Travel Weekly editor at large Nadine Godwin recently spent two
nights in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city and host to the
America's Cup 2003 yachting competition. Her report follows:
he race was on here beginning
in October -- meaning the race to take on Team New Zealand for the
America's Cup honors in 2003. The challenger and current holder of
the prize will square off on Feb. 15.
My visit came in the midst of the round-robin competitions that
produce the challenger. However, it coincided with a week's hiatus
in those races, which meant my connection was limited to glimpsing
some of the competing vessels where they were berthed and watching
a few of the entrants out on practice runs.
That also meant, fortunately, that I could turn more of my
attention to the city of 1.2 million that is the yacht racing
capital of the world right now. Visitors can get around by public
bus, but except for one taxi ride to gain time, I hoofed it for my
sightseeing in this hilly seaside metropolis.
Because my visit was so short (two nights), the following
highlights are by no means exhaustive, but rather a sampler:
• The harbors and marinas. Sailing vessels of various kinds seem
to be tethered everywhere. But then, Auckland is said to have the
most boat owners per capita in the world.
Tourists will naturally gravitate to the American Express Viaduct
Harbor; it is where competing sailing yachts have been berthed, but
there are plenty of other attractive vessels to admire, as well.
(American Express has naming rights in the harbor because it is a
"venue sponsor" for the America's Cup.)
This area shows signs of significant recent development, with
stylish, low-rise apartment houses overlooking the water, with more
to come. Nearby, older buildings, former warehouses and the like
have been redone to house restaurants and shops.
The recently developed Princes Wharf, located a few steps beyond
the inner harbor, features a collection of buildings that, viewed
as a unit, are reminiscent of a large racing vessel. The Hilton
Auckland, opened in 2001, occupies one corner of the complex.
Cruise ships call here.
Restaurants, ranging from smart and appealing to upscale, line
Princes Wharf and the inner harbor; the area is a lively place to
be at night. I had two good dinners here, the first and higher
priced at about $23, and the second at not quite $13.
• Auckland Museum, aka Auckland War Memorial Museum. Most of one
floor of this stately building is devoted to New Zealand's war
history, but I kept to the floor devoted to Pacific island
memorabilia, with emphasis on the rooms devoted to New Zealand's
Maori culture.
Visitors have several opportunities a day to see a short Maori
song and dance performance. I had made the recommended donation of
about $2.50 to enter the museum, and this applied to the $7.50
charge to see the music program.
The show, while it does not include all the elements of a show
in a traditional "ancestors" house, is an excellent tasting of
Maori song and dance and ideal for the client who won't have
another opportunity for a Maori culture show while in New Zealand.
After the show, performers mingled in the exhibit hall with the
audience and other museum-goers.
• Parnell Road. This is described as the city's first suburb,
but that would be a 19th century description. Today, it is a
pretty, low-rise neighborhood, boasting numerous restored
Victorians and a few charming 19th century churches.
But there is economic activity: It is a noted shopping street
with many of those old houses converted into stores, some at the
high end for fashion, in particular. The road and its neighboring
streets are in walking distance of the city center.
So, I walked -- over rolling hills and through one park -- to
the city's tallest structure.
• Sky Tower. At 1,066 feet, this rocket-shaped structure
outreaches everything else in town and can be seen from well beyond
the city's Waitemata Harbor, as well.
The main observation level, at 605 feet, offers predictable, and
dramatic, 360-degree views across the city and its harbors. Almost
as a dare to visitors, it juts out from the tower, and parts of the
floor are glass so thick we could stand on it and look straight to
the ground.
There are three eateries at varying levels in the tower and
another more or less "ordinary" viewing level, the Sky Deck, at 716
feet. It costs an adult about $7.50 and $9, respectively, to visit
the two viewing floors.
The highest point for viewing, aptly called Vertigo, at 878
feet, is accessible only to those willing to take a
two-and-a-half-hour guided climb (for about $43) inside the
ever-narrowing tower. But the most daring of all are those who take
the Sky Jump (at $98), which is an aided plunge 624 feet down the
side of the building to a landing station at ground level.
This is billed as the world's highest tower jump, and it somehow
seems a fitting pastime in the land of extreme sports.
Maybe it is a consolation, too, for visitors who won't have time
to find a bridge for bungee jumping. I wouldn't know; that was
never an issue for me.
A little pasta, a little wine and view
AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- Visitors here have choices for half- or
full-day trips to nearby islands in Hauraki Gulf or just across the
Waitemata Harbor. The point is, this is an easy way to leave the
city for smaller villages -- and to get a good look at Auckland
from the water.
I visited Waiheke Island, 12 miles from downtown, which was once
farmland and an inexpensive vacation option for blue-collar
workers.
Then, it was "discovered" in the 1960s and 1970s, and that
brought clusters of artists and handicrafts specialists as well as
wine-growers and olive-growers. The 36-square-mile island still
counts only 7,500 permanent residents, of whom about 1,200 commute
to Auckland, and is accessible in 35 to 45 minutes by regular ferry
service (at $12 roundtrip).Visitors can walk to the largest
village, Oneroa, but then, to go farther, they use a bus, taxi,
rental car or bike, or can do as I did and use a tour company.
My guide, representing Ananda Tours (www.waiheke.co.nz/anandatours.htm), took me to visit
local artists who work in or near their homes. Their output varies
from ceramics and modern oil paintings to poetry and collages based
on fabrics.
My itinerary also included one of the few dozen small vineyards
on Waiheke, where hot, dry summers and stony soils are said to
produce some of the country's best reds. Local winemakers are
launching what they expect to be an annual wine festival on Feb. 1
and 2.
Te Whau Vineyard sits on a peninsula of the same name, offering
stunning views of the island's coastline and Auckland in the
background.
It boasts a world-renowned restaurant -- selected in 2002 by
Wine Spectator magazine as one of the world's best for wine-lovers
-- which sits atop the working winery itself. The noted restaurant
is a top reason to call at this particular vineyard; reservations
are advisable.
This day, businessmen were coming from Auckland by helicopter,
so I "settled" for another restaurant with its own perch over
Waiheke's shoreline. It was Vino Vino, and for about $10, I had the
pasta special, which was OK, plus a local red wine and the view,
which were very fine. -- N.G.
Room key: Heritage Auckland Hotel and Tower
Address: 35 Hobson St., Auckland; near harbor
Phone: (011) 64-9 379-8553
Web:www.heritagehotels.co.nz
Number of units: 467 (265 suites)
Renovation report: Main building converted from a
department store in 1998; 204 units added with new Tower wing in
1999.
Daily rates: $145 to $285
Noteworthy: Quick access to harbor and tourist
sites; good views from high floors if room faces harbor; great
kitchen appliances in suites.
Not worthy: Chilly hallways.