Is there no end to the fun?

Without realising it, the founders of Auckland picked a perfect place to build an adventure city. Protected from the worst of the southwest winds by the Waitakere Ranges, Auckland has unseasonably mild temperatures all year round making it an ideal environment for adventure lifestylers.

Look anywhere and you'll see people living life to the full. Gaze out on the Waitemata Harbour and you'll see tall ships mixing it up with flotillas of racing yachts on the start line of regattas. You'll see people in small boats shrieking as their fishing rods are bent over by big snapper. Glance to the windswept beaches and cliff tops of the west coast and see people surfing, hang gliding and parapenting.

Even in the city streets, you'll hear people screaming. Not because they're in any danger, but because they're being flung skyward on a vertical bungy, or plummeting earthward on the Sky Tower bungy.

As fun as it sounds, it's not all heart thumping, adrenaline pumping stuff either; you can simply hire a bike for a laugh around the bays.

Sky City Casino

It's easy to find the Sky City Casino, just look for the giant Sky Tower from virtually anywhere in Auckland. The tower has two observation decks and a revolving restaurant, offering incredible views over the region. Down at street level, the major hotel, casino and theatre complex runs 24 hours.

Waiheke Culinary Adventure

This is a popular retreat for many people during the summer months. Recently Waiheke has undergone something of a revolution – it now holds some of the most prized real estate in Auckland, with boutique wineries, restaurants and luxury lodges rapidly transforming the face of the island.

Climb Rangitoto

Fullers Ferries make daily services to this extinct volcano in the middle of the Hauraki Gulf. The island is populated by about a dozen locals, but the Department of Conservation plan to make the island completely uninhabited in the future. When you stand on the foreshore and look back towards the city, the contrast between the island's natural beauty and the modern city so close-by, is a rare juxtaposition.

Kelly Tarltons Antarctic Encounter & Underwater World

Kelly Tarlton pioneered the underwater glass tunnel concept of viewing an aquarium. The tanks are enormous and filled with every kind of marine species found in New Zealand waters. A slowly moving platform glides you beneath majestic eagle rays, kingfish, snapper, sharks, octopi – and dozens more fascinating species.

Galleries & Museums

There are some fine museums and galleries which present Auckland's history in fascinating ways: Auckland Museum - a tribute to the history of Auckland. Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT) - offers a look back at the mechanical marvels that built this city. Auckland City Art Gallery - features many works by our best artists who have faithfully recorded the images of our past.