Moving to Auckland: Auckland Moving Guide

Moving to Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, is like a dream come true.

Just picture a modern urban setting less than 30 minutes away from beautiful beaches, magnificent hiking trails, enchanting holiday islands and a never-ending array of exhilarating activities to keep you genuinely entertained. Now add the mild climate, plentiful employment and educational opportunities, as well as numerous leisure facilities, and you get a much better idea of what Auckland is all about.

Love cultural events, outstanding food, quality wine and satisfying shopping? Love exploring the beauty of nature? Love to hop from one adrenaline-filled adventure to another?

You’ve definitely come to the right place.

Wherever you go in Auckland, you’ll find something special, something extraordinary waiting to be further explored and enjoyed.

Geography

New Zealand is situated in the South Pacific Ocean and runs north-south with mountain ranges occupying most of its length. The country consists of two main islands (North and South) which cover 266,200 sq. km. (103,735 sq. miles) – the size of Japan or California, and a little larger than Great Britain.

Auckland Urban Area is located in the North Island and is the largest and most populous urban area in the country – its 1,418,000 people constitute 32 percent of the country’s population. Auckland City’s population is 450,300 people.

Climate

Auckland’s climate is subtropical with warm humid summers and mild damp winters. It is one of the sunniest parts of the country with an average of 2060 sunshine hours a year. High levels of rainfall occur almost year-round with an average of 1240 mm per year spread over 137 “rain days”. In February, the average daily maximum temperature is 34.4 °C (93.9 °F), while in July it is 14.5 °C (58.1 °F). The absolute maximum recorded temperature is 34.4 °C (93.9 °F) while the absolute minimum is −0.6 °C (30.9 °F).

Snowfall in Auckland is extremely rare – the two recorded instances are 27 July, 1939 and 15 August, 2011 without any accumulation.

The current and upcoming weather conditions in Auckland can be followed at MetService.

Economy

According to Mercer’s Quality of Living Rankings for 2014, where 223 cities around the world have been analyzed based on 39 different factors, Auckland takes the prestigious 3rd place (Vienna and Zurich hold the top two spots).

Auckland is the economic capital of the nation with the most expensive office space located in the Auckland CBD (the Central Business District). Also referred to as “Central City” or “Downtown”, the Auckland CBD is the geographical and economic heart of the metropolitan area, as well as one of the most built-up regions of New Zealand. Most major international corporations have an office there which has turned the Central Business District into the largest employment center in the country with around 65 000 jobs and 8 500 distinct businesses. It has been estimated that around 73 000 people enter the Auckland CBD every morning between 7 am and 9 am.

Famous sights

Auckland Harbour Bridge

This eight-lane motorway bridge is an iconic symbol of Auckland. Its length of 1,020 m (3,34 8ft) makes it the second-longest bridge in New Zealand (after Rakaia River bridge) and the longest one in the North Island. The lack of walking, cycling and rail facilities is considered a huge oversight. The bridge is a popular spot for bungy jumping – jumpers may choose to just touch the water or to get dunked in it.

Sky Tower

This observation and telecommunications tower (328 m, 1,076 ft) is the tallest free-standing structure in the Southern Hemisphere. It’s become another iconic structure in Auckland’s skyline. It’s New Zealand’s only revolving restaurant (located 190 m (620 ft) above the ground, it turns 360 degrees every hour) and three observation decks at different heights offer breath-taking views of the city and attract an average of 1,450 visitors per day.

Also, the tower offers 2 extreme adventure activities for thrill-seekers: “SkyJump” – a 192-meter (630 ft) jump from the observation desk where jumpers can reach a velocity up to 85 km/h (53 mph) and “SkyWalk” – an informative journey on the 1.2 m-wide ring of Sky Tower with nothing (not even handrails) on either side of the walkway except a 192 m drop to the ground.

Auckland Town Hall

Opened on 14 December 1911, the Auckland Town Hall is a historic building in downtown Auckland used for administrative functions and for music performances in its Concert Chamber. The latter is considered to have some of the finest acoustics in the world and houses the largest, and most powerful, musical instrument in the country – an awe-inspiring organ.

Auckland Civic Theatre

Opened on 20 December, 1929, Auckland Civic Theatre is a large heritage atmospheric theatre in downtown Auckland with seat capacity of 2,378 people. It is the perfect example of the atmospheric theatre style where lights are used to convey an impression of being seated outdoor with the illusion of an open sky with twinkling stars.

Auckland War Memorial Museum

Also knows as the Auckland Museum, this is one of New Zealand’s most important museums and war memorials. It is one of the most iconic buildings in Auckland constructed in the neo-classicist style.

Its collections concentrate on the history of New Zealand (and especially the Auckland Region), as well as on natural and military history. The museum houses a large number of Maori and Pacific Island artifacts and treasures, including a photographic collection of 1.2 million images and exhibits of 1.5 million natural history specimens from the fields of botany, geology, land vertebrates and biology.

Auckland Domain

The Auckland Domain is the oldest and one of the largest parks in the city (75 ha). One of main tourist attractions of the city – the Auckland War Memorial Museum – is located there. The park is home to several beautiful Wintergardens, glass houses, sports fields, duck ponds and a fernery.

Ringitoto Island

The 5.5 km wide Ringitoto Island is another iconic and widely visible landmark of Auckland. Its symmetrical shield volcano cone rises 260 m (850 ft) high over the Hauraki Gulf. Out of the approximately 50 volcanoes of the Auckland area, Ringitoto is the largest one (2311 hectares)

One Tree Hill

Also known as Maungakiekie (“mountain of the kiekie vine” in Maori), One Tree Hill is a 182-meter (597 ft) volcanic peak in Auckland. It is an important memorial summit for both Maori and other New Zealanders which provides splendid views across the city area (both of Auckland’s harbours are visible from there).

Auckland Zoo

Opened in 1922, the Auckland Zoo is a 40-acre zoological garden. The zoo is home to more than 750 animals of 120 different species, and play an important part in conservation, research and education.

Main activities

Auckland offers an exceptional range of amazing activities – thrilling adventures await at every corner and something exciting is always happening. In fact, the hardest thing for you will be to decide what to do first.

• 

  Air activities: paragliding and hang gliding; scenic flights.

• Land activities: abseiling/rappelling; bungy jumping; canyoning; caving; climbing; cycling and mountain biking; golf; horse treks; off-road driving; skiing and snowboarding; walking and trekking; zip lining;
• Water activities: boat cruises; diving; fishing; jet boating; kayaking; sailing; surfing;
• Wildlife encounters: bird watching; dolphin watching; penguin watching; whale watching; zoos;
• Tours: arts, cultural and heritage tours; shopping tours; wine tours and many others.

One thing is sure – you can never get bored in Auckland!

Curious facts about Auckland

• 

  Auckland is nicknamed “City of Sails” because of the popularity of sailing in the region. 135,000 yachts and launches are registered in Auckland.

• Auckland is by far the country’s most cosmopolitan city – the majority of inhabitants claim European descent (predominantly British and Irish), but substantial Māori, Pacific Islander and Asian communities exist as well.
• Auckland has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world.
• According to a 2013 census, 40% of Aucklanders were born overseas.
• In Māori, Auckland’s name is Tāmaki Makaurau.
• Based on comparing average house prices with average household income levels, Auckland’s housing is amongst the least affordable in the world.
• The majority of Aucklanders live in single swelling housing.
• Similar to the rest of the country, over half of Aucklanders profess Christianity, but fewer than 10% regularly attend church and almost 40% profess no religious affiliation.
• Auckland is home to some of the largest schools in New Zealand, including Rangitoto College in the East Coast Bays area – the largest secondary school in New Zealand with 3076 students as of March 2014.
• Rugby union, rugby league, soccer, cricket and netball are widely played and followed in Auckland. The New Zealand’s Rugby Union team is called The All Blacks and they are world famous for performing a haka – a Maori challenge or posture dance – before each match.

Useful information

Visas

For a trouble-free entry into New Zealand, you’ll need to have your passport (valid for at least three months beyond your departure date), and you may or may not need a visa depending on your country of origin.

You do not need a visa or permit to visit New Zealand if you are:

• A New Zealand citizen or Resident Permit holder
• An Australian citizen travelling on an Australian passport
• An Australian resident with a current Australian resident return visa
• A British citizen or British passport holder who can produce evidence of the right to reside permanently in the UK (you can stay up to six months)
• A citizen of a country which has a visa waiver agreement with New Zealand (you can stay up to three months). You can find the list of Visa-waiver countries here.

However, even if you come from a country listed above, you still have to provide travel tickets or evidence of onward travel arrangements, as well as proof that you can support yourself in the country (appr. NZ $1000 (US $864) per month per person

Money

New Zealand’s unit of currency is the dollar (NZ$). There’s no restriction on the amount of foreign currency that can be brought in or taken out of the country. Foreign currency can be easily exchanged at banks, most hotels and Bureau de Change kiosks. All major credit cards are accepted.

Emergency number

In case of an emergency, dial 111. This will connect you to the police, ambulance and fire service. The emergency number can be dialed for free from mobile phones, landlines and street phones.

Note: You can dial 111 even if don’t have any credit on your mobile phone.

Maps

Detailed maps of Auckland can be downloaded here.

Help moving to Auckland, New Zealand

If you need assistance with your move to Auckland, you are advised to employ the services of a professional moving company. Let experienced movers handle your relocation so that you keep your smile, positive attitude and energy for the endless hours of fun activities that Auckland will surely offer you.

More information about Auckland:

• Auckland Official Tourism and Travel Guide
• Auckland Tourism
• 100% Pure New Zealand – Destination Auckland

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