Some info about Auckland itself and some locations to visit.

Auckland Zoo	Kelly Tartlon	Huka Waterfalls	Mount Eden	Sky Tower	Rotorua	Maritime Museum
Waitakere Dam	Nature Views	Nyk Office	Paiha	90 Miles Beach	Dolphines	Tipi
crystal mountain

Auckland (2007)

The largest urban area is Greater Auckland (Auckland metropolitan area) situated on the Northern Island. Auckland also has the largest polynesian population of any city in the world. 
It is made up of :
- Auckland City (The Hauraki Gulf Islands are not included).
- North Shore City.
- The Urban parts of Waitakare (Waitakere ranges are beautiful and you will find more info about that further on this website).
- Manukau cities.
- Papakura District.
- Some urban parts of Rodney and Franklyn Districts.

The name is Maori is Tamaki Makau Rau. Auckland is also named Akarana.

Auckland is situated between the Hauraki Gulf / Pacific Ocean to the east, to the south east we have the Hunua Ranges (Hunua Falls, Xena's episode Altered States), to the south-west we have Manukau Harbour and Waitakare Ranges and smaller ones to the west and north west.
It is one of the few cities in the world to have harbours on two separate major bodies.

The Auckland Zoo (2007)

Just outside Auckland and you can find it easely when you are driving down the Highway. The exit is clearly indicated.
You are in for some hours of walk and you will see some nice animals, birds, reptiles, etc...which another zoo cannot offer.
Go to see the pictures we took.                                                                                                                                             back to top

Kelly Talton's Antarctic Encounter(2007)

On your way to Mission Bay, on Tamaki Drive you find this amazing Antarctic Encounter. Kelly Tarlton's is just 10 minutes' drive or six kilometres (3.7 miles) from downtown Auckland. From there you also can overlook the beautiful Waitama Harbour.
Kelly Tarlton's is a wonderland of snow, ice and amazing underwater sights created by the renowned New Zealand marine archeologist Kelly Tarlton. You can explore in a snowcat the world of King Pinguins. This is unbelievable and you must see this. Nowhere else they have achieved this.
You can admire a Stingray of 2m long. There are sharks, stonefish, Piranhas, etc.... You will be amazed.
Go see the pictures we took.                                                                                                                                                  back to top

Huka Waterfalls(2007)

The Huka Falls are a set of waterfalls on the Waikato River that drains Lake Taupo. A few 100 metres upstream from the Huka Falls, the Waikato River narrows from approx 100 metres across into a hard rock granite canyon which is only 15m across. At the top of the falls is a set of small waterfalls dropping over about 8-10 metres. The most impressive is the Huka Falls Jet which brings you within a few meters of the bottom of the final stage.
Go see our pictures of the Huka Waterfalls.                                                                                                                            back to top

Mount Eden(2007)

If you are affraid of hights such as the Sky Tower they you can drive upto Mount Eden. Mount Eden is a volcanic cone with a grassy crater. As the highest natural point in Auckland City, you get 360 degrees views of Auckland and therefore it is a favorite tourist outlook.
Go see some super views taken from Mount Eden down to Auckland.                                                                                    back to top

Auckland Sky Tower(2007)

The Sky Tower is an observation and radio tower located on the corner of Victoria and Federal Streets at Central Business area of Auckland. It is 328 metres tall and is the 13th tallest member of the World Federation of Great Towers. The 328m high Sky Tower has an important touristic and telecommunication roll since August 1997. It is the highest building of the half South globe region. The Tower is yearly visited by approx. 1 mil.people. The 4 observatory platforms cover a view of 80km. And the Vertigo Climb and Sky Jump do give you the ultimate adrenaline kick. At night the Tower glows like a torch and is more attractive then during the day. At X-mas the Tower is turned into a UFO with a lot of coloured lights.
There is a Sky deck which gives a beautiful view and the Orbit is a restaurant that turns around and within 60 minutes it makes a full circle of 360 degrees giving you a complete overview of the city.                                                                                           back to top

Rotorua (2007)

On the southern shore of Lake Rotorua in the Bay of Plenty region on the Northern Island, you find the town Rotorua. It is approx. 60km south of Tauranga, +/- 100km south-east of Hamilton and 85 km north-east of Taupo (holiday place of Lucy Lawless).
At Rotorua there are a number of geysers, notably the 20m Pohutu geyser at Whakarewarewa, and hot mud pools located in the city. Even some mothesl do have a private hot spring pool. I advise you the Gibson Motel where every room has its own private hot spring. Take a visit at the Maori Village of Whakarewarewa. The guide will tell you all about the Maori tradition which is still active today. People have there own community there and they live as before. Be prepared of the smell as the geysers and the mud pools bring up hot water and steam from down deep below earth. Experience the Maori dance and songs and have a marvelous time.
Look at the pictures we too for you.                                                                                                                                       back to top

National Maritime Museum (2007)

This museum is New Zealand's premier martime museum. It is located at the waterfront of Auckland, close to the Viaduct Harbour. You find ships and models. There are also some nice exhibition pieces informing you about the New Zealands maritime history from the first polynesion explorers to modern day triumphs at the America's Cup. It is a nice museum and it is a part of your visit at Auckland. Do not miss it! We have some pictures of the ships we saw there.                                                                        back to top

Waitakere Dam (2007)

You have here the Waitakere Waterdam and the Waitakere Tramline. Follow the Scenic Drive and leave Bethells Road/Beach on your right side, go direction Piha/Karekare. Keep on the Scenic Drive. The parking is on Scenic Drive. Waitakere Dam Walk 30 minutes for 1.4 km. Going down is the easiest thing. Be prepared to get back!!!! A great adventure for the whole family. From the parking you have a road going down to the Dam and you will be treated with spectacular views. You can extend this walk by continuing along the scenic Waitakere Tramline Walk. It is very good indicated so you won't miss it.
The Waitakare Tramline is a 2 foot gauge tram ride from the end of Christian Road/Swanson to the Waitakere Dam.                                                                                                                                                                                       back to top

Paiha(2009)

To follow.                                                                                                                                                                                 back to top

90 Miles Beach and Dune Rider (2009)

To follow.                                                                                                                                                                                 back to top

Dolphins (2009)

To follow.                                                                                                                                                                                 back to top

Tipi(2007)

The place Tipi you probably will cross when you drive towards Taupo or back from Taupo towards Auckland. Typical for Tipi is the touristic information center. You can not miss it. The building has the form of a dog and near by, also outside, is the herder. And at the backside of this info center you have a small restaurant and a very nice shop. At the restaurant do try their famous chocolate cake. And in the shop you definitely will find something. If you travel southwards on the nothern island you have pass Tipi and visit this center. Take a look at our photo-album then you know what I mean.                                                                             back to top

Crystal Mountain (2009)

To follow.                                                                                                                                                                                 back to top

Nature in New Zealand ('07+'09)

To follow.                                                                                                                                                                                 back to top

Nyk Office(2007+2009)

I had the opportunity to meet my Nyk collegues at the Auckland office during my holidays in NZ in 2007 and 2009. This was very nice and super cool and something my wife and I will treasure for always. At the Nyk office you are very warm welcomed by everyone. The typical and relaxed way of life in NZ. We got introduced to everyone at the office. It was interesting to see that at the other side of the world the same system is used for the job. A very rare feeling as you don't think about that when you go daily to the office or even send eachother an email.As I met the colleagues for the very first time in 2007 I brought them in 2009 some Belgian chocolates (Leonidas). In 2009 we got a bit more time and we could talk about the difference between our countries. That was very interesting to us aswell as we are planning to move over to NZ. I would love to continue my professional carreer with my Auckland colleagues at their office. Anyhow, I thank them for the super hospitality. And I hope to meet them again next time.                               back to top