[Moorf]

We're in Auckland on Friday and Saturday :raebanana

We're not there long so we won't be venturing in to the city centre etc. We're staying in Parnell and I'd love to hear your suggestions for things to keep us occupied for a few hours. Coastal areas? Parks? Cafes? Viewpoints? We want to chill out and amble... and won't have a car.

Oh, and what's the best way to get from airport to the Parnell area, and what is the cost? I'm going to feel like a right country-bumpkin!!

Cheers!
Moorf

[DMcG]

If you're in Parnell, you're in walking distance of the CBD anyway :)
Parnell has some nice cafes, but you could catch a bus (or even a taxi!) just down the road to Mission Bay. You'll find plenty of cafes & restaurants; the beach, views over to Devonport...
But Parnell also backs onto Auckland Domain, so you could walk around the park and visit the museum.

Open up Smaps (http://www.smaps.co.nz), enter parnell into the search box and you'll see you'll get a better idea of where you'll be.

Dougie

[Moorf]

Crikey, it is close, isn't it. Perhaps we will amble in to town then, it just looked so immense!

Nice site, thanks :nice1

[Oregonkiwi]

Oh, and what's the best way to get from airport to the Parnell area, and what is the cost?
There's the Airbus http://www.airbus.co.nz/home/, but it doesn't go to Parnell. If you don't have much luggage you could walk from downtown, or get the Link bus http://www.stagecoach.co.nz/thelink/index.html

I see Supershuttle vans driving around a lot too
http://www.supershuttle.co.nz/(S(slfld03f4uusxj45huzijv55))/index.aspx

[jubjub]

go jump of the sky tower, go on, you know you want to! :D

Seriously though, at least go up it if you have a chance. If its a nice day you could go to the viaduct, sit and sip a wine and watch the world go by, or take a wee ferry ride over to Devonport, there are lots of little cafes and a beach too.

errmmm, oh, the museum, you are not too far from that (good if its raining).

Up the top of Queen st is Aotea square, they have a market on a saturday, but its mainly a goth hang out, so its kinda arty stuff.

[Familyofmonkeys]

If you go up the sky tower, pick up one of the Auckland A-Z visitors guides at the airport....they have some discount vouchers inside!

Auckland Museum Maori Section is very good...it is free or donation only. They have half naked blokes doing the Haka several times a day :D

[Moorf]

Thanks everyone - I feel a bit dim now I realise we're stayig so near the centre!! :o It just all looked so biiiig *insert wide-eyed country-bumpkin smiley*

And now I've got this strange urge to visit the museum .. that should take up about, errr, 4hrs 59 mins don't you think?

:D

[DMcG]

Doh!
Forgot that Kelly Tarlton's (http://www.kellytarltons.co.nz/home/) is just down the road from there too :)

Auckland is a BIG city and it can take hours to get from one side to the other. Parnell just happens to be one of the older areas of the city so it's much closer to the waterfront than most places.

Have a look at Maxx (http://www.maxx.co.nz) and you can get some idea of bus times for getting around. Be warned that if you do want to walk to the waterfront - there's a fairly steep uphill on the way back :D

Dougie

[jubjub]

Moorf, i cant believe you would prefer the half naked dancing at the museum to the sky jump.... :laugh

Kellys is cool (literally in the penguin bit!) although fish/shark tank half closed at the moment, so not as good as usual.

[Tia Maria]

Ok this is my second attempt at posting this as my son turned off the computer last time! :wah Hope its not too late:

The viaduct is a great place to eat and watch the boats:

www.theviaduct.com/theviaduct/home/default.asp

This has a list of restaurants and What's On:

www.viaduct.co.nz/

Maybe an ice and fire experience?:

www.minus5experience.com/

www.wildfirerestaurant.co.nz/index.htm (not for vegetarians!)

If you don't want to pay the money for the ice experience you can always just have a 'peek in' from the Lenin Bar next door which does lots of cocktails.

I've obviously a bit of a Devonport fan :D , its a lovely place to have brunch and you can walk to the top of Mount Victoria for a great view, to check what's on:

http://devonportdirectory.co.nz/

www.devonport.co.nz/

There is an information centre on Victoria Road if you want directions to Mount Victoria, but its fairly obvious as its only a 5 minute walk from the ferry and you can see it! The entrance is on Kerr street.

If you don't want to eat there you could always grab an ice cream at the ferry building and go and sit on the beach at the Windsor Reserve - not the best beach in Devonport but a nice spot to wait for the next ferry back!

If you want to go to the Orbit restaurant at the sky tower (the revolving one) its a good idea to book in advance:

www.skycityauckland.co.nz/sky...orbit_home.cfm

Also if you are looking for an alternative place to have a drink Vulcan lane has a few bars:

www.viewauckland.co.nz/your_l...ulcan_lane.asp

View Auckland is a good review site if you want to check out bars/restaurants near where you are staying:

www.viewauckland.co.nz

Obviously the museum, kelly tarltons and the zoo are always popular but they are spread out a bit so you might want to choose your favourite.

I think mikeandnicola, who sometimes post, are based in Parnell - they probably know some good places in walking distance - might be worth a Parnell post in case they haven't spotted this one!

Hope this helps - have fun!

Cheers

Tia

[Moorf]

Bloomin' heck Tia - that's fab! Thank you :yes

I'm so excited!!