• Ferry Building - Our main pick-up point is alongside the Ferry Building on Queens Wharf. There’s a designated pick-up & drop-off area, which is the spot.

Alternatively, we offer four central pick-up locations. Let us know where you are staying, and we will advise the closest pick-up point.

This is a very comprehensive tour, packing a lot into 3.5 to 4 hours. You’ll get a real feel for Auckland—its geography, history, sights, and way of life.

This family-run tour features detailed commentary full of local insights and humor.

• Viaduct Harbour - We drive along the downtown waterfront area, past Viaduct Harbour, one of Auckland’s top spots for dining and nightlife. It offers a great selection of restaurants and bars, lots of boats, and is home to the America’s Cup yachts and Whale & Dolphin watching boats.

• Wynyard Quarter - The Wynyard Quarter has been transformed into an attractive waterfront restaurant area and is home to the Auckland Fish Market. It’s a great place to revisit later for some fish and chips.

• Westhaven Marina - Westhaven Marina is the largest marina in the Southern Hemisphere. We stop here for great photos of the harbor, Harbour Bridge, and the marina. Sometimes we see bungee jumpers leaping off the Harbour Bridge. Sorry, but bungee jumping is not included in the tour, but I can help you organize it. There are also nice, clean bathrooms here.

• Auckland Harbour Bridge - We travel over the bridge to the North Shore, heading to Northcote Point.

• Little Shoal Bay Reserve - We visit Shoal Bay in Northcote Point for arguably the best views of Auckland City from across the harbor. It’s a great place for photos.

• Northcote - Optional coffee stop. We don’t stop on this tour for a formal morning or afternoon tea/coffee break as I prefer to show you as much of Auckland as possible. There are a couple of nice choices for takeaway drinks and snacks. Just bring them back to the bus. I have drink holders installed for this very reason.

• Ponsonby - Ponsonby is a Victorian/Edwardian suburb full of lovely older buildings. It offers fantastic shopping with a unique point of difference, mostly in privately owned shops. There is an extremely varied selection of stores, from fashion boutiques and gift shops to homewares, antiques, cafes, and restaurants. It’s well worth a revisit after the tour.

• Karangahape Road (K Road) - Known as a “colorful” area in the past, it’s making a comeback. The nightclubs, bars, and tattoo parlors are still here, but there’s also an interesting selection of shops and cafes. Definitely worth a revisit.

• Mount Eden - Fantastic elevated views of Auckland City from the summit of Mt Eden. It’s a 10-minute walk from the parking lot to the summit, but well worth it. If you are physically impaired, I have permission from the Auckland Council to take you to the very top. There are bathrooms here.

• Auckland Museum - We drive through the Auckland Domain (Park) and past the Auckland Museum. You would need at least 3-4 hours to visit the museum, so we don’t stop, but the museum is well worth a visit. It has an excellent exhibit on Maori and Polynesian culture, and the daily Maori cultural performance is most enjoyable.

• Parnell Rose Gardens - We drive through the Victorian suburb of Parnell and past the Parnell Rose Gardens. If the flowers are in bloom, we can stop for some photos.

• Mission Bay Beach - We are now back on the waterfront, where we enjoy a picturesque drive past Ohaku Bay, Mission Bay, Kohimarama Beach, and on to Saint Heliers.

• St Heliers - After Achilles Point, we drive through the seaside village of Saint Heliers and then back along the waterfront to downtown Auckland.

• Achilles Point - Achilles Point in the suburb of Saint Heliers offers wonderful views out over the many islands in the Hauraki Gulf. There’s also a nice view of Auckland City in the distance. It’s a great photo stop.

• The University of Auckland - We drive along the tree-lined Symonds St, past the University of Auckland, and head into the downtown area.

• Auckland Central - In the downtown city area, I’ll point out the Auckland Art Gallery and show you some of the smaller side streets, like High St and O’Connell Street, where there are interesting shops.

• Queen Street - Queen St is the main shopping street in Auckland. I point out many lovely heritage buildings, like the Auckland Town Hall and Civic Theater.

• Ferry Building - We conclude our tour back at the Ferry Building. Alternatively, if you are staying in the downtown area, I’m happy to drop you back at your hotel. This tour is delivered with comprehensive commentary, not just about the places we visit, but also about the geography, history, and an insight into our way of life. There are a few funny bits as well.

• Professional guide with live commentary
• In-vehicle air conditioning
• Selected convenient pick-up areas located throughout the City

• Gratuities