Auckland, NZ

[aircooler]

Off to Auckland on business for 4 weeks and Im staing in an apartment within walking distance of Viaduct Harbour. Any recommendations on good places to eat? Any type of food is ok. Also, what are reasonable day trips at the weekend?

[Simon Brooks]

Taking 2 6th form rugby squads to NZ in July/August for 3 weeks, starting and ending Auckland, have done some research and this eatery keeps coming up time and again as a place to go to, so will no doubt give it a bash and see how they cope with 45 18 year old rugby players !!!! who can all eat for England

http://www.angussteakhouse.co.nz

Edited by Simon Brooks on Wednesday 31st March 11:53

[cottonfoo]

What place? There are quite a few on Viaduct Harbour I had an excellent steak at the Portofino last time I was there but I've only been the once.

There are quite a few day trips you can do from Auckland, what are you into, and will you be hiring a car?

[havoc]

There's a Japanese restaurant on the land-side of the harbour road, almost directly opposite the 'stand-alone' orange building. We had a nice meal in there and very good service...it also seemed very busy with Japanese people.

[Dakkon]

This is quite a nice place, glass floor sections can freak you out if you suffer from vertigo.

http://www.skycityauckland.co.nz/Restaurants/Orbit...

[JRM]

4 weeks in Auckland? Cripes, hope you're taking some good books.

[havoc]

JRM said:

4 weeks in Auckland? Cripes, hope you're taking some good books.

He won't need any sleeping pills, that's for sure!



As an aside...hire a car and head out over the weekends:-
- 90-mile beach
- Coromandel peninsula (great roads)
- Taupo & Tongariro Nat'l Park
- Rotorua

[aircooler]

JRM said:

4 weeks in Auckland? Cripes, hope you're taking some good books.

It's a business trip, so I'll be working most of the time apart from weekends. I've done a lot of travelling, so I don't need to do 'touristy' things on my trips. I can find interest in most places I travel.

[Oscar the Grouch]

Theres quite a few bars and restaurants round the Viaduct.
Its also only a couple of minutes walk to Queen St and central Auckland
You will find everything from fairly high end dining to cheaper ethnic food - Japanese, Thai, Indian close by. Totally down to budget and preference

Portofino at Viaduct was nice and Kermadec looked good

Try the New Zealand page for more advice

A long weekend in central Auckland was enough for me
If your weekends are free you may find good deals to go to Wellington, Christchurch or Queenstown

Edited by Oscar the Grouch on Thursday 1st April 11:01

[iwilson]

JRM said:

4 weeks in Auckland? Cripes, hope you're taking some good books.

Sorry to hear of your experience, wine tasting on Waiheke Island obviously not your thing, nor motorsport, or good food, nor venturing outside of the CBD. Not a Kiwi defending his patch - I lived in Europe for fifteen years and have fond memories, but to say bring a good book is more of a sad indictment of your life than what's on offer here. NZ is a new country so to speak so if it's old Cathedrals you're after you're out of luck, you need to dig a little deeper...


Yes, some of us still get our food from places other than a shrink wrapped bag in Tesco's!

Auckland is a typical busy, multi-cultural million plus city you'll find any where on the planet. But with a great harbour, fishing of a charter boat, trip in an Americas Cup yatch etc, fantastic beaches and plenty to do/see within an hour or two's drive. There's something normally happening every weekend at Hampton Downs or the Pukekohe motorsport circuit both within 45mins of Auckland. Thanks to the Asian invasion there's real 'genuine' variety in the food on offer. Central Auckland and you've got the Viaduct, Parnell and Mission bay within a few minutes - nothing to write home about but enough to keep you occupied. War Memorial Museum is definitely worth half a day. The Zoo is pretty decent as well although the Museum of Transport and Technogly (MOTAT) is not worth the trouble these days. Plenty of concerts, the Civic Theatre is a really nice venue, North you've got the Bay of Islands which depending on the route you take is an entertaining drive. South a trip to Taupo and the desert road will be an entertaining weekend. Not to forget the friendly Kiwi's who will happily have you out for a BBQ (pm me if interested), I've hosted a bunch of PH'ers from up 'north' this summer.


Civic theatre.


Piha, 25 mins from the CBD


Mount Ruapehu sneezing. Central North Island


Rotorua, geothermal area, also tourist trap.


Steak at my place

[GravelBen]

That first photo sure isn't anywhere near Auckland! Nice steak though

[grumbledoak]

Orbit is unmissable, though as much for the views as the food - jump first. At the harbour, Kermadec is so well known for 'fush' that several relatives tried to take me there on the same trip, but Soul is every bit as good, and there is plenty of choice around.

Cuisine magazine awarded 'gongs' in 2009 to Clooney and Molten; I've not been to either.

But, as others have said, you'll want a book if you are intent on staying in Aukland; at least make the trip to Waiheke, where I had a great meal in (I think) Vino Vino.

[thehawk]

Auckland really does have some fantastic restaurants, they just take a but of finding and probably need a car to get to many of them.

French cafe, The Grove, Clooney are three that I would recommend.

http://www.thegroverestaurant.co.nz/
http://www.thefrenchcafe.co.nz
http://www.clooney.co.nz/

Then there is Dine (Peter Gordon who has the Providores in London)
http://www.peter-gordon.net/restaurants/dine.php
http://www.mikano.co.nz/
http://www.vinnies.co.nz/
http://www.eurobar.co.nz/
http://www.soulbar.co.nz/

+ loads of Asian food which is far better than anything you will find in the UK.

Definitely no excuse to eat badly over there.

[Kylie]

Ian that steak omg thats half a cow BBQ and movie overdue at yours me thinks Yes the toy will come out next time too

[cottonfoo]

thehawk said:

Auckland really does have some fantastic restaurants, they just take a but of finding and probably need a car to get to many of them.

French cafe, The Grove, Clooney are three that I would recommend.

http://www.thegroverestaurant.co.nz/
http://www.thefrenchcafe.co.nz
http://www.clooney.co.nz/

Then there is Dine (Peter Gordon who has the Providores in London)
http://www.peter-gordon.net/restaurants/dine.php
http://www.mikano.co.nz/
http://www.vinnies.co.nz/
http://www.eurobar.co.nz/
http://www.soulbar.co.nz/

+ loads of Asian food which is far better than anything you will find in the UK.

Definitely no excuse to eat badly over there.

Good post, noted for 266 days time, not that I'm counting.

[lestag]

Galbraiths Ale House

Try the NZ Beers ( micro brewery ones , not the general rubbish...) reasonable food

Edited by lestag on Saturday 3rd April 08:46

[hurricane_82]

What can I say... Angus Steak House!!! It's the best steak house i've been to in NZ!

Unlimited salad / pasta and a steak of your choice for about $32 if I remember correctly (not been for a while - must treat myself!)

P.S. Go for the Scotch or the Eye-Fillet...

[JRM]

iwilson said:

JRM said:

4 weeks in Auckland? Cripes, hope you're taking some good books.

Sorry to hear of your experience, wine tasting on Waiheke Island obviously not your thing, nor motorsport, or good food, nor venturing outside of the CBD. Not a Kiwi defending his patch - I lived in Europe for fifteen years and have fond memories, but to say bring a good book is more of a sad indictment of your life than what's on offer here. NZ is a new country so to speak so if it's old Cathedrals you're after you're out of luck, you need to dig a little deeper...

Auckland is a typical busy, multi-cultural million plus city you'll find any where on the planet. But with a great harbour, fishing of a charter boat, trip in an Americas Cup yatch etc, fantastic beaches and plenty to do/see within an hour or two's drive. There's something normally happening every weekend at Hampton Downs or the Pukekohe motorsport circuit both within 45mins of Auckland. Thanks to the Asian invasion there's real 'genuine' variety in the food on offer. Central Auckland and you've got the Viaduct, Parnell and Mission bay within a few minutes - nothing to write home about but enough to keep you occupied. War Memorial Museum is definitely worth half a day. The Zoo is pretty decent as well although the Museum of Transport and Technogly (MOTAT) is not worth the trouble these days. Plenty of concerts, the Civic Theatre is a really nice venue, North you've got the Bay of Islands which depending on the route you take is an entertaining drive. South a trip to Taupo and the desert road will be an entertaining weekend. Not to forget the friendly Kiwi's who will happily have you out for a BBQ (pm me if interested), I've hosted a bunch of PH'ers from up 'north' this summer.

Calling my opinion a sad indictment of my life is a little unfair, I'm only offering my opinion, based on my actual experience, and from the comments and pictures you've posted you seem to agree.

I've travelled and lived all over the world and I agree that there are some fabulous places in NZ, that you can reach within an hour or two from Auckland (as you have said), I've just been massively uninspired by Auckland itself in the vistis I have had there. I've never been to a major city that felt so dead and lacking in life. Can you imagine having this discussion about Sydney or Melbourne?

Your pics do rather sum that up as well, as aside from the Civic Theatre you've listed:

Piha, 25 mins from the CBD
Mount Ruapehu sneezing. Central North Island
Rotorua, geothermal area, also tourist trap.
Steak at my place

Hardly what I would describe as 'in Auckland' - apart from your steak of course, which looks like a must on the tourist trail I must say

I'm not knocking NZ at all, I love the country, just not Auckland, so I'm sure the OP will have a great time if he ventures out of Auckland itself as has been suggested.

Edited by JRM on Wednesday 7th April 11:33

[havoc]

I'd agree with JRM. We spent two weeks in NZ back in 2008 and loved the place - absolutely beatiful, with very friendly people (except for the cops...).

But Auckland was...well...just another big-ish city by the sea. Nothing wrong with it, but it doesn't compare to e.g. London, Paris or NY, nor to places like Bangkok and Hong Kong. And when you've got stuff like Rotorua, Tongariro Nat. Park and Coromandel a couple of hours away, and the wonders of South Island an hour's flight, why would you stay there if you don't need to?!?

[Penguinracer]

I've always felt that the North Shore had a nice vibe. Devonport, Takapuna & along the Hauraki Gulf coast beyond Whangaparaoa, Red Beach, Orewa & up to Waiwera. And that's quite a concession from a Christchurch man who's been living in the UK for the last 15 years! There's a laid back atmosphere on the "Shore" - it's about barbies, beaches & boats. It's also about golden summer evenings looking out over the Gulf with a decent Sauvignon-blanc or Chardonnay in hand reflecting on a fine day's sailing/fishing/diving! Of course the Coromandel & the Bay of Islands are glorious but now we're getting quite some way out of Auckland. Each of Kiwiland's main centres has it's own distinct atmosphere shaped by their differing environments - from the intensity of Wellington's artistic/commericial/political buzz, to Christchurch's mix of mountains, Pacific Coast & the extinct volcanoes of the Peninsular to Dunedin's University town zaniness & life!