If you're travelling to Auckland for the Cricket World Cup and wondering else the city has to offer you, here are something you should definitely indulge in...
Lava Caves on Rangitoto Island
Having erupted from the sea about 600 years ago, Rangitoto’s volcanic origins are evident from its black basaltic rocks that abound around. To visit the island you have to take a short ferry ride to Rangitoto Wharf from Auckland Ferry Terminal. Once there, you’ll be provided maps that will help you decide where you want to head and what you want to do.
View from the Island
Among its several options, the island summit walk to the lava caves is a must do. The route is neither too touch, nor too lush, but is quite interesting with several lookouts for scenic views on the way. The caves are wet in several areas (wear a good pair of shoes so that you don’t slip) and are pitch dark due to the black rock (so a torch is indispensable). Owing to its low ceiling, you often have to crawl to get in and then around inside the caves. As you focus on your foot work while spelunking (caving), you’ll encounter delightful curtains of ferns hanging from the top. It's quite an adventure. Rangitoto has various other summit walks as well as short and long walks that take you through its coastal areas, trails with exotic flaura, fauna and more… People also visit the island for bird watching, boating, kayaking, diving, fishing, snorkeling and even the good old picnicking…
Sky Tower
Unlike most big cities that known for their high rises, Auckland’s landscape largely features short houses and short buildings for office premises. So the over 300-meter tall Sky Tower, which is also the city’s highest man-made point, looks even more imposing. It’s also possibly one of the most buzzing places in Auckland with a chic diner, live band, café as well as a 360-degree revolving restaurant. But the most interesting experiences it offers are the SkyJump—sky diving from the tower, the SkyWalk—a guided tour for which you circle the tower on its narrow walkway without any handrail for support, and finally the massive live casino, where you’ll find all the possible games and people dressed in their best.
Les Mills
If you’re a fitness or dance freak, this is something you just shouldn’t miss. Paying 20-25 dollars, you can attend a wide range of classes from body balance, body pump and body jam to mixed martial arts, kick boxing, sh’bam and more, for an entire week, at any branch, all through the day. The instructors take the stage, and below throngs of people follow. It’s like the entire city is there. Wouldn’t it be a unique way to experience the city?
Dress Smart
What better place for a shopaholic than a mall that has over 100 stores, of the leading domestic and international brands, selling everything at discounted rates (upto 70%) all through the year. What's the secret you may wonder? Well in New Zealand, fresh stock is only sold for three months at retail outlets, so whatever remains is sold at Dress Smart.
Giapo Ice Cream
Everyone who visits this place for the first time definitely tries Giapo Ice Cream. It has all the possible unusual flavours like caramel pop corn, sangria, green tea; and it's garnished or decorated with different kinds of toppings so beautifully that you’re wowed by it even before you begin licking it…
With inputs from Chandni Gaglani and Vinti Idnani
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