Your Say about Auckland
Posted by
JI-YEON LEE (LEE) (Dubai Based Crew)
TONYA McNAMEE (Dubai Based Crew)
MONICA SHEPHERD (Dubai Based Crew)
JI-YEON LEE (LEE)Things that crew should know.
In case of emergency call 111 for police and paramedics.
In AKL, there are so many hills so take comfy shoes with you(trust me on this one)
In NZ, you must show your ID if you wanna enter places like clubs and casinos.
Taxi no. 300-3000/529-1000
Smoking is not permitted in pubic places all around NZ
Hi Guys,
First of all, I think crew should know that the hotel is like (Dubai based crew). The hotel where we are staying in AKL is which is a quite popular hotel apartment, located in AKL city centre on a street called 'Courthouse Lane'. As the hotel is a hotel apartment, each room has got pretty much full facilities you will have a washing machine, microwave, stove, DVD player and so on. So crew can wash their clothes and even can cook their meals. "Considering that AKL flight is a long days trip, I thought these things could help :)".
Activities around AKL City.
1. Sky City: Located right in center of AKL city. I remember that the media said that it is the tallest tower in the Southern Hemisphere when it was built.
Basically it's a hotel with casino, theatre, restaurants, bars and observation decks around AKL city. Personally disappointed with restaurants in the past with their lack of service and food qualities. Recommend to visit observation deck if you wanna see the view of AKL city around sun set period so you can see the view with and without the light.
If you are a bungy freak, you could try Sky jump which is quite popular for tourists. Also, there are numerous dairies and restaurants around the Sky City.
About 10 min's walk from the crew hotel.
Opens 7/24.
Phone: 0800 759 2489 (toll free number)
2. AJ Hackett Bungy: You could try Bungy jump at Auckland Harbour Bridge as well as bridge climb if you can handle it :).
I think they have special access permission from the government as the bridge is not open for public
of course. :) Bookings needed and I think the hotel could arrange it. You will need to get a taxi for this as it is bit far to walk. Will cost around 10-15 bucks.
Price: NZ $90.00
Phone: Phone: +64 9 361 2000 or 0800 462 5462 (Within New Zealand)
3. Bungy ride: I couldn't find out the information for this. But right in the middle of AKL city, you could try bungy ride with your mates. I think they video tape it if you want with additional charges.
Less than 10 mins of walk from out hotel. No bookings needed.
Location: walk towards Queen Street from the hotel. If you can see the 4 courners of Whitcoulls( book shop), ANZ bank. National Bank and Starbucks go towards National Bank then you will see the Bungy ride place up in the hill across the AA Centre before the Sky City Tower.
4. Albert Park: The hotel is located just underneath the Albert Park so it will take less then 5 mins walk from the hotel. It is a small park but at least you can spend some time in the park with 'real' trees and grass. Around this place, you will see many students because, just it is where the University of Auckland main campus is located. During the day, many students spend their time playing catch balls, touch and so on. Ask hotel reception how to get there.
5. Art Galleries: There are couple of Art Galleries not far from our hotel. Less than 5 mins walk.
Some of Art galleries hold the most famous and priceless art works of NZ artists. Basically Kitchener Street is full of Art galleries. Ask hotel reception how to get there.
Asian Food. ( see attached map for locations)
AKL is quite multi cultured place so you can easily find Asian restaurants all around but here are some best if you wanna know. All the places listed here are close from the hotel where we are staying.
1 Chinese noodle house: It is a only small noodle restaurant but has got the best hand made Chinese style noodles.
location: If you walk down from the hotel towards the Queen Street, you will see a huge book shop called 'Whitcoulls' on the right hand side, and a 'Starbucks' across the road. It is located by the Starbucks near the Lorne Street. Cost for a meal is around 10 bucks.
2 Yam Char (Grand Harbor Chinese Restaurant) Lunch- Yam Char and Chinese cuisine
Dinner- Chinese Cuisine only
Great old Yam Char style but you might have to wait for a while if you do not make a reservation.
location: Take a cab to 18-28 Custom St West, behind the old 'Sea Mart' building. Will cost about 8 bucks.
Phone: 09 357 6889 / Cost: it's a calling buffet, so can be different. Around 50-70 bucks for 2 people
3 Japanese Yakitori Bar (Ken). Open from 6 PM till 1 AM, 7 days. Japanese Yakitori Sake Bar. Tiny place but quite popular so there are about 5 branches of this place around AKL. Should book before you go especially in the weekend.
walk- 10-15 min's. by cab 5 min's. Will cost around 5-8 bucks.
Location: 49 Anzac Avenue
Phone:09 379 6500
Cost: around 50-60 bucks for 2 people
4 Thai Cuisine (Mai-Thai Restaurant). Open lunch and dinner. Make reservation before you go. Just across the Sky Tower. Awarded couple of times. Always good service (like us -_-;;).
About 10-15 min's walk from hotel.
Location: cnr Victoria & Albert Sts
Phone: 09-366 6258
Cost: around 50-70 bucks for 2 people.
5 Korean Cuisine (Nol Bu Ne). As I'm a Kowi (Korean Kiwi -_-), there are many places which I can recommend, but this one is the closest as far as I can remember. Open from 11 AM to 10 PM, 7 days. This place normally gets really packed during lunch hour between 12-2 PM so try to avoid that times if you can. :) By walk 5 min's.
Location: End of Lorne Street, on the right hand side there is a tall red Chinese temple style building. Level 2. and on a ground floor, there is a Japanese Restaurant-not bad.
Cost: around 30 bucks for 2 people.
6 Japanese Noodle House (Ichiban Yakatori & Ramen Restaurant).
Many European people know this place as a only Japanese noodle bar
(considering the noodle bar section) but, inside the restaurant there is another section of a restaurant where you can drink and eat Japanese cuisine. Friendly service and always busy restaurant. In the noodle bar section, there are many Japanese Comic books (in Jap.) so people who can read, Japanese would love it. 10 min's walk from hotel.
Location: 17 Albert St
Phone: 09 377 0304
Tells us about the Nightlife in Auckland.
DESCHLERS, has great cocktails and live jazz/funk music on Thursday nights. (High St, close to the OCCIDENTAL restaurant in vulcan lane, which is famous for its mussels).
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RAKINO'S, just up from Deschlers. You have to go up to the first floor, they have music most nights, an amazing funk band (they are that good) on Sundays nights...also has a smoking balcony.
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KHUJA LOUNGE...always a favorite, top of the hill queen St, corner of queen St and karangahape rd (known as K road) they are on the top floor so take the rickety wooden lift. There's a cover between 5 and 15$ usually, you get a great range of music, DJ's spinning vinyl alongsidebrass and bongos, they make a great dirrrty martini.
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BOOGIEWONDERLAND will appeal to most crew, it has a light up dance floor straight out of Saturday night fever, cheesy 70's 80's music and a packed crowd, heaps of fun, people dress up so expect the odd 'fro' bottom of queen St(towards waterfront) cnr of Queen and custom st.cover $10
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CROW BAR 26, Wyndham St, runs off queen street (midway down) known for its brilliant bar staff and mixed crowd, dress code tidy, pool table, booths, dance floor, great booze, good music, stylish and hip something for everyone .also close to hotel.
Shopping: Queen Street – fashion stores, NZ designers, designer Kiwiana.
[ Directions: High Street off Queen St. ]
Aotea Square Markets: Fridays and Saturdays – designer clothing, Kiwiana, jewellery, handcrafts etc
[ Directions: Top end of Queen Street behind Imax theatre complex. ]
Victoria Park Market: Walking distance from city centre lots of different stalls – clothing, jewellery, good place to buy bone or greenstone carvings.
[ Directions: Go up Victoria street towards sky tower and down hill on the other side or you can take ‘Link Bus’ from a bus stop on Queen Street. ]
Karangahape Road (K-Road): Quirky clothing and gift shops. www.kroad.co.nz
Nightlife: "Guys will need a collar and black shoes to get into most clubs. You need to take your ID everywhere – they are really tough on this and check everyone".
www.biggie.co.nz – Website which has events, gigs, beach parties and entertainment happening in Auckland.
Viaduct Harbour (Princes Wharf, Quay Street)
Bars and clubs are open most nights of the week –
O’Hagans, Danny Doolans, Loaded Hog, Provador, Waterfront bar, Float, Spy Bar, Carpark, Lenin, Bungalow 8
Minus 5 – Bar made completely of ice – walls, seats, glasses. You can spend 30 minutes in there; $25 includes a free drink.
Degree – Has ‘stone grill’ meals if you want to try some NZ lamb
High Street: Biggest nights are Friday and Saturday.
Clubs like Met and Code often have big name DJs so there may be high cover charges on certain nights
Parnell: Short taxi ride from city centre. Lots of restaurants, cafes, bars. Particularly busy on Wednesday nights. www.parnell.co.nz
Queen Street: Mexican Café - Victoria Street, up the hill towards Sky tower. Wednesday is Brazilian night, Live bands, latino music and food
Sky City Casino (Victoria Street) – Bar 3 dance club and bar
Globe Bar – bar underneath backpackers so always packed with tourists.
Takapuna, Hurstmere Road (North Shore) – take bus route 858, 839, 879 or 875 from outside Civic Theatre on Queen Street to Takapuna. Bus drops you off outside Westfield shopping centre. Busy on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights but usually a young crowd. Bars close at 1am, there is a bus provided back to the city as other public transport has stopped at this time. Otherwise a taxi back to the city is around NZ$20-25
Karangahape Road (K-Road) Many dance clubs, bars, all-night cafes, drag queen cabaret shows. You could call it the red light district of central Auckland, it appears seedy but stick to the main road and its pretty safe, unless you are afraid of large Polynesian transvestites
( www.kroad.co.nz/listings has list of all bars and restaurants)
Things to do: Sky Jump - Sky Tower call 0800 759 586
Auckland Bungy and Bridge climb - call 0800 462 5462
Ferry to Rangitoto Island - Climb to the top to the Volcano or catch the train to take you up (small fee).
Long Bay Regional Park (North Shore). Catch either bus 858,839,875,879 outside the Civic Theatre on Queens Street. These buses will take you right through the Bays, once there you can visit any of the many North Shore beaches.
Some beaches: -
Takapuna Beach - Also there is a Westfield Shopping Centre nearby.
Milford Beach - Mairangi bay, browns bay and your last bus stop is Long Bay Beach which features a huge regional park. Note it is possible to walk along the cliff top path to reach each of the bays.
Mission Bay Beach - Take a bus from downtown, takes you along Tamaki Drive. Also here is Kelly Tarltons Antarctic and Undewater World. You can also hire bikes, skates, kayaks.
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