[lhysen]

Checking out NZ for 2 weeks for my wife and I before we spend the money on PR. Coming from Oregon, USA.

I will be arriving in Auckland early on the 29th of Feb and won't have a car until the 1st of March at 1:00.

Curious what I could do for 24 hours in Auckland without a car. What I really want to do is surf or do something outside.

Any ideas or suggestions?

[lhysen]

Ok, since nobody will answer, how about a new question.

Is there a good place to rent scooters so I can check out the town?

Would it be safe to use a scooter in Auckland with the boy racers? I have to admit that is the funniest expression, how about idiot drivers?

[benandclare]

Cant help on the scooter front but why not do the tourist stuff, you know Sky tower , museum , shopping etc etc whilst without wheels, you can catch most the city by walking, we wandered around on day one after a 30 hr trip last year :laugh

[akp713]

I'm afraid the lack of reply is in itself an answer, lol. I lived in Auckland for four months without a car as a university student and it is next to impossible to do anything outside the downtown area without a car. The buses are unreliable and expensive and the extremely spread out and quite hilly city landscape isn't really good for walking or biking anywhere.

But there are a couple nice trips that come to mind. The west coast beaches are out of reach without a car and they have all the surf, but you could take the ferry to Devonport where there are great views on Mt. Victoria, or North Head and some nice beaches, not many waves though. Or you could take the ferry to Rangitoto, the volcanic island in the harbour, its a really cool place to see. It all depends on where you stay the first night, you may have to take a bus or taxi downtown to get the ferries.

As to renting a scooter. I can't recall seeing anyone riding a motor scooter around the streets in Auckland, I think with the traffic it would be quite dangerous. There's probably someone who rents them though.

[Tia Maria]

I think you threw us with the request for somewhere to surf, will you have a board with you or would you want to hire one?

This thread has got some good ideas for the usual tourist things:

http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=16091

Or how about, if the weather is OK:

www.clmnz.co.nz/parnellbaths/

www.treeadventures.co.nz/index.html

www.aucklandluge.co.nz

There are lots of nice beaches, where will you be based?

Cheers

Tia

[lhysen]

I am renting a camper van on the 1st of March for 13 days so I will be living out of that, but the first night since I don't have the van I will probably be at the hostel.

[stephenandjulie]

There's certainly plenty of surfing going on in Christchurch but that's a long long way from Auckland and with a bit of water in the middle.
Julie

[kanatakiwi]

I am renting a camper van on the 1st of March for 13 days so I will be living out of that, but the first night since I don't have the van I will probably be at the hostel.

For the first 24 hours I would make use of the trains and buses to have a look around. Take a bus along Tamaki Drive through the Eastern Bays which will show you the eastern part of the city. You can stop for a swim aat Mission Bay, Kohimarama or St. Heliers. Or you can ferry over to Devenport and have a swim over there and eat some fish and chips in the park.
Within walking distance of the downtown hostels are sky tower for the view, the museum and the Domain (big park) for a sense of the history and culture. Teh viaduct area is an interesting walking tour if you like boats, yachts and lots of cafes and bars.

As you have a camper I would suggest waiting until you get it to cover off the surfing quest. You can drive out to Piha, or Karerkare or Muriwai for surfing, all within an hour or two of Auckland. Further afield there is port waikato, Waihi Beach for surfing.

I like the drive up to South Head in the Kaipara region.


If you are looking for places to settle in or near Auckland that would be good for your dog, you will come across many parks and beaches in and around Auckland. you can go online and have a look at the city of Auckland list of leash free dog park areas.

hope this helps