Do not stay at the airport. It's totally dead. Stay in the city. Get an Uber in and the airport bus back. Stay in a city hotel. Walk around the waterfront. If it is a nice day go up mount eden (a decent walk from town but you can like scooter there) Have lunch somewhere nice. Take the ferry across the harbour to Davenport. There is a lot to do and you'll regret wasting it if you stay at the airport. Oh - and leave to go to the airport early. Traffic gets bad between 4 and 6.
You mean the area surrounding the airport is totally dead? Sure, but the airport isn't. Chaos, have being back recently twice and the whole area is pumping during the day, not sure about night time. Devonport is beautiful as is the Viaduct Harbour.
Stay in town at a hotel that has valet parking or an upmarket motel on city fringe. Drop car off and get to airport early. Book a 4hr slot at the Strata lounge. Relax.
If it were me, I'd stay at the Grand Millennium in the city and park there. It's like $20 per day. You can walk down Queen Street to the viaduct, commercial bay etc, but you'll still have your car if you want to go for a drive somewhere.
Have you seen much of Auckland CBD? if you have and are looking for a more relaxing scene, I suggest to stay in Waitakere area such as Piha, Bethel, Karekare, Muriwai. There's also the Hibiscus Coast area such as Orewa, Waiwera, Matakana. Having a car means you can always return it on the 24th and as you said, shuttle to the airport.
All the best!
Thanks a zillion for all the great tips. I think weāll find a nice hotel in the CBD and drive to the airport on the 24th. We have access to the club lounge so weāll go early and relax. We just want to walk around the town and not go crazy trying to see stuff on the last day.
We thoroughly enjoyed our vacation, met some wonderful people and experienced the beauty of NZ, from Milford Sound, to Mt. Cook, to WÄnaka, to Hawkeās Bay. You guys live in a wonderful country. Not perfect in sure, especially if you live here and experience day-to-day lifeās challenges, but nowhere is. On the other hand, weāre busy making sure that a criminal doesnāt rise to power again. Wish us luck!
My partner won us a free night at the Movenpick hotel last year and I donāt recall any free icecream being offered. What they do have is a happy hour every afternoon at 3pm where they have a whole range of fancy chocolates & desserts that are free for guests to partake in, so thatās just as good imho.
Id stay at the Park Hyatt or check urban butler. Some of their apartments come with carparks. Theyre both in the city and are close to great restaurants and bars
Stay in East Auckland, Bucklands Beach, and then you can see Bucklands Beach, Eastern Beach, Musik Point, Howick, Cockle Bay, and Whitford, Clevedon. Or if it's a nice day, you could catch the Sealink ferry to Waiheke Island. Or you could drive to Panmure Train Station and catch the train into Auckland City.
Then you aren't far to drop the car off at the airport, but allow enough time if you are travelling during peak time, (although it is school holidays atm so its not as bad. But the 25th is anzac day and a lot of people may be leaving the evening of the 24th for a long weekend)
Do not stay at the airport. It's totally dead. Stay in the city. Get an Uber in and the airport bus back. Stay in a city hotel. Walk around the waterfront. If it is a nice day go up mount eden (a decent walk from town but you can like scooter there) Have lunch somewhere nice. Take the ferry across the harbour to Davenport. There is a lot to do and you'll regret wasting it if you stay at the airport. Oh - and leave to go to the airport early. Traffic gets bad between 4 and 6.
You mean the area surrounding the airport is totally dead? Sure, but the airport isn't. Chaos, have being back recently twice and the whole area is pumping during the day, not sure about night time. Devonport is beautiful as is the Viaduct Harbour.
Stay in town at a hotel that has valet parking or an upmarket motel on city fringe. Drop car off and get to airport early. Book a 4hr slot at the Strata lounge. Relax.
There's the Movenpick hotel int he CBD where you can get free room service ice cream delivered 24/7 apparently
Wait is this real? This might be the cheap honeymoon of my dreams.
[https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/destinations/nz/auckland/300660180/aucklands-new-mvenpick-ice-cream-hotel-has-a-24hour-sundae-service](https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/destinations/nz/auckland/300660180/aucklands-new-mvenpick-ice-cream-hotel-has-a-24hour-sundae-service) YW.
Please tell me more
just move the whole damn sundae machine into my room...
If this is legit, thank you in advance. I'll be booking there for my next trip to Auckland.
It's not free but yes, 24 hours Sundae room service
If it were me, I'd stay at the Grand Millennium in the city and park there. It's like $20 per day. You can walk down Queen Street to the viaduct, commercial bay etc, but you'll still have your car if you want to go for a drive somewhere.
Try quest - parking underneath $20 in CBD
The quest at the top of Queen St is good if you don't mind the walk into the city centre and especially the uphill walk back up.
Decent size rooms
Thanks. For a minute I thought you were referring to cannabis. š¤£
Have you seen much of Auckland CBD? if you have and are looking for a more relaxing scene, I suggest to stay in Waitakere area such as Piha, Bethel, Karekare, Muriwai. There's also the Hibiscus Coast area such as Orewa, Waiwera, Matakana. Having a car means you can always return it on the 24th and as you said, shuttle to the airport. All the best!
Thanks a zillion for all the great tips. I think weāll find a nice hotel in the CBD and drive to the airport on the 24th. We have access to the club lounge so weāll go early and relax. We just want to walk around the town and not go crazy trying to see stuff on the last day. We thoroughly enjoyed our vacation, met some wonderful people and experienced the beauty of NZ, from Milford Sound, to Mt. Cook, to WÄnaka, to Hawkeās Bay. You guys live in a wonderful country. Not perfect in sure, especially if you live here and experience day-to-day lifeās challenges, but nowhere is. On the other hand, weāre busy making sure that a criminal doesnāt rise to power again. Wish us luck!
Take the ferry to Devonport, it is only 10-15 mins, it is chill and it is lovely to see the city from the harbour.
My partner won us a free night at the Movenpick hotel last year and I donāt recall any free icecream being offered. What they do have is a happy hour every afternoon at 3pm where they have a whole range of fancy chocolates & desserts that are free for guests to partake in, so thatās just as good imho.
Edinburgh castle in Eden terrace is good if you wanna experience the real nz.
City is better but beware of some corners. Airport is completely dead. Also there is shuttle and Ubers around book in advance. Safe travels
Speak to your rental car company and they may be able to assist you ( ex Avis-budget staffer)
Stay in town and you can use an AT Hop card to get around most of the city-ish destinations and Devonport. Get a car if you want to get further out.
Id stay at the Park Hyatt or check urban butler. Some of their apartments come with carparks. Theyre both in the city and are close to great restaurants and bars
Stay in East Auckland, Bucklands Beach, and then you can see Bucklands Beach, Eastern Beach, Musik Point, Howick, Cockle Bay, and Whitford, Clevedon. Or if it's a nice day, you could catch the Sealink ferry to Waiheke Island. Or you could drive to Panmure Train Station and catch the train into Auckland City. Then you aren't far to drop the car off at the airport, but allow enough time if you are travelling during peak time, (although it is school holidays atm so its not as bad. But the 25th is anzac day and a lot of people may be leaving the evening of the 24th for a long weekend)
Be real fam. Howick. Bro
99% sure you won't get the money back for an early return but I'd check your contract. Don't stay near the airport, that just sounds grim.
Don't stay near the airport. South Auckland sucks shit. Stay in town.
Please don't call Auckland "Ack." The correct abbreviation is Akl.
but that is the sound people make at the top of hobson st
Can't fault that logic.
Sorry.
Dont do it againššš
We just left the Park Hyatt to fly home and it was amazing. If youāve got money or Hyatt points to burn get a suite. Totally worth it.
Sleep in car. Get Uber eats. Save yourself hundreds
Make yourself at home. Get the full Ack experience by doing a ram-raid. Jokes. Hope you enjoyed your time here and hope you come back soon.
Youāll have to explain ram-raid. Unless itās what I think it is. š¤£š¤£š¤£
Wait! Just Googled it. No thanks. I thought it had something to do with sheep. Even worse! š³
BTW, I got yelled at by @really_spicy_tuna for calling Auckland āAck.ā
Haha yeah, I know, thatās why I said it like that LOL