Auckland is an amazing city, located between two beautiful harbours. While you’re here as an international student why not take some time to explore? We recommend trying the activities below:
Head to the Beach
East Auckland has beautiful calm beaches that are safe to swim in. Popular Eastern Beach is close to the college, with beautiful views of the Waitemata Harbour.
If you’d like to try a surf beach, you can’t beat the beautiful black-sand beaches of Auckland’s west coast. But be careful, our west coast beaches have much rougher surf and only confident swimmers should enter the water. Always swim between the red and yellow flags, where the beach is patrolled by surf life savers. A good idea is to book a surf lesson and go with a pro.
Remember to take lots of sun protection and slip, slop, slap and wrap – just like we Kiwis do!
Take the Ferry
The Half Moon Bay Marina is very close to Pakuranga College. Check out the boats and see why Auckland is called the City of Sails or take a ferry trip. Ferries to downtown Auckland and the stunning Waiheke Island both depart from the marina.
Climb a Volcano
Auckland has 53 volcanoes to explore. Climb to the top of Maungawhau/Mt Eden for an excellent view of the city, or walk up Ohuiarangi/Pigeon Mountain beside the college for a bird’s eye view of the local area. See if you can spot your homestay house!
For the ultimate volcanic experience catch a ferry from downtown Auckland and head to Rangitoto, an island volcano in the Waitemata Harbour. Pack and picnic and hike to the top for some great views of the city.
Explore our Bush
There is lots of native bush to explore in New Zealand’s largest city. Take a gentle hike on the Point View Bush Path in nearby East Tamaki and explore our native plants and birds.
Or head to the Waitakere Range in the west of the city for the best bushwalking in Auckland. Be sure to take a phone, snacks and water, and let someone know where you are going.
Scale the Sky Tower
See the view from the top of New Zealand’s tallest building! Standing at 328m tall, you can see all of Auckland from the observation deck. Enjoy a coffee with a view, or if you’re feeling brave sign up for a SkyWalk or SkyJump and get a shot of adrenaline instead!
Get Active
We love to be outdoors in Auckland! Why not view the city from the water – grab a kayak and go for a paddle in the harbour. Or stick to shore a take one of our dedicated cycle paths, there’s a great one from Half Moon Bay Marina to Farm Cove in our local area.
Eat Up
If you’re craving a taste of home, you can find it in Auckland. Meadowlands Shopping Centre has an amazing array of Asian eateries and we have international cuisine from Europe and South America across the city. Or embrace local cuisine – have fish and chips on the beach, enjoy a barbeque with your host family, and discover the coffee culture in our many cafés.
