Why We Completely Skipped Auckland

When we were planning, or more accurately said, not planning, our New Zealand trip, I think both of us assumed we'd spend at least a couple of days in the country's biggest city, Auckland.

After all, we were heading all the way up to Whangarei and a nearby town called Ngunguru. Auckland would be right on the way.

But after we puttered around the South Island for a couple of weeks, we started to realize that if we could reallocate those two days intended for Auckland, we would have more time to see the beautiful Whangarei area, as well as extra time to see other amazing sights elsewhere in the country.

So we started asking many of the Kiwis we met for their opinions: Should we totally skip Auckland?

Everyone, everyone, said yes. Skip it. It's just another city.

Se we skipped Auckland. And we left New Zealand having no idea what we missed there. But we have yet another place to put on the list to visit when we inevitably go back.

View from the Auckland airport:


Auckland cityscape:


Blowing right through town on the way to beautiful Whangarei: