New Zealand’s Largest City - Auckland-Fun for Families: Part Two

Auckland’s sister cities are: Brisbane – Australia, Guangzhou - the People’s Republic of China, Fukuoka – Japan, Busan – South Korea and in the United States it is Los Angeles. Sky Tower is in city loop and it is the tallest free standing structure in the southern hemisphere, towering at 328 metres. People can bungy from this structure or from Auckland Harbour Bridge if they are daring enough. Sky City also boasts a revolving restaurant which is extremely popular as the sun is setting or the Casino might be more to your taste. There are many ways to entertain yourself in Auckland because of the cultural diversity. In 2001 census, statistics showed that 66.9% of people in the Auckland Urban Area belonged to the European ethhnic group then 14.9% to Pacific cultures, 14.6% to the Asian ethnic group and the Maori’s taking an 11.5% share. It is interesting to note that many people belong to more than one ethnic group and there seems to be blending of the cultures as mixed marriages are more common. A new food style has emerged with this phenomenon, Pacific Rim is made up from this blending of the different cultures. It is delicious!

Fun for Families: Part Two

When you have finished having fun at Sky City and the Viaduct basin maybe tandem bicycle ride around Mission Bay might be appealing to help get your feet back on solid ground. You might like to stop in at Kelly Tarlton’s on the way and see the sharks, stingrays and other underwater animals. This is a definite must see for children and adults will also find it appealing.

The Museum is a huge building and has many wonderful artifacts for the historian and it is next to The Domain and the gardens here are beautiful. There are a number of gardens in Auckland that are worth seeing.

The Michael Savage Memorial is a nice place to take in the harbour views and to see this city from a different perspective. Michael Savage gave a lot to this city and is an important part of political history. You might consider taking a helicopter ride over the city and this is available if you head towards the city from here.

Waitakere City is to the west of Auckland city and prides itself for the black sands and wild surf at Muriwai and Piha Beaches. This is a very popular surfing venue. It also has many native bush walks as well as one through a natural rainforest. Hiking and tramping are a treat to do here in Waitakere. This region has many vineyards and the best wineries are located in this district.

One of South Auckland’s major attractions is Rainbows End in Manukau City. It is a major focal point because it is an amusement park and all children love it. It has been a place for companies to bring their workers for some fun and recreation in appreciation for all the hard work they have done and the children who do road patrol often get to come here as a thank you for performing their civic duty too. We like to foster a good community spirit by way of the added incentive scheme.

There are many, many more things to do, Skiing in Albany if you can’t make it to the snow and the cultural shows are a treat. Whatever you do and there is plenty to choose from, keep safe and enjoy yourself!