HOW TO SPEND 48 HOURS IN AUCKLAND | OUR ULTIMATE AUCKLAND GUIDE
We are in New Zealand!!
Back in 2012, New Zealand was our very first international trip together. We spent just over a week in Queenstown and it was one of those holidays we have never stopped talking about since. That trip was our first time we saw snow, our first time seeing mountains, our first time paragliding, our first time in an ice bar and our first time eating a fergburger (haha)!
We have always dreamt about going back - and here we are, about to begin a 21 day tour through the North and South Islands with Wild Kiwi Tours. Before the trip begins we decided to spend a couple of days in Auckland to get over the jet lag, and to also get a taste of Auckland
Check out our vlog below to see what we got up to during our 48 hour stay in Auckland, and keep scrolling if you would like to read more on everything you need to know for a visit here!
Piha Beach
Piha Beach is one of (if not the most) famous beach in New Zealand... and for good reason! It is known for its scenic beauty and it's surf, located only 40 minutes drive from Auckland CBD.
Something unique about Piha is that it has black sand produced by the eruption of Taupo a long, long ago. It is a small bay, with large volcanic rocky scattered along the shore. This is the perfect place to go on a hot, summers day, especially if you are keen surfer.
Kitekite Falls
Located in the Waitakere Ranges, Kitekite Falls (pronounced kittykitty) is a 45 minute drive out of Auckland CBD. We recommend heading to out here one on the same day your visit Piha Beach. This breathtaking waterfall is found after an easy 30 minute hike from the carpark.
We were so lucky when we arrived because there was no one to be seen... just us and this stunning natural beauty!
Views from Mount Eden
If you are looking for amazing views of the city, don't head to the obvious Sky Tower, instead go for a short hike up a volcano!
Mount Eden is of one of 48 volcanic cones and the highest natural point in Auckland. We recommend heading up at sunrise or sunset - and bring a blanket and a picnic! We loved this spot as you really get to take in the stunning Auckland's city skyline.
Drink way too many coffees
The first thing we noticed when walking aimlessly through the streets of Auckland is that they sure love their coffee. On every street we would stumble across at least one hipster cafe, and if we could take in 20 cups of caffeine a day we would have tried them all!
If you are looking for a great cup of coffee in a stunning location we highly recommend Chuffed. It is a beautiful cafe located on High Street and serves breakfast, fresh cabinet food and really good coffee!
Eat a lot of food
Not only did we stumble upon amazing cafes... the food choices in Auckland are endless! Whatever you want you will find here, from Asian cuisine to a vegan burger with the works, you will find it here.
If you are looking for a healthy lunch spot we highly recommend The Unbakery. Here they serve raw, vegan goodness from burgers to cakes and amazing smoothies. We tried their turmeric latte with bee pollen and a quinoa and kimchi burger - both delicious!
If you are looking for ice cream, I think we have found the most extra ice cream shop ever! The spot is called Giapo, and here they serve the most delicious, rich ice cream you have ever tasted along with the craziest cone ideas we have ever seen. Imagine having your scoop of ice cream on a cone that has it's one frame called the "selfie cone"... we know, it's a lot!
If you are looking for a tasty dinner recommendation than we highly recommend exploring Dominion Road for some great Asian food. We had the most delicious dumplings from Shaolin Kung Fu Noodles and we have also heard great things about Barilla Dumplings.
Shop til you drop!
If you have the urge to go on a cheeky afternoon shopping spree than Auckland is the place for it. If you are after designer stores head to Britomart, if you are after boutique stores try Ponsonby and for big brand names hit up Queen Street.
Auckland Night Markets
If you are in Auckland on a Friday night we recommend you visit the Auckland Night Markets. It is a great spot to grab dinner from one of the many food trucks and watch free live performances throughout the night.
Catch the ferry to Devonport
For only $12 return you can jump on a ferry and head across to Devonport, a cute seaside town located on the most southern tip of North Shore. While you're there make sure you take a stroll down Victoria Road filled with great lunch spots, cafes and cute boutique stores. Once you hit the end of the road take the short 10 minute hike up Mount Victoria, a dormant volcano with amazing views of Devonport and the Auckland City skyline.
For lunch we suggest you grab some fish and chips and head down to the beach for a picnic. A nice beach close by is Cheltenham Beach, only 20 minutes from the ferry terminal.
Catch the ferry to Waiheke Island
If you are looking for a great day trip from Auckland you need to jump on a ferry to Waiheke Island. Full of pretty beaches and charming wineries, it is the perfect place to hire some scoots or ebikes and explore the island hopping from beach to beach and winery to winery.
During our visit we did not have time to head to Waiheke Island, however we will be returning to Auckland and this is on the top of our list!
Where to Stay
We found the hotels in Auckland to be on the pricier side, instead we opted for an Airbnb - best decision ever! We stayed in one of the most stunning Airbnb's we have ever stayed in located in the cute area of britomart. Our apartment was literally apartment goals, with a gorgeous design, big comfy bed, kitchen with everything you need and super clean... what more could we need!
Check out the Airbnb we stayed at here.
Have you stayed in an Airbnb rental before? If not and you would like to sign up to Airbnb why not use this resource link so you can receive a $50 Airbnb travel credit.
A big thank you to Wild Kiwi for supporting Flying the Nest and making this trip possible.