Auckland (and vicinity) holidays

On a peninsula overlooking scenic Waitemata Harbour, Auckland CBD is not only the country's major business centre, but plays host to a concentration of artistic and cultural venues in addition to nightlife precincts. In more recent years, much of the waterfront has been reclaimed for high-end residential apartments, trendy cafes and bars, marinas, and public recreational use.

Just 10 km south of the CBD, the stretch of suburbia from Greenlane and east to Ellerslie is mainly residential. Notable exceptions include historic 120 hectare Cornwall Park and One Tree Hill Domain, Ellerslie (horse) Racetrack, and Ellerslie Convention Centre. Greenlane is considered an antiques centre, and also offers the 1920s Lido Cinema and a decent selection of caf?s, restaurants, and bars.

A residential district dotted with light industry, Mangere is 21 km south of the central business district and home to Auckland Airport. More than 12 million passengers per year pass through this transportation hub, which also serves as the country's second largest cargo centre (by value). Mangere is a large western suburb of Manukau City, one of the four cities that make up Auckland.

The North Shore is situated 4 km across the Harbour Bridge from the city centre, and is densely populated and mostly residential in character. Popular pockets include harbourside Takapuna with a well-established caf? and beach culture, and the quaint upmarket seaside village of Devonport which offers a selection of restaurants, gift and antique shops, and a ferry service to the CBD.

South Auckland is a multi-cultural, working class district comprising a mix of suburbia and industry in the form of factories, warehouses, and workshops. Colourful, cosmopolitan markets are held each Saturday at Otara and Manurewa. The airport lies approximately 6 km to the west and the central business district is approximately 20 km to the north.