Auckland - Port Waikato

Spread across a narrow isthmus between two harbours, Auckland is bordered by beautiful white-sand beaches in the northeast, while the black-sand West Coast beaches are well known for their rugged beauty and incredible sunsets. Great Barrier Island features spectacular views, intimate bushwalks and bush-lined hot pools, and Waiheke is home to top-class wineries and striking beaches.

Live life on the edge, and feel the adrenaline rush with a 360-degree guided tour on the outside ring of the famous Sky Tower. If you're looking for a real buzz the Sky Walk is must; there are no handrails on this walk, just a full body harness and overhead safety lines.

Stepping out onto the platform, the scene below takes your breath away. You're 192 metres above Auckland city and the views are spectacular.

As you circumnavigate your way around, an enthusiastic guide points out landmarks and offer up some enjoyable history lessons on Maori place names.

But, just as you begin to feel comfortable, you'll find yourself placing your feet on the edge of the platform and peering down at the streets. Or – for the more adventurous – hanging backwards out over the edge with only your toes clinging onto the platform.

Walking around the 1.2-metre wide platform without handrails is quite something. After the initial adjustment to the height and feeling of being in an action movie, it's a real thrill to see a totally different side to a bustling Auckland below.

Chasing the end of the rainbow for that elusive pot of gold is a fruitless task, but notin Auckland! You’ll easily find Rainbow’s End just off the Southern Motorway in Manukau, a treasure trove of entertainment with rides and games for kids (and adults) of all ages.

At Rainbow's End you'll get flung upside down, spun around, stuck in a runaway mine cart, swallowed by a big green robot, hurled down a five-metre water chute, and dropped 18 storeys at 82kph!

New Zealand's premier theme park has been entertaining families for 27 years and offers crazy rides you won't find anywhere else in the country. The park's newest attraction, Power Surge, is the closest you can come to being in a washing machine without actually getting in a washing machine!

If that's too much for you there are the classic thrills of NZ's only corkscrew rollercoaster, the beautiful Castle Land with heaps of exciting rides for the littlies or perhaps a round of mini-golf for those who like their fun a little more sedate.

If escaping to an island for a weekend of good food, fine wine and unbeatable views sounds like you, then do it! You don't have to fly to the Pacific Islands to get this pamper package – Waiheke's just half an hour from Auckland!

It's only a 30-minute ferry ride from Downtown Auckland and you're there. Waiheke Island is easily accessible for a day trip, a long weekend or a well-deserved holiday! Head across to Waiheke and explore this isle of boutique vineyards, olive groves, cafés and famous restaurants.

Waiheke Island dishes up a delectable array of gourmet delights. Discover them on a wine tour and let the locals show you how to do it. Alternatively, explore the island at your own pace and stop in at several wineries to sample award-winning wines and cuisine to match.

Waiheke Island olives and olive products have recently gained a fantastic reputation and a visit to Waiheke is not complete without a taste. Try them in the bustling village of Oneroa, where you'll find cafés, restaurants and bars utilising the high-quality olives and olive oil in their menu.

Escape, if only for a day, and find out why Waiheke Island is a food and wine-lover's paradise.

If you're the type of person who calls a spade a spade, you might also call a kayak a kayak. But any serious sea kayaker will tell you there's a huge difference between kayaking the ocean and kayaking a river.

Sea kayaks are long and sleek, built to slice through open water over longer distances. For improved steering, some even have rudders, which are controlled by pedals. Take a sea kayak tour across the playground that is the Waitemata Harbour and arrive at Auckland's youngest volcano, Rangitoto.

Perhaps the most recognisable volcano in Auckland because of its distinctive cone shape, Rangitoto Island offers a great day out for adventure seekers. Kayak tours to Rangitoto leave from Tamaki Drive and Takapuna. Guided tours are usually half-day or day trips with time to climb the summit, explore the lava caves and marvel at the crater.

No experience is necessary, although a moderate level of fitness is required. If you're a touch on the lazy side, or simply not up for an extreme physical workout, consider a tandem kayak to share the paddling and race over to Rangitoto at double-time!

Just remember that Rangitoto is a protected island sanctuary. While it's unlikely you'll have a stowaway rat in your luggage, the Department of Conservation asks that you clean your shoes and check your bags before you depart for Rangitoto, to prevent pests (weeds included) from disrupting the island's delicate ecosystem.

The Auckland War Memorial Museum has come a long way since its humble beginnings in a two-room cottage in Grafton in 1852. It shifted to its current position in the Auckland Domain in 1929 and today holds the finest collection of Maori and Pacific artefacts in the world.

Built on the edge of a volcano, the museum regularly exhibits internationally acclaimed contemporary displays, proving once and for all that museums have replaced their traditional persona with an exciting interactive character.

For example, we bet you wouldn't have imagined creeping through this museum at night on the hunt for dinosaurs. Yet you could have, in the family-orientated interactive Dino's After Dark exhibition.

Nor, we imagine, would you have thought you could experience (in total safety) Auckland in full eruption, while learning the pros and cons of living in the only city in the world built on volcanoes.

What's fantastic about the Auckland War Memorial Museum is that it has managed to create these interactive exhibitions and learning centres, without compromising the integrity of its fixed displays.

Unique flora and fauna, our colonial development and war history, and more than 2000 Maori treasures are all right here in the Auckland War Memorial Museum.

The Coast to Coast Walkway is an awesome way to get outdoors while exploring Auckland on foot. The 16km trail traces Auckland's geological and cultural history, exploring the urban and natural landmarks of New Zealand's largest city. The best part of this walk is that it's signposted!

From the Viaduct to Manukau Harbour, the Coast to Coast incorporates Auckland's volcanic sites; Albert Park, Outhwaite Park, Mt Eden, Cornwall Park and One Tree Hill, as well as the Auckland Museum and Domain.

You start the walk either in Manukau or at the Viaduct and keep whatever pace you like. Run the track from the Viaduct, including the volcano summits, or start at the Manukau Harbour end and take your time, stopping for lunch and even excluding the summit tracks if you don't want to break a sweat.