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| Auckland
Tours - Excursions |
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Walking
tours
The 2 Auckland Visitor Centres (telephone: (09) 979 2333) provide
leaflets giving details of the many marked trails around the city.
These include heritage walks that visit historic buildings in Auckland's
many suburbs, as well as nature walks near the city and way out
in the more remote areas.
However, as the city is expansive and most tourists prefer walking
in the natural terrain, there are no dedicated walking tours of
the city.
Bus Tours
The Explorer Bus links several of the visitor attractions in central
Auckland.
Telephone:(0800) 439 756
Email address: info@explorerbus.co.nz
Website address: www.explorerbus.co.nz
A day pass costs NZ $30, the bus leaves from the ferry terminal
every 30 minutes, from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm, and as it is a hop-on
hop-off experience, the tour takes as long as it takes.
At the Auckland Museum, there is a further summer satellite link
that takes passengers on to more outlying attractions, including
the Auckland Art Gallery and the Auckland Zoo.
Many companies offer city tours, which last half a day and cost
around NZ $55 (or NZ $185 for a full day) including hotel pick up
and drop off.
Companies include:
Claud 9 Tours
Telephone: (09) 818 2562
Email address: info@claud9tours.com
Website address: www.claud9tours.com
Great Sights
Telephone: (0800) 744 487 or (09) 375 4700
Email address: reservations@greatsights.co.nz
Website address: www.greatsights.co.nz
North West Auckland run half day winery tours that include sightseeing:
Telephone: (09) 630 1540
Email address: john@winetrailtours.com
Website address: www.winetrailtours.co.nz
Cost: NZ $90 for half a day or NZ $145 for a full day
Bush and Beach offer wilderness and adventure tours
Telephone: (09) 575 1458
Email address: bbl@bushandbeach.co.nz
Website address: www.bushandbeach.co.nz
Cost: NZ $85 half a day or NZ $130 for a full day. Downtown pick
up is included.
Boat Tours
Tours of Auckland harbour are available through:
Fullers
Telephone: (09) 367 9111
Website address: www.fullers.co.nz
The most popular tours are the 90 minute to 2 hour ‘Harbour
Cruises’, costing NZ $30.40 and departing at 10.30 am and
1.30 pm.
Most call in at Devonport and sail across to Rangitoto Island in
the Hauraki Gulf, whilst some also visit Kelly Tarlton’s.
There are 2 ex America’s Cup racers, the NZL 40 and NZ 41
offering cruises of 2 hours for NZ $125, and 3 hour races for NZ
$195 (telephone: (0800) 724 569).
The more sedate option is the Pride of Auckland (telephone: (09)
373 4557) which cruises peacefully, costing NZ $48. A coffee cruise
costs NZ $58, a luncheon cruise for NZ $68 and a dinner cruise NZ
$90.
Visitors could also try a cruise on the Soren Larsen, which is a
Danish Baltic trader made of oak and built in 1949:
Telephone: (0800) 707265 or (09) 411 8755
Email address: escape@sorenlarsen.co.nz
Website address: www.sorenlarsen.co.nz
Tours take 3 to 4 hours and cost NZ $97, and include lunch. Departures
are from opposite the Ferry Building and Dock office, at weekends,
mid November to mid February.
Excursions
for half day
The Hauraki Gulf Islands
The Hauraki Gulf Maritime Park contains 47 islands, some being only
a few minutes sail away from Auckland:
Telephone: (09) 379 6476
Email address: aucklandvc@doc.govt.nz
Website address: www.doc.govt.nz
Some of these islands are nature reserves closed to the general
public, although others are devoted to tourist pleasures, with all
the usual holiday facilities.
Rangitoto
island
The volcanic island of Rangitoto is the largest volcanic
cone in Auckland and is one of the most popular islands.
There are numerous ferries per day from Auckland’s ferry building
and the trip takes 30 minutes. Details are available from Fullers
Cruise Centre (telephone: (09) 367 9111).
Guided walking tours of Rangitoto Island in the Hauraki Gulf are
available from The New Zealand Walking Company:
Telephone / facsimile: (09) 235 0099
Website address: www.nzwalkingcompany.com
A 3 night excursion costs NZ $1,117 while a 6 night tour will set
you back NZ $1,969, however this price does include accommodation,
guide, food and transport.
Excursions
for a whole day
Tiritiri
Matangi Island
Walkers with compassion for New Zealand wildlife in the raw will
enjoy Tiritiri Matangi Island, some 30 kilometres (which is 19 miles)
north, a restocked and reforested sanctuary for many rare species
of native bird.
A Fullers Ferry to the island leaving from the ferry terminal costs
NZ $45 (day return). Once there, the Department of Conservation
(DOC) guides on the beach, impart bush and bird lore for NZ$5 an
hour.
Telephone: (09) 379 6476
Email address: aucklandvc@doc.govt.nz
Website address: www.doc.govt.nz
Visitors should not forget to take lunch, because there is nowhere
to buy any.
Auckland vineyards
New Zealand makes some of the best wine in the world, especially
sauvignon blanc, pinot noir and chardonnay. The best known vineyards
are located further south, such as in Hawke’s Bay and Marlborough,
although Auckland has several good vineyards to the west of the
city, notably in the Henderson and Kumeu areas.
Several tour companies organise day trips, which normally include
visits to at least 4 vineyards and lunch at 1 of them. Cost is in
the region of NZ $55 to $145 for a half or full day, depending on
the number of people, some tours require a minimum number of passengers.
Companies include:
North West Auckland
Telephone:(09) 630 1540
Website address: www.winetrailtours.co.nz
Bush and Beach
Telephone: (09) 575 1458
Website address: www.bushandbeach.co.nz
Waitakere Scenic Tours
Telephone / facsimile: (09) 817 4547
The extra special Fine Wine Tours
Website address: www.insidertouring.co.nz
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