Auckland, New Zealand: Vibrant City & Wine Country 10–14 March 2024
Auckland made a strong first impression as New Zealand’s largest city. It has a pleasant British-colonial feel mixed with a modern, laid-back Pacific vibe. It’s not too overwhelming — big enough to have energy and variety, but still very manageable.
City Impressions
The city center is nice to walk around, though I did notice quite a few homeless people in some areas. Overall, Auckland felt safe and welcoming during my stay.
Highlights
One of the best experiences was a full-day GetYourGuide wine tour to a vineyard on a neighboring island. The tour was excellent — beautiful scenery, good wines, and a fun group of fellow tourists. Highly recommended if you enjoy wine and short boat trips.
For dining, I had two memorable meals:
- Engine Room — a stylish restaurant with great atmosphere that I really enjoyed.
- Ahi — a fine-dining spot where I had lunch. The food was special and the experience was top quality.
Final Thoughts
Auckland is a comfortable and enjoyable city with good food, wine options, and easy access to beautiful surroundings. Four days gave me a solid taste of the city and its surroundings, but I only scratched the surface of New Zealand.
Would I recommend Auckland? Yes — it’s a great entry point to New Zealand. The city itself is pleasant, the food scene is strong, and the wine regions are easily reachable. Next time I return to New Zealand, I’ll head to the South Island to explore Christchurch and the Queenstown area, which I’ve heard are even more spectacular.
Auckland was the perfect warm-up for what New Zealand has to offer.
