Every third New Zealander lives in the Auckland region, and the city, with its 1.2 million inhabitants, continue expanding rapidly than any other part of the country. Its population has increased by 20% since 1991, almost double the national rate. Auckland is the place to enjoy city life, but quiet beaches and bush tracks are within an hour’s drive of the central business district.
Auckland is a very huge city that spreads over a thousand square meters and most of this vast land area is rich in tourist attractions. The city’s main attractions are smacked right in the middle of the busy metropolitan area where tourists can visit parks and sceneries. The city offers one of the most beautiful panoramic views ever in the world. With the harbor and outer islands can be seen from numerous volcanic peaks and other observation decks.
One of the busy areas with excellent shops, historic buildings, top restaurants and bars and a superb view is Auckland’s waterfront. Yet only 20 years ago, this area was of little interest to residents and visitors, and the inner city, traditionally reserved for offices, was almost deserted after dark. That trend has been reversed and downtown Auckland is now a hive of activity. New apartments, many on the water’s edge and others in garden environments, along with numerous trendy bars and restaurants, have made the waterfront a prime living and entertainment area.
It is advisable to book accommodation in advance, especially at peak holiday times from December to February. From June to August, hotels and motels in ski resort towns are often fully booked during school holidays. Bookings can be made directly to the accommodation provider, either by fax, telephone or via the Internet, through travel agents or at one of New Zealand’s 100 visitor information centers. In most cases, a credit card number will be requested when a booking is arranged. It is wise to ask about cancellation policies when making bookings as some premises will debit the credit card one night’s accommodation if a cancellation is made at short notice. If additional services are required, such as children’s cots, inform the accommodation provider when making a booking.
Getting travel insurances normally for visitors to New Zealand wasn’t that easy before. Now there are a lot of options to choose from and get very comprehensive travel insurance policies at a very reasonable price. Everyone must read the policy carefully in order to know which is covered and which is not. In case you forgot to get a new one, some would recommend and get the information online since there are travel insurance companies that offer many discounts for those who are in a business trip or just visiting for the holidays.