Highlights of Auckland!
When visiting Auckland, New Zealand, there are several activities and attractions you can enjoy:
1. Sky Tower: Take in panoramic views of the city from the observation deck or try the SkyWalk or SkyJump for an adrenaline rush.
2. Auckland War Memorial Museum: Explore the museum’s extensive collection of Maori and Pacific Island artifacts, natural history exhibits, and learn about New Zealand’s history.
3. Auckland Waterfront: Stroll along the vibrant waterfront promenade, visit the Viaduct Harbour, and enjoy waterfront dining and entertainment options.
4. Waiheke Island: Take a ferry to this stunning island known for its vineyards, beautiful beaches, and art galleries. Enjoy wine tastings, hiking, or simply relax on the picturesque beaches.
5. Rangitoto Island: Take a ferry to this volcanic island and hike to the summit for panoramic views. Explore lava caves and learn about the island’s volcanic history.
6. Piha Beach: Visit this popular surf beach known for its black sand and rugged beauty. Take a swim, surf, or explore nearby trails such as the Lion Rock Walk.
7. Auckland Domain: Explore this expansive park featuring formal gardens, walking trails, and the Auckland War Memorial Museum. It’s a great place for a picnic or a leisurely walk.
8. Auckland Zoo: Discover a wide variety of native and exotic animals, including kiwis, at this award-winning zoo.
9. Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki: Explore New Zealand’s largest art collection, featuring both local and international works.
10. Food and Markets: Sample local cuisine at the city’s numerous restaurants, cafes, and food markets such as the La Cigale French Market and the Otara Markets.
These are just a few highlights of what Auckland has to offer. The city also boasts a vibrant nightlife scene, shopping districts, and cultural events throughout the year.
What currency will I need?
The New Zealand Dollar (NZD) is the official currency of New Zealand. Here are some key details about the New Zealand Dollar: The symbol used for the New Zealand Dollar is “$” or “NZ$”.
The New Zealand Dollar is divided into cents, with coins available in denominations of 10, 20, and 50 cents, as well as $1 and $2 coins. Banknotes are available in denominations of $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100.
When visiting Auckland, it is advisable to have New Zealand Dollars on hand for cash transactions. There are no specific restrictions on bringing New Zealand Dollars into the country. However, if you are carrying a significant amount of cash, you may need to declare it at customs.
Should I use travel cash or a card?
According to Mintel, 90% of British travellers take some travel cash with them. It’s perfect for tips, taxis, street-side vendors and locations which do not have card machines (or where they are not working). It’s easy to budget with, and share with other members of your party. It’s also not prone to technical faults, does not require internet access, and you won’t be charged to use it.
Having a debit card is also a great idea as backup – just make sure you know what fees the card issuer charges to make payments in the foreign currency (better still, find one that makes no charges at all). Bigger purchases should be made on a travel-friendly UK-issued credit card to get that additional Section 75 protection (see https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/everyday-money/credit-and-purchases/how-youre-protected-when-you-pay-by-card). Make sure when paying by card that you ALWAYS pay in the foreign currency – do not let the card processor do the conversion to GBP as you will always get a worse rate. That applies even if the foreign currency is already loaded onto a prepaid multi-currency card – the card issuer will decide whether to settle from your foreign currency wallet or not.
Where can I buy currency?
You will typically get a better deal buying your travel cash here in the UK before you travel. Look for the highest possible foreign currency exchange rate to indicate the best deal. For example, a rate of NZ$2.0294 is better than NZ$1.9618 when buying New Zealand Dollar (NZD). Airports tend to offer the worst rates – especially if you have not pre-ordered – and you may find a bureau de change on your High Street, in a supermarket or department store, in many travel agents, and at major transport hubs.
You can also buy New Zealand Dollar from Travel Money Club for next business day despatch to home via fully insured Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1pm. Unlike the competition, we don’t hide fees and charges in our exchange rates – you just pay a fair and transparent handling fee based on how much you are exchanging. Get an instant quote now at https://yourtmc.link/quote-nzd.
