Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Shopping
A4
28
Otara Market
D5
Sights
Auckland is a city of volcanoes, with the ridges of lava flows forming its main thorough-
fares and its many cones providing islands of green within the sea of suburbs. As well as
being by far the largest, it's also the most multicultural of New Zealand's cities. A size-
able Asian community rubs shoulders with the biggest Polynesian population of any city
in the world.
The traditional Kiwi aspiration for a freestanding house on a quarter-acre section has
resulted in a vast, sprawling city. The CBD was long ago abandoned to commerce, and
inner-city apartment living has only recently caught on. While geography has been kind,
city planning has been less so. Unbridled and ill-conceived development has left the
centre of the city with plenty of architectural embarrassments. To get under Auckland's
skin, you're best to head to the streets of Victorian and Edwardian villas in its hip inner-
city suburbs.
ESSENTIAL AUCKLAND
Eat
Amid the diverse and cosmopolitan scene of Ponsonby Central
Drink
West Auckland craft beers at Hallertau in Riverhead
Read
Under the Mountain
(1979) - Maurice Gee's teenage tale of slimy things lurking under Auckland's volca-
noes
Listen to
Pure Heroine
(2013) - savvy lyrics and beats from Devonport's very own Lorde
Watch
Matariki
(2010) - five interwoven multicultural stories set in South Auckland
Festival
Pasifika
Area code
09