harbor or climb the Auckland Harbor Bridge
* Otara flea market

Cruise Season - Jan - Dec
Currency - NZ Dollar (NZ$)
Language - English & Maori
Land Area - 1,086 km²
Population - 1,300,000 approx
Electricity - 2 angled pins and 1 flat pin centred below Australian style
Time - GMT plus twelve hours
International Country Telephone Code - + 64

Port Location - The port of Auckland is located in downtown Auckland.

Transport Links - Auckland International Airport, New Zealand's largest airport, is located in the southern suburb of Mangere on the shores of the Manukau Harbour. Auckland can also be accessed by bus and train from other NZ cities.

There are a variety of ways to get around Auckland including bus, train, ferry, taxi, shuttle and hiring your own car.