Auckland – Views, Art and Nature
Accommodation in Auckland
Auckland can be explored through a wide variety of experiences: sweeping views from the Sky Tower, art shaped by Māori perspectives and a hilly forest path reveal different sides of the city. The collections at the Auckland Art Gallery and the plant life of the Wintergardens add to the mix. If you’re looking for a holiday apartment in Auckland, you can consider which of these experiences you’d like to shape your stay most—perhaps art and cultural stories, an outing in nature or a view from high above.
Sweeping views and an exposed SkyWalk
An admission ticket to the Sky Tower gives you access to three observation decks: Main Observation is 186 metres, The Lookout 192 metres and Sky Deck 220 metres above street level. Their different heights offer different perspectives on Auckland. At the same tower, the SkyWalk follows an exposed outdoor walkway without handrails along the edge of a 192-metre drop. This distinction is important when planning your day: the platforms are one way to enjoy the view; the SkyWalk is a special experience for visitors willing to venture onto the open walkway.
Getting to the Sky Tower is also easy to plan: it’s a one-minute walk from a bus stop, and parking is available on site at SKYCITY. This information relates to the tower and says nothing about the location of a holiday apartment.
Art and stories through Māori perspectives
The Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki houses more than 17,500 works of art. These include outstanding works by Māori and Pacific artists, as well as international collections of paintings, sculptures and prints. The collection spans from the 11th century to the present day, offering a broad historical and artistic perspective. General collection tours take place on weekdays at 1:30 pm, and on the first Saturday of the month at 11:00 am and 1:30 pm. If you enjoy being guided through a collection, you can take these times into account when planning your day.
For children, the Auckland Art Gallery’s family-friendly Creative Learning Centre offers hands-on art-making activities. This makes it possible to combine a visit to the art gallery with a creative activity. In the lobby of the Aotea Centre, Reihana’s large-scale video installation Ihi tells the story of the creation of the world from a Māori perspective.
The Silo Park Art Trail offers another link between art and Māori culture: the waterfront path in the Wynyard Quarter features artworks whose distinctive stories are inspired by Māori culture. The gallery, video installation and art trail each offer a different emphasis—from collections and a narrated creation story to artworks along a waterfront path.
Glasshouses and a forest path in Auckland Domain
The Wintergardens in Auckland Domain consist of two large glasshouses with temperate or tropical plants. There is also an enclosed courtyard with a fishpond and fountain. The plants in the glasshouses and the landscaped courtyard offer a different way to experience nature from the short forest path, which is also in Auckland Domain. It leads through a hilly area of native forest and offers views over Auckland. Within Auckland Domain, you can therefore choose between a visit to the glasshouses and a short walk with changes in elevation—two distinct ways to enjoy nature.
For a family stay, the interests of those travelling with you can help you choose the right mix of experiences: hands-on activities for children, collections and cultural stories can be given different priority from observation decks, the SkyWalk or the forest path.
Discover more places
If you’d like to explore more destination pages, you’ll find Waimauku, Helensville, Hunua, Glen Murray, Tauhoa, Algies Bay, Bombay and Tuakau here.
For the broader travel overview: Auckland.
