Other sights in Auckland
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Civic Theatre
Opening its doors in 1929, the mighty Civic is one of seven ‘atmospheric theatres’ remaining in the world and a fine survivor from cinema’s Golden Age. The auditorium has lavish Moorish decoration and a starlit southern-hemisphere sky in the ceiling, complete with cloud projections. The foyer is an Indian indulgence, with elephants and monkeys hanging from every conceivable fixture. Buddhas were planned to decorate the street frontage but were considered too risqué at the time – they chose neoclassical naked boys instead!
If at all possible, try to attend a performance here. It’s mainly used for touring musicals, big premieres and Film Festival screenings.
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Auckland Botanical Gardens
The 64-hectare Auckland Botanical Gardens has dozens of themed gardens, threatened plants, and a hell of a lot of brides and grooms. By car, take the Southern Motorway, exit at Manurewa and follow the signs. Otherwise take the train to Manurewa ($5.70, 40 minutes) and then walk along Hill Rd (1.5km) or catch bus 466 ($1.60, 15 minutes).
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St Patrick’s Cathedral
Auckland’s Catholic cathedral is one of its loveliest buildings. Polished wood and Belgian stained glass lend warmth to the interior of this majestic Gothic Revival church (1907). There’s a historical display in the old confessional on the left-hand side.
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Albert Park & Auckland University
Hugging the hill on the city’s eastern flank, Albert Park is a charming Victorian formal garden overrun by students during term time, the more radical of whom periodically deface the statues of Governor Grey and Queen Victoria. Auckland University campus stretches over several streets and incorporates a row of stately Victorian merchant houses (Princes St) and Old Government House (Waterloo Quadrant). The latter was the colony’s seat of power from 1856 until 1865, when Wellington became the capital.
The University Clock Tower is Auckland’s architectural triumph. The stately ‘ivory’ tower (1926) tips its hat towards art nouveau (the incorporation of NZ flora and fauna …
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Viaduct Harbour
Once a busy commercial port, the Viaduct Harbour was given a major makeover leading up to the 1999/2000 and 2003 America’s Cup tournaments. It’s now a fancy dining and boozing precinct for the boat-shoes brigade, and guaranteed to have at least a slight buzz any night of the week. Historical plaques, interesting sculpture and the chance to gawk at millionaires’ yachts make it a pleasant place for a stroll.
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Tamaki Drive
This scenic, pohutukawa-lined road heads east from the city, hugging the waterfront. In summer it’s a jogging/cycling/rollerblading blur offering plenty of eye candy. Just past Kelly Tarlton’s, Hapimana St heads up to Bastion Point and the Michael Joseph Savage Memorial. Savage (1872–1940) was the country’s first Labour prime minister and widely considered one of its best. His socialist reforms left him adored by the populace, as this elaborate cliff-top garden mausoleum demonstrates. Follow the lawn to a WWII gun embankment – one of many that line the harbour.
Below the headland is Mission Bay, a popular beach with an iconic fountain, historic mission house, re…
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Western Springs Park
This park centres on a lake formed by a confluence of lava flows. Until 1902 this was Auckland’s main water supply; more than four-million litres bubble up daily. Kids come here to be traumatised by pushy, bread-fattened geese and partake of the popular adventure playground. It’s a great spot for a picnic and to get acquainted with playful pukeko (swamp hens). From the city, catch any bus heading west via Great North Rd. By car, take the Western Springs exit from the North Western Motorway.
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Auckland Volcanic Field
Some cities think they’re tough by living in the shadow of a volcano. Auckland’s built on 50 of them and, no, they’re not all extinct. The last one to erupt was Rangitoto about 600 years ago and no one can predict when the next eruption will occur. Auckland’s quite literally a hot spot – with a reservoir of magma 100km below waiting to bubble to the surface. But relax: this has only happened 19 times in the last 20,000 years. Some of Auckland’s volcanoes are cones, some are filled with water and some have been completely quarried away. Moves are afoot to register the field as a World Heritage site and protect what remains. Most of the surviving cones show evidence of terr…
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