| Auckland is located on the North
Island.
The Maori place name is Tamaki in te reo Maori (the place of a
hundred lovers). The city isaffectionately known as the City of
Sails. The population is about 1.3 million, making it the largest
city in New Zealand, with one third of the country's entire population.
GEOGRAPHY
Auckland is a vibrant cosmopolitan region made up of six different
cities and districts. The big city stretches from the town of Wellsford
in the north to the rolling Bombay Hills in the south. It is surrounded
by three harbours: the Waitemata, the Manukau and the Kaipara. Administratively
it is divided into four cities (Auckland, Manukau, North Shore and
Waitakere) and three districts (Franklin, Rodney and Papakura).
INDIGENOUS
The Maori are believed to have settled in this region about 650
years ago. The volcanic cones became settlements (pas) and some
of the best known lookouts including Mount Eden and One Tree Hill
provide evidence of these times.
Maori tourism options are profiled online Tourism
Auckland.
PARKS
The 75-hectare Auckland
Domain is the city's oldest park developed around the cone of
an extinct volcano. The 'tuff rings' created by volcanic activity
can be seen in the land contours and forms a natural amphitheater
with about 10 hectares developed as sports fields. Inside the park
is the stately Auckland War
Memorial Museum which stands at the Domain's highest point.
Parks
in Auckland - Auckland City Council
Our
Parks - Auckland Regional Council
CULTURAL WORLD
Auckland's War
Memorial Museum tells the story of New Zealand, from unique
flora and fauna to the national military history. The museum also
has an impressive collection of Maori and Polynesian artifacts.
The Sky Tower is the tallest of its kind in the southern hemisphere,
towering 328 meters.
MARKETS
Occupying the largest open-air inner city space with its trademark
blue and white tents, Aotea
Square Market is Auckland's most popular market. The market
is located on Queen Street.
SPORTS
Auckland has a number of rugby and cricket grounds, and sporting
venues. Eden Park
is the main sports ground for rugby union during winter and cricket
in summer. The stadium is three kilometers southwest of downtown,
between the Kingsland and Mount Eden suburbs.
Rugby teams include the Super14 side Blues
and league team Warriors.
RECENT HISTORY
European settlement took place in 1840 when New Zealand's first
governor, Captain William Hobson, chose Auckland as the capital,
naming the site after his former commander Lord Auckland.
NEARBY
North Harbour is 12 kilometers north of downtown.
Waitakere Ranges and Muriwai Regional Parks are wilderness areas
within an hour's drive from downtown. Details on Auckland
Regional Council.
A drive three hours north leads to Waitangi. |
