A Petition for Auckland

If I heard it once, I heard it a thousand times. “Auckland is the worst city in New Zealand” “Get out as quick as you can”. Time after time I kept reading bad reports about the country’s biggest city, to the point where I was reluctant to spend as much time there as we had originally planned.

Being the stubborn person that I am, I was almost determined to like it, just to be different. Just to prove the naysayers wrong. Luckily for me, I didn’t need to try too hard.

It was grey and gloomy when we touched down in the city, which never usually puts any place in a good light, but from the minute we arrived there were people offering help, asking us where we were from and how long we were intending to stay in New Zealand, something which we have encountered a lot since.

We navigated the local (fast and efficient) transport system with ease, just expecting something to go wrong. I mean, this is the worst city in New Zealand, right? Surely it was only a matter of time before things started going wrong.

But they never did.

Did it help that we weren’t staying right in the centre of the city, but one of the outlying suburbs? Probably. The city centre is vibrant and cosmopolitan, but it’s also full of chain restaurants and the usual tourist traps, which is certainly not all there is to this city. Instead we stayed in a leafy neighbourhood called Ponsonby, where the streets are lined with pavement cafes, shops and bars. It is probably one of the pricier ends of town, but as long as you look around, there are some great value deals to be had.

We also explored some of the other surrounding neighbourhoods including Mt Eden and Parnell, but as with all great city skylines, once night fell we were lured towards the bright lights of the Sky Tower and the skyscrapers. There is something about a city skyline that you just can’t beat at nighttime. And as I mentioned before, the city has its own merits, depending on how deep your pockets are. The harbour area is lovely and its restaurants and bars are regularly full to the brim, especially when the sun is shining.

Walking around Auckland I felt a definite sense of ease that I don’t often feel in many big cities. I even found myself wondering if I could ever live there.

I’m not saying Auckland is the most atmospheric or picturesque place in New Zealand. But I’m asking you to look past the tourist shops and attractions and give it a chance. If not for me, do it for the kids.