Manukau
Flying into Auckland is a great experience, the start of an exciting adventure that will take you to places of unbelievable natural beauty and where outdoor living is at its best during the long hot summer months in the southern hemisphere.
Just outside Auckland, Manukau boasts a cosmopolitan community, with a colourful city, stunning coastline and superb beaches. If you enjoy water sports, a short stay in Manukau will give you the chance to indulge your passions. Many Aucklanders get out of the city at the weekends to spend their free time in Manukau – the area has a lot to offer visitors and locals alike.
There are plenty of great restaurants in Manukau and because of the diverse community the choice of cuisine is exceptional. With a wonderful café and bar scene, there is no shortage of places to stop, sit down and relax in a typical laid-back Kiwi atmosphere.
If you’re looking for bit of culture in the area, Manukau has some great art galleries and museums filled with contemporary Kiwi art including some amazing Maori masterpieces on permanent display. With attractions like Butterfly Creek and Rainbow’s End, this is a great place to take the whole family for a day out. Of course, big kids have a lot of fun in these parks too…
Butterfly Creek is home to many tropical animal species like salt water crocodiles, baby alligators, reptiles and a collection of around 750 species of butterflies. There are also an abundance of tropical birds and a marine coral and fresh-water tropical aquaria. It is well worth taking the Red Admiral Express Train that meanders through the surrounding wetlands. The park is open all year round and there’s a great café in the park too that serves up some great Kiwi snacks and cool drinks.
Just a short drive down the coast brings you to many typically Kiwi villages with brilliantly white painted houses. The surrounding landscapes are gorgeous, with many great photo opportunities. There are some lovely places to stay in and around Manukau with something to suit all budgets.
Manukau is that it is just a stone’s throw away from Auckland, which is why so many city dwellers like to spend their free time there. With fabulous beaches, great restaurants serving up an array of dishes with a typical Kiwi flair, a vibrant café scene tand some great bars to spend a few hours in the cool of the evening, it’s definitely worth spending some time there.
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Key facts:
Distances: 25km from Auckland
Best time to visit: The weather is warmest in summer (Nov-Mar) if you’re planning on plenty of outdoor activities, but given the range of museums, bars and restaurants there isn’t a bad time to visit.
How long to spend there: Allow two days to explore the city, with another day or two if you plan to venture further afield or check out the theme park.
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