Auckland, New Zealand

You can experience Auckland's extraordinary setting from a vast selection of world-class hotels, serviced apartments, bed and breakfasts, and boutique or backpacker lodges. It pays to choose your location wisely. Despite its size, Auckland has not quite resolved the sensitive issue of public transport. A sensible solution would be to stay near the Central Business District, where it's just a short walk, bus or taxi ride to explore the city's many attractions.

Central Business District

The clusters of boats on the harbor explain Auckland's reputation as the “City of Sails,” and like its sailors, the waterfront is of a high international standard. Thanks largely to the America's Cup 2000, Auckland has finally realized the value of its waterfront, and the recently upgraded Viaduct Harbour is the city's real estate jewel. If you are on business, or just want to be center stage, Auckland's city center is the obvious choice.

If you seek high-class accommodation try the trendy, art-deco luxury of The Heritage Auckland, once the stomping ground for bargain hunters in its former incarnation as the Farmers Trading Company store. For spectacular harbor views on the waterfront, consider the boutique Hilton Auckland, or the Sebel Suites.

Further uptown, in the heart of the city's cultural and entertainment area, the Carlton Hotel promises world-class style, and the aptly named Somerset Grand Metropolis, once the Magistrate's courthouse, is now open to a new clientèle. More reasonable accomodation can be found at the Centra Auckland, the CityLife Auckland and the Sky City Hotel, which has the Sky City Casino downstairs. For those on a budget, there are plenty of options; from the New President Hotel, to Auckland Central Backpackers and the ubiquitous YHA youth hostel.

Parnell

Parnell, close to the city fringe, is a gentrified haven full of trendy eateries and specialist boutiques, which coexist alongside Auckland's historic houses. Parnell is also within walking distance of the trendy shops of Newmarket, and the Domain, a massive park that houses Wintergardens and the Auckland War Memorial Museum. Take your pick from the Ascot Parnell, Chalet Chevron or Barrycourt Motor Inn near the Parnell Rose Gardens.

Mt Eden

Heading south is the suburb of Mt Eden, dominated by the volcano Maungawhau, an ancient fortress. The summit crater is sacred to the Maori. At the base of the mountain is a cool collection of cafés, and sports fans will enjoy easy access to Eden Park, the famous battleground of so many international rugby and cricket matches. Not so genteel, but worth considering is the area around One Tree Hill. Both are sedate suburbs oozing middle-class charm, but they offer a good range of inexpensive hotels. Check out Oaklands Lodge, Pentlands Bed and Breakfast Hotel and Bavaria Bed and Breakfast.

Devonport

Leave the city hype behind by taking a 10 minute ferry ride to Devonport, and delight in its seaside charm and quaint surroundings. This historic village is well supplied with bed and breakfast hotels, many in beautifully renovated Victorian or Edwardian villas. With such comforting names as the Secret Garden Bed and Breakfast, it is little wonder you are transported to another time and place! At night you will enjoy stunning panoramic views of Auckland's city lights.

Alternatives

Ponsonby's main road is studded with restaurants and is a wise choice for the enthusiastic gourmand. There are a number of accommodation options near the main strip. Try the Great Ponsonby Bed and Breakfast or the Brown Kiwi; both are moderately or inexpensively priced.

If you want to escape the city lights and explore nature, then head west to the near-tropical rainforests of the Waitakere Ranges. You will not find five-star hotels, but if you are satisfied with good old Kiwi hospitality there are plenty of cozy home stays and bed and breakfast hotels, some with spectacular views of the west coast beaches. An interesting option out west is Camperdown Farmstay. For a truly escapist holiday or weekend break from Auckland, consider Waiheke Island or the outer islands of Kawau and Great Barrier.

Auckland has it all: a thriving coffee culture that manifests itself in stylish cafés that seem to be everywhere, vineyard restaurants set amongst the grapes, a heady mix of Asian food led by the city's large Oriental and Fijian-Indian communities, Mediterranean-style eateries in the form of Turkish mezze bars, Italian wood-fired pizzerias and the best that France has to offer. Unlike most cities, Auckland does not group its cuisines into ethnic districts. They are wonderfully blended, so you can find what you want no matter where you are.

Parnell

Parnell is a long-established foodie enclave, with restaurants, bars and cafés dotted all the way along the rise. There are eateries lining the pavement, in brick-lined backstreet courtyards and tucked away in charming warren-like old buildings. Try Non Solo Pizza for an alfresco meal that runs the whole gamut of Italian food. Thai Friends is a local favorite that has both a fast food café on the street and a more serious dining room set in traditional Thai decor at the back. Or stick your head in at Iguacu, an always-busy Cajun-fusion restaurant and bar offering live jazz on the weekends.

Ponsonby

Before the Viaduct Harbour rose to prominence, Ponsonby was Auckland's most popular eating district, with a string of eclectic places stretching along Ponsonby Road. Though the buzz has died down a little, this is still the heart of café culture in the city. The Atomic Café is one of the city's busiest and most well-established cafés, known for its legendary coffee and its choice menu. Across the road is trendy S.P.Q.R, a favorite for its well-prepared light meals that can be washed down with lots of wine. Also try the nearby South American owned and operated café Santos. For Indian meals in a modern brasserie setting, Masala is a good bet.

Central City

Find yourself in downtown Auckland at lunch time, and you will see the place filled with workers enjoying café society. In the evening, the city is awash with the noise of Aucklanders out to have a good time. Columbus Coffee roasts their own, so sit down in this beautifully designed café and breathe in the heady aroma. Step into the Occidental on Vulcan Lane and you are in Belgium. There is a good selection of imported beers on tap here that you can enjoy accompanied with a massive bowl of green-lipped mussels. The local watering hole, the Shakespeare Tavern on Albert Street, brews its own award-winning ale.

The city also boasts numerous food courts, where you will find the meeting of many cuisines under one roof. If you are on a budget then this is the way to do it. Food Alley on Albert Street is the best place for Asian food, with Thai, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Indian, Malaysian and Indonesian all on the menu. Downstairs at the Force Entertainment Center there is another food court with a blend of European and Asian cuisine, albeit in more upmarket surroundings.

Viaduct Harbour

Hosting the America's Cup in 1999 and 2000 totally rejuvenated Auckland's downtown and waterfront area with a myriad of new places to eat and drink springing up as a result. Evenings and weekends find the streets and wharves around the Viaduct Harbour swarming with Aucklanders as they enjoy a relatively new side to their city.

Do not miss the establishments along Prince's Wharf, in particular Euro, which consistently rates highly in the "Best of Auckland" awards. Just around the corner is Leftfield, an immense sports bar and restaurant with televisions and stadium-style seating. For the carnivore, Wildfire is a Brazilian-style eatery, boasting succulent spitfire roasted beef, lamb and seafood. For a real seafood extravaganza, wander over to to Kermadec in the Viaduct Quay complex. This well established, high end restaurant puts the Pacific on a plate in dining rooms overlooking the water.

Just remember, however, these enclaves and eateries are just the tip of the culinary iceberg. There is much more to be discovered if you dig a little deeper, for example Waiheke Island, jewel of the Hauraki Gulf, with its vineyards and sea-view cafés. A trip to the suburbs of Newmarket, Devonport, Takapuna, Herne Bay and Mission Bay will reap many culinary rewards.