Auckland (Tāmaki Makaurau), upper North Island
Auckland
Auckland is where most hosted New Zealand trips begin and end, because most long-haul flights land here. It is a city built around two harbours and dozens of volcanic cones, with island ferries and wild west-coast beaches within an hour. One or two well-planned days give a series its opening chapter.
What creators film here
- City views from Maungawhau / Mount Eden and the other volcanic cones.
- Ferries across the Waitematā Harbour, and Waiheke Island's vineyards and beaches.
- The black-sand beaches of the west coast, such as Piha, below the Waitākere Ranges.
- The Auckland War Memorial Museum and the waterfront around the Viaduct and Wynyard Quarter.
When to come
Seasons are reversed from the northern hemisphere. Summer, from December to February, is warm and busy, with Christmas, New Year and the January school holidays as the domestic peak. Autumn, from March to May, is often settled and mild. Auckland's weather is changeable in every season, so rain plans are part of the itinerary.
Getting around on a hosted trip
We meet you at Auckland Airport with a private licensed vehicle; the drive to central hotels usually takes 30 to 45 minutes, longer at peak traffic. Activity days use private transport and ferries where agreed. Long-haul arrival days are kept light.
Filming notes
- The volcanic cones are tūpuna maunga (ancestral mountains) managed by the Tūpuna Maunga Authority. Drones need its approval and larger shoots can need a permit.
- Much of central Auckland is under controlled airspace. Assume no drone shots unless agreed in writing.
- West-coast beaches have strong currents and rips. Film from safe ground and swim only between the flags.
On the ground