Auckland, what to see in 24 hours?
We have reached the last leg of our trip. A little bit of sadness advances, at the thought that in a few hours we will take the last flight back home, but there is no time for melancholy, we have a whole day in front of us to visit this little corner of New Zealand and we can't lose a single minute.
We land in Auckland at 5am. The sunrise, with its gentle, barely noticeable colours, accompanied us for a while until it bid us farewell and gave way to a warm winter sun.
Strangely enough, despite the 15-hour flight (we had left from Houston, Texas) we were not tired, in fact it was the most relaxing trip I have ever taken in my life. I have to thank Air New Zealand's skycoach seats, which, after eating, turned into a double bed, so we slept a good 8 hours.
At the airport, after having a nice coffee (coffee as a manner of speaking, the usual hazelnut-coloured concoction I am used to by now) we picked up yet another rental car and drove to the house we rented with Airbnb. A studio a few kilometres from the airport, in a very quiet neighbourhood of detached houses.
From the first kilometres we realised one thing: Auckland is crowded, it is chaotic and it is full of traffic lights.
Maybe it was half past seven in the morning, but I felt like I was on the A4 on a Monday morning. A long, endless queue of cars, big and small, red and white. I was instructing Frank with my navigator. Turn right, left at the next traffic lights. At the roundabout turn right. After half an hour we finally arrive at the peace of our studio.
We unload the suitcases, travel fuseaux off, tourist trousers on, and get back in the car, ready to explore Auckland.
It's August, we feared it would be freezing cold, but instead we found a sunny and warm day. Almost unbelievable.
Titirangi Park
The first stop was a random choice, in the sense that we were heading towards Waitakere Ranges Regional Park and saw a small road going to the left. The roads going towards the park are all ups and downs, between beautiful houses and deep green trees. And to colour everything big fuchsia and white bougainvillea flowers.
If it weren't for the fact that we were in the middle of winter, the colours and scents made me think of spring. Such intense, warm colours that reminded me so much of Hawaii. The wood of the tree trunks so brown it seemed alive. Emerald green leaves of huge ferns. And the mighty, bright green foliage of the Pohutukawa, called the 'Christmas Tree' in New Zealand because it blooms in December.
Down to the bottom of Titirangi Park we found ourselves on a beach. The sea was alive with hundreds of black and white birds that seemed almost disturbed by our presence. As soon as I approached to the left, they would all move in groups to the right. Then I would stop and they would stop. They were like a short blanket, the closer I got, the further away they went, but without flying away.
We walked along the path that skirted the bay, just to hear the sound of the wind crashing on the water. And she, calmly, seemed to respond by showing him all the shades of silver. In the background a small rainbow, which would be the first of a long series.
It was here that we encountered our first Maori mural, at the entrance to the public baths. Yes it is not the best of places, but beautifying the 'toilets' is one of the cleverest things Auckland has done. This mural tells the story of the life of these navigator people, who used tattoos as a way of telling a person's origins and profession.
Waitakere Ranges Regional Park
We proceed west towards Waitakere Regional Park. The road becomes narrow as we climb towards the summit. But, used to the Alps, we have no problems. Rather it's the cars coming down that don't know how to curve, so each bend becomes a 'prayer', a honk and fingers crossed.
The higher we go, the more comfortable I feel. Among the bright, intense green, birds fluttering, flowers now fuchsia now red. And suddenly the sky turns black and it rains, just the second we got off to go to the information office. The rain lasted no more than five minutes, but enough to get us wet from top to bottom.
We enter the information office with the drops still trickling down our noses and the clerk comes over to us with a towel. She sits us down, offers us coffee and biscuits. I mean, what a welcome, if every time it rains they act like this, welcome rain.
At the office, we pick up a bit of history about this park. A real green lung. From there, there is a terrace that overlooks the entire reserve and leaves you breathless. Green, every shade of green is there. In the trees, in the leaves, in the shoreline and in the sky even.
The Waitakere rainbow
It is right here that we encounter our first real rainbow. Perfect, in a semicircle, it gently embraced the entire valley.
We resumed our walk and, as suggested by the lady at the information office, took a path that climbed further up. In the whole park there are about 250 kilometres of 'trails' to walk...we just take one and it is the shortest!
How good I felt walking in the middle of this path that smelled of wet green. The raindrops that had clung to the leaves suddenly came down and soaked me. Perhaps at other times they would have disturbed me, but it was all so beautiful and alive that even those little cold raindrops gave me happiness.
We got the car back and continued on our way until we got to the other side of Auckland.
Even though we only had 24 hours, we couldn't help but look for a spot where we could see the Auckland skyline.
And this spot is really crazy. From here you can see why Auckland is also called the 'City of Sails'. Hundreds and hundreds of boats moored waiting to set sail.
The park is located right under the great Harbour Bridge. The contrast between the grey, cold iron that makes up the bridge and the green of the park is absurd. And it was crazy windy here. We took a few photos and I don't have any with my hair 'up'.
More rain and another rainbow. I have learned by now to love the rain in New Zealand, because with the drops comes a timely brushstroke of colour.
This park is perfect for waiting for the sunset.
Where to stay
When visiting Auckland for a short 24-hour adventure, choosing the right place to stay is essential to make the most of your time. The city offers a diverse range of accommodation options that suites different preferences and budgets. Whether you're interested in staying near the bustling waterfront, in the heart of the vibrant downtown, or in a more tranquil neighborhood, Auckland has you covered.
The many accommodations in Auckland vary from luxury hotels with stunning harbor views to cozy boutique accommodations. If you're looking for a unique and high-class experience, considering staying in one of the Auckland Villas. These villas are perfect for those seeking the highest quality stay, with opulent interiors and locations that enable visitors to enjoy both the city and the islands.
On the other hand, if you prefer a more laid-back and family-friendly accommodation, you might want to consider the holiday parks in Auckland. They offer a unique blend of resort facilities, vacation rentals, and outdoor activities, providing something for all the family. Choose your favorite option on http://www.northislandnz.net/en/type/holiday-parks-36/
No matter what kind of stay suits your personal taste and budget, book your stay on tophotels.com. It may help you find the perfect place to enjoy your adventure in the vibrant city of rainbows.
Mount Eden
Another essential stop to appreciate the beauty of Auckland is Mount Eden. The mountain is dominated by a peak, Maungawhau, which is one of Auckland's 48 volcanoes and is the city's highest peak. This volcano is no longer active, the last eruption was 15,000 years ago, so we should not worry. Today in its place is a crater about fifty metres deep totally covered with soft green grass. Walking on it feels like walking on a woollen blanket.
We set off on the footpath that goes around the crater. Halfway there, right on time, came the rain. A sudden, resounding downpour. We run, but there is nothing to take shelter in, except for a tree that was already occupied by a group of Asian tourists. Only a small sapling was left, so thin that not even the birds dared to lean against it. So we continued walking with the cold drops accompanying us but not preventing us from seeing the beauty ahead.
After five minutes of heavy rain, the wind, like a hoover, cleared the sky of clouds, making way for yet another beautiful rainbow.
From Mount Eden there is a spectacular view of Auckland city. From up there Auckland appears as a peaceful, sprawling town. No large buildings or tall skyscrapers are visible. While the volcanoes scattered here and there are clearly evident. I smile because they remind me of the chocolate cakes I make at home: before they are baked they look perfect, then in the oven some spirit takes over and when they are cooked they take on strange shapes, with craters and peaks... just like Auckland.
This hill is crazy. Unthinkable to be in the middle of flocks of sheep and cows grazing, just a few metres from the Auckland SkyTower. Sheep and cows, beautiful and quiet, intent on eating, unconcerned about those who, like me, photographed them as if they were stars. I imagine how happy they could be, there in the middle of all that fresh green grass. A bit like me finding myself in a chocolate field!
We climbed to the top of the hill and discovered a monument, where we read about the history of the Maungakiekie.
This hill was home to the Te Wai ō Hua tribe, who used the hill for its strategic location between two ports and fertile soil. The hill is believed to be one of the largest Maori 'pà' (fortifications) of the pre-European era (i.e. the period between the Mesolithic and the Bronze Age, in short between 7000 BC and 1700 BC). At the very top of the hill is a tall Oblisk in honour of the Maori people.
Waitomo Caves
About two hours' drive from Auckland there are several places to visit. They range from Hobbiton, the town where they filmed scenes from Lord of the Rings, to the paradise island of Rangitoto. Having only 24 hours to see the best of Auckland, we preferred something closer, 'quicker' to visit and 'weirder'.
The Waitomo Caves. I don't generally like caves, having seen one they all look the same to me (no offence to those who like caves), but this one was different. Apart from the stalagtites and stalagmites, which date back 30 million years, what sets it apart is theGlow-worms, which written in English sounds good but translated would be "glow worms".
This is an area of the caves where there are thousands of 'glow-worms' that make the cave wall look like a starry sky. Something I had never seen and that left me breathless. Like being standing still in the universe with the stars watching you.
Excuse the poor quality of the photo, but I took it with my 'poor' mobile phone.
As you know I'm not a fan of museums or clubbing. When I travel I like to feel nature on me, to be able to catch the sounds and smells of a place. As soon as I landed in Auckland, I knew immediately that it was my ideal city, a city nestled between stunning landscapes, strong colours, breathtaking views and incredible bays.
That's why we devoted little time to the city centre, just a walk. Auckland city centre is not big and, contrary to what I thought, it is not busy. Instead, we found a lot of people walking in the Viaduct Harbour area. This is the liveliest part of Auckland, teeming with bars and restaurants, souvenir and clothes shops. Even though it was a winter Monday, there were a lot of people out and about, there was a lot of cheer in the air, which immediately struck me.
Laughter and chatter came from the bars.
Accustomed to the silence of Perth, this struck a chord with us. So we walked into a bar on the street and found ourselves in the midst of a group of guys (and non guys) who, beer in hand, were intent on recounting their travel adventures around New Zealand. With them was a gentleman of indefinable age, with a very pronounced belly and long grey hair, who was laughing and talking, talking and drinking. He started telling us about his adventures at sea. I was so concentrated on listening to him that I didn't realise that Frank had disappeared in the meantime.
I ran out of the bar and couldn't find him. I try to call him but his mobile phone was in my bag. I walk towards the Sky Tower, but I don't see him. In the meantime it was getting dark. Ten minutes of panic. What to do? Return to the starting position. I walk back towards the bar and cross paths with Frank, who yells at me, "Where the hell (he used another term) were you? Do you think it's appropriate to disappear alone at night?" And I, maaaa, it was you who ... well, in the end he had just gone to the toilet!
I leave you with a little map where you can see some of the must-see sights in Auckland in 24 hours!
I have to be honest, Auckland really left me speechless.
When we found out we were going to have a stopover in New Zealand, I wasn't very excited. I was sceptical and especially looking at other people's photos, I saw forests, lakes and mountains. I thought, I've already seen them in Italy, what's better than the Alps? What is the point of a trip to New Zealand? What could I see in Auckland in 24 hours that I haven't already seen elsewhere?
And I was wrong. How wrong I was.
Auckland impressed me positively. Not so much for the city or its vibrancy, but for its colours. As soon as we landed, I immediately smelled the scent in the air, which was not only fresh, but it was colourful, it was welcoming. Hard to explain, the colours were strong, distinct, so perfect that I felt like touching everything.
Auckland is indeed colour, both for its rainbows and for the flowers that, even in the middle of winter, brighten up the streets.
And so I have another destination to put on my bucket list, New Zealand. Because Auckland is just a small dot of this 8-shaped island, I would love to visit the south, land in Chistchurch and discover New Zeland, the even more real and less inhabited one.
On this trip I have learnt that the World has to be discovered for itself.
It may be trivial, but how often do we dismiss a trip out of hand because someone has told us bad things about it? Or because we saw pictures on instagram that we didn't like? Or because we have decided a priori that it is not worth it.
Everyone looks for something different in the world. We each see different things when we travel. Some see the pink parrot on the branch, others the parked luxury cars. That is why it is good to travel, to discover new places, incredible caves or remote villages. Travelling is investing in life.
To experience the landscapes, the sea and the hills, to smell the green grass and to be dazzled by the scorching sun. Laughing or crying. Wherever you go, the world is never boring and, for me, it is always beautiful. Beautiful to discover, beautiful even if it has nothing to show, but so much to tell. Beauty is always up to us...
To take a plane ticket, a car and a tent and leave. This is the most beautiful gift we can give ourselves.