The city centre and its buzzing waterfront — the Sky Tower, Queen Street's shops, and the lively Viaduct and Wynyard harbours full of superyachts, bars and restaurants, right by the ferry terminal. Central, walkable and convenient, close to the sights and the boats to the islands; the base for travellers who want everything on the doorstep and the harbour buzz, though it's the busiest, most built-up part of town. The natural first-time base.
A look around
What you’ll be living next to. Swipe through.
NZ$320–600
typical per night in New Zealand
You pay for the postcode
One of the pricier addresses in Auckland.
Where it sits
The circle is CBD & Viaduct Harbour and roughly a 10-minute walk around it.
How far is everything?
From the middle of this area to the city's headline sights — pick your own on the city page and these become your list.
- The Auckland Domain & Wintergardens23 min walk1.9 km
- Auckland War Memorial Museum24 min walk2.0 km
- Ponsonby28 min walk2.3 km
- Auckland food & Pasifika flavours28 min walk2.3 km
- Devonport & the North Shore (beach)8 min taxi2.8 km
- Devonport8 min taxi2.8 km
- Mount Eden (Maungawhau)11 min taxi3.7 km
- Rangitoto Island31 min taxi10.3 km
- The west-coast surf beaches88 min taxi29.3 km
On your doorstep
What you’re living next to if you stay here.
- 2.The Sky Tower — The soaring 328 m Sky Tower dominates the skyline — ride up to the observation decks (some with glass floors) for a breathtaking 360° view over the harbours, the volcanic cones and the Hauraki Gulf islands, or, for the brave, do the SkyWalk around the rim or the SkyJump base-jump off it. The definitive Auckland overview and orientation; go at sunset for the city lights, or dine in the revolving restaurant. A thrilling, unmissable centrepiece of downtown. The classic first stop.
- 3.Auckland War Memorial Museum — New Zealand's grandest museum, crowning the green Domain in a majestic neoclassical building — with a superb, world-class collection of Māori and Pacific treasures (including a great carved war canoe and meeting house), natural history, and moving war galleries. Crucially, it hosts a daily Māori cultural performance of song, dance and the haka. The essential introduction to Māori and Pasifika culture and New Zealand's story; a rich, unmissable few hours. Don't miss the cultural show.
- 6.The Viaduct & Wynyard waterfront — Auckland's revitalised harbourfront is the heart of the 'City of Sails' — the Viaduct Harbour and Wynyard Quarter, ringed by superyachts, restaurants and bars, where America's Cup history lives and the city comes to eat, drink and stroll by the water. A lovely spot to promenade, watch the boats, dine on fresh seafood and soak up the maritime buzz, especially at sunset; wander from the ferry terminal along the water. The city's most enjoyable, breezy outdoor scene.
- 12.A Hauraki Gulf ferry or sail — Auckland lives on the water, and getting out onto the sparkling Hauraki Gulf is a joy — hop a ferry between the islands and villages, take a harbour cruise, or, best of all, go sailing on a former America's Cup yacht and even take the helm. The 'City of Sails' is best understood from a boat, with the skyline, the volcanoes and the gulf islands all around. A quintessential, breezy Auckland experience; even the humble Devonport ferry delivers a wonderful ride and view.
When are you staying?
Booking.com & Airbnb open searched to CBD & Viaduct Harbour; flights via Google Flights.