In the north of New Zealand’s North Island, there is a city known as the “city of a thousand sails” – Auckland, which is also a strange city formed along the crater.
Compared with the South Island, the natural terrain of the North Island of New Zealand has a more tortuous coastline, and Auckland, which faces the sea on both sides, is an absolute coastal city, and is known as the “city of thousands of sails” because it has the largest number of sailing ships in the world.
1. Downtown Auckland
New Zealand is located right on the Pacific Ring of Fire and earthquake, so there are many volcanoes, either long silent or faint life. The city of Auckland is built along a dead crater, built primarily on seven or more volcanoes. The hilly land is undulating and extended, and the ramps are numerous and varied.
2. Mission Bay
Heading east from the city, a coastal road takes you to Mission Bay, a large, curved bay directly opposite Auckland.
Mission Bay is the closest beach in downtown Auckland and the most accessible, making it a gathering place for Auckland locals and travellers alike, and the perfect place to relax during leisure time.
At Mission Bay Beach, you can choose to relax on the beach, enjoy the natural beauty directly in front of you, or participate in a variety of sea sports. But either way, it’s a truly local experience.
3. Mount Eden
Even closer to downtown Auckland is a volcano, Mount Eden. Just 5km from the city centre, Mount Eden is a dead volcano and the best place to enjoy a panoramic view of Auckland’s city centre.
Standing at the top of the mountain, 196 meters above sea level, you can have a sweeping view of the city and the nearby sea. The lookout on the top of the mountain is an absolute online celebrity punch point.
The viewing platform is suspended above the emerald green grass, and there is a small platform extending out. As long as you stand on it, you can take a picture of the whole city center under your feet, creating a visual sense of being in the air with the platform.
4. Muriwai Beach
In Auckland, over the Waitakere Ranges, beyond the mountains is the unique Muriwhai Beach and the hidden Great Tasman Sea.
Muriwai Beach is opposite Mission Bay across Auckland, and her style is also very different from Mission Bay, and different from the traditional impression of the beach. Because of its world-famous black sand beaches. Walking on this beach, you will only find very fine black sand shining gold, giving visitors a wonderful feeling of walking on the stars under the refraction of the sun.
Muriwhai Beach is known as one of the most beautiful places in New Zealand and has been named one of the World’s 30 most beautiful places by National Geographic magazine. But the most unique thing here is not only the black sand beach, but also the spectacular gannet habitat, which has earned it the nickname of “bird Island”.
Home to around 1,200 gannet couples, it is recommended to visit Muriwhai Beach between October and March each year to see the spectacular scene. It’s hard not to be shocked when you come here and hear the “pee-pee” of the gannets in your ears and the sound of the waves crashing on the cliffs, right in front of you are a bunch of gannets.