Auckland New Zealand was my favorite layover I've had in my flying career. The crew, passengers, and kiwis were all so kind. It has been a dream of mine to fly here and so I was buzzing when I was able to pick this trip up.

New Zealand History

I really did not know much about the history of New Zealand and really wasn't sure what to expect. The Māori were the first to arrive in New Zealand, however it was the British who made this country part of their empire. The Treaty of Waitangi was signed In 1840 between the Māori and the UK. I could for sure see both influences while I was there and enjoyed how many Polynesian traditions are still present.

Best Time to Visit

I got to visit in the winter months which was in mid August. The seasons are reversed so next time I will visit in late November - January and road trip both the south and north parts of the island. The Milford sound and lupins are so high on my bucket list. December to March is by far going to be the best time for sunny days and average temperature around 60-75 degrees farenheight.

Where to Stay

I can't disclose where the crew stays however I loved how central we were in downtown Auckland and did some research as if I were going to book my own hotel. If you can stay as close to the marina as possible it's ideal to catch ferries and grab a bite to eat. I am a hostel girl through and through so I'll add some budget friendly hotels and hostels.

Verandahs parkside lodge - from $33 a night and so close to the city center you really can't go wrong!

Auckland Rose Park Hotel - nothing too fancy, but affordable and near the marina

Imagine Beach Road - I've been a huge fan of Boutique hotel lately and this one is in the mid price range around 134 a night, but split with some pals can be affordable!

Lylo Auckland - around 44 a night for a hostel with an upscale feel and right in city center

The Attic Backpackers - from 30 a night this budget hostel in city center with over 4,000 reviews which is typically a good sign

Treehouse Air b n b - if you can splurge a couple of nights this would be the place to do it! It's located on Waiheke island which has the best wineries

What to Pack

If you're going in the winter months it is pretty chilly so sweaters, pants and jackets are a must. This itinerary is more on the touristy end so my friend and I packed more streetwear outfits to take photos in! There is some beautiful hiking and beaches in the summer months so pack the opposite. Always bring a jacket cause it does get cold once the sun goes down! Of course pack as much camera gear as possible for the most insane views!

How to Rent a Car

We rented a car for the day to visit Hobbitton! It did take quite some time and I would recommend going as soon as they open to guarantee a rental car will be available. If you're anything like me you book everything last minute so an early start will help. We walked to a car rental place in the city center where you can find multiple car rental sites. We get discounts on Budget and Avis so we chose to go to them. I also highly recommend the insurance because driving on the opposite side of the road was a whole new experience.

2 Day itinerary

Day 1: Waiheke and Auckland Day

Start the day by grabbing a coffee and breakfast at bestie cafe right outside of downtown Auckland! It is a little bit of a walk depending on how close to the city center you're staying. It will allow you to walk through and sight see a bit before fueling your body! After breakfast head to the sky tower and make your way to the top of the tower for $45 if you are willing to pay for it. My friend and I are broke flight attendants so the view from outside was enough for us. Maybe next time we will splurge and even do the sky jump. Next, walk back to the marina for a tour of the Auckland War Museum and another view of the sky tower.

Now it's time for the some wine! Buy a ticket for the ferry right along the marina to Waiheke island. We used the bus system once we arrived to tour some wineries. The HOP card will allow you to use the busses around the island and in Auckland. We started the day at Stoney Ridge and had the best time! They gave us flight crew discounts because our new friend that works there was also flight crew. We each got a flight and a full glass of wine. The next winery on our list is Mudbrick. They were all so beautiful and was such a fun experience. Make sure to catch a ferry back because they stop running at a certain time. We watched the sunset and met some Americans who invited us to a karaoke bar. We ended the night hanging with new friends and singing very poorly.

Day 2: Hobbiton Adventure Day

If you can start the day by grabbing a quick cappuccino and breakfast sandwich before heading to the car rental center! Our hotel did offer tours directly from the hotel with the full tour and transportation. After seeing how much we spent I would have chosen the hotel option, but they were sold out. We looked into taking public transportation, but they weren't running all the way to Hobbiton that day. After you have the car drive the 2 hours all the way to Hobbiton. Trust me the tour is very worth the drive. It is a guided tour which normally I don't prefer, but our guide did an amazing job providing a great tour. I'm not the biggest Also look into the Gloworm caves and sometimes they have deals if you do both tours! We found out you can't take any photos or videos so we decided not to make it there. I've heard it is a very unique experience.

Since you already have the car I would recommend making a stop to a beach for sunset at Piha beach. It took us a while to figure out all the details so we didn't have time for Piha. This is top of my list for next time!

If I had More Time:

I would absolutely spend at least 2 weeks here next time to fully explore both the North and South islands! Here are a few other day trips and activities if wine and hobbits aren't your thing.

Gloworms - I briefly touched on the gloworm caves! It's expensive, but one of the top things to do around Auckland

Rotura - 3 hours away from Auckland and depending on how early you go to hobitton you could potentially fit this in since it's further south of the tour! It's geothermal parks, spas, and natural hot springs can be a whole day trip in itself!

Mount Eden - it's close to the city of Auckland and one of the most popular places to go! Would be a great spot for a sunset picnic!

Piha beach - black sand beaches and stunning views!

2 days is clearly not enough to get the full experience of Auckland, however if you find yourself there for that amount of time I would highly recommend Waiheke and Hobbitton as the top experiences from the list I created!

If you ever have any questions please feel free to reach out over email or social media and I'd love to connect more! Blessings :)

2 Day Itinerary in Auckland New Zealand