AUCKLAND - My favorite places

Auckland, the secret capital of New Zealand

"I want to get away from Auckland as quickly as possible"

"I can't stand Auckland anymore"

Auckland is not very popular among most travelers, and I too uttered these words in the first few days, and I can understand why. For most people, Auckland is the place where they spend their first nights as most international flights arrive here.

I want to introduce Auckland to you as I perceived and got to know the city.

Auckland is not only the city with Queen Street, the famous shopping street where you can find everything from Gucci to the $1 Shop.

For me, Auckland is not just a city, it is much more. Auckland is a beautiful place with 48 volcanic cones, beautiful beaches, bushwalks, and the place where you sit comfortably on a park bench at night and suddenly have a heart attack because a sheep sneaks up from behind.

Auckland, actually Auckland Council, means Tāmaki Makaurau in Maori, which means "A young beauty with 100 lovers" in German, and with 1.4 million inhabitants, it is the largest city in New Zealand.

I have seen incredibly beautiful places here and would like to introduce you to a few beautiful districts.

Ambury

The place where you just want to take a walk and suddenly find yourself among sheep, cows, or horses. There is also Ambury Farm with all kinds of animals, great parks, and barbecue facilities. Every time Ambury is different due to the tide change. Kiwis often play rugby here and sit together to spend a nice evening by the fire.

Mission Bay

Mission Bay is, for me, the beautiful beach with the great viewing point Michael Joseph Savage Memorial Park and the cute cafes and restaurants. The best thing to do is to grab a portion of fish and chips, usually wrapped in paper, and relax on the beach.

One Tree Hill

My absolute favorite place in Auckland, probably because I have many memories associated with this place.

Whether I was there with the little one at the playground or up on the peak until 4 in the morning because I lost track of time due to great conversations.

But the view is worth climbing up there again and again.

Mount Eden

Also worth a visit. The view over the city and all of Auckland is simply breathtaking. The fact of standing next to this huge crater hole also makes you excited.

Devenport

Also a place that I fell in love with. Sitting up there and enjoying the sunset with friends was one of my most beautiful evenings here in Auckland, and the ferry ride should also be on every to-do list.

Ponsonby

You should definitely visit there during Christmas time. Every house is illuminated, and you can see many people who want to have a picture together with the houses.

Skytower

Yes, it's cliché, but a visit to the Skytower should definitely be included in your visit to Auckland. In my opinion, the Skytower is the landmark that makes Auckland Central so special. And if you dare, you can even walk around the Skytower outside and even jump off. But it's also enough to simply enjoy the view at night.

Onehunga

Onehunga is also a nice area for me. With all the palm trees, well-designed bushwalks, and of course, the ebb and flow, this part of Auckland is also one of my favorite places here.

Speaking of palm trees, when I came to NZ, I wasn't aware that there are so many palm trees here. That's why I enjoy the view of the palm tree right in front of my door every day even more.

Overall, I have to say that Auckland has become like a kind of home for me. I feel comfortable here, I know my way around very well, and I even know the bus numbers now. Speaking of taking the bus.

Bus stops here don't have names, only numbers. The bus also doesn't display which the next stop is. So it's best to either tell the bus driver to let you know when you're there or rely on Google Maps.

In Germany, I often feel strange when I say thank you before getting off, so I rarely do it. Here in NZ, it is common courtesy to say thank you, and it is also much nicer to spread a little kindness instead of just getting off silently.

In general, I'm the kind of person who appreciates these little kindnesses and feels very comfortable because of them.

In Germany, if you are too polite, you are almost looked at strangely. Or how would you react if the cashier suddenly asked you about your plans for the weekend.