Auckland, the largest city in New Zealand, is an industrial, commercial, and economic hub located in the "Greater Auckland Region" of New Zealand's North Island.
The city boasts a stunningly beautiful coastal landscape, the largest residential area, and the most developed road network in New Zealand. Auckland is also home to the largest concentration of Chinese immigrants in New Zealand.
One of Auckland's most famous landmarks is the Sky Tower, standing at an impressive height of 328 meters, making it the tallest building in the southern hemisphere and the 12th tallest in the world.
To put its height in perspective, it is equivalent to the length of 37 buses connected together. The tower weighs 21 million kilograms, which is equivalent to the weight of 6,000 elephants. The Sky Tower was built with 15,000 cubic meters of concrete and 2,000 tons of strong steel, and it took two years and nine months to complete.
Visitors can experience the thrill of the Sky Tower's three transparent glass elevators, which can carry 255 people every 15 minutes to the observation deck at the top of the Sky Tower.
These elevators rise at a speed of 18 kilometers per hour, taking visitors from the ground floor to the observation deck in just 40 seconds. For those seeking a more challenging adventure, the Sky Tower has 1,267 stairs that visitors can climb.
Another popular tourist spot is One Tree Hill, located on a green hillside in Cornwall Park. It is one of Auckland's largest and most culturally significant volcanoes, and visitors can drive or take a leisurely stroll to the summit, where a monument and the grave of Sir John Logan Campbell, the father of Auckland, stands.
From the top, visitors can enjoy a full range of views of the surrounding area. One Tree Hill is also a popular spot for Aucklanders to gather and barbecue, providing visitors with an opportunity to enjoy their own grilled food in a natural setting.
Mount Eden is another natural landscape located in downtown Auckland, offering visitors panoramic views of the city. This dormant volcano, known as Mangafao in Māori, is 196 meters high and has three main craters, covered in lush greenery.
Visitors are advised not to leave their belongings in their car as the glass of the vehicle may be easily smashed.
The Auckland Art Gallery, established in 1888, is the most important art gallery in Auckland and the first in New Zealand to hold regular exhibitions. It has an extensive collection of artworks from New Zealand and around the world, as well as hosting international exhibitions.
The exterior of the Auckland Art Gallery is an eye-catching white building, with a very literary feel, while the interior is vast. The gallery's collection is mainly focused on artworks from the late 19th century, including Picasso's "Group Portrait" of his family, painted in 1951, which is one of Picasso's masterpieces and a treasure of the Auckland Art Museum.
Auckland is a city that offers visitors a variety of experiences, from the thrill of the Sky Tower to the natural beauty of its volcanoes and the rich cultural offerings of the Auckland Art Gallery. Visitors to Auckland will not be disappointed with what the city has to offer.
