Guide · Auckland

Auckland - the City of Sails, quietly done.

Most travellers pass through Tāmaki Makaurau on their way somewhere else. Give it two or three days, and Auckland rewards you with harbour islands, volcanic viewpoints, and some of the country's most considered restaurants.

When to go

Summer (December–March) is when Auckland's harbour comes alive, with long evenings on the waterfront, ferries out to Waiheke, and warm swims at the west coast beaches. Autumn (March–May) is the advisor's pick: settled weather, fewer crowds, and vineyards heavy with fruit. Winter is mild and green, and the city's dining scene shines when the tourists thin out.

Where to stay

The Viaduct and Wynyard Quarter hotels put you on the water with walking access to the ferry terminal. Britomart trades the view for the city's best cluster of restaurants and boutiques. For something quieter, the Parnell and Herne Bay villas offer a residential feel - leafy streets, neighbourhood cafés, and a short taxi into town.

If you want to be right in the centre yet in a quiet neighbourhood, we try to send guests to Braemar on Parliament Street - a beautifully restored late-Victorian townhouse B&B a short walk from the University, Sky Tower, and the waterfront. The rooms are full of character, breakfast is generous, and host Sweeto (John) makes it feel like a home away from home in the middle of the city.

The guest lounge at Braemar on Parliament Street, with an open fire, antique armchairs and a Persian rug — Braemar on Parliament Street - the guest lounge and one of the restored Victorian-era bedrooms.

A late-Victorian guest bedroom at Braemar on Parliament Street with kauri joinery and an ensuite claw-foot bath — Braemar on Parliament Street - the guest lounge and one of the restored Victorian-era bedrooms.

We have a direct relationship with Sweeto, the host at Braemar, who helps make each guest's trip that much more special and easier.

For a central base with a city or harbour outlook, we also like Avani Metropolis Auckland. The apartment-style suites sit right in the CBD, a short walk from Queen Street and the waterfront, with full kitchen and laundry facilities and extra space for longer stays.

More on how we work with them: Braemar on Parliament Street, or see all partner properties.

The upgrade angle

Skip the standard Waiheke day trip. A private skipper out of the Viaduct will run you across to the island with a stop for a swim, drop you at a cellar door for lunch, and time the return for sunset over the Hauraki Gulf. Ask us about the harbour-view suites that don't appear on the public rate sheets. The difference is a floor or two, and the whole city at your feet.