Day 01
East Auckland Parks, Heritage Sites, and Coastal Views
- Meet your tour guide, who will pick you up from your hotel at 9:00 a.m. and begin the journey.
- Visit Barry Curtis Park, the largest urban park in Auckland, with a total land area of 94 hectares. It is situated in Flat Bush, a new township in the southern part of East Auckland. There are 55 km of protected natural stream and gully catchment areas where birdlife and native fauna can flourish. The park is named after long-serving Manukau Mayor Sir Barry Curtis, who served from 1983 to 2007. The walking path is fully paved and mostly flat, making it suitable for all ages. It has become a popular park for locals to walk and exercise.
- Travel to Foguangshan Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in New Zealand, situated beside Barry Curtis Park and occupying a total land area of 4 hectares. It was built over 7 years at a cost of NZD 20 million and designed in the architectural style of the Tang Dynasty. A large Buddha statue and a 2-tonne bell hang outside the main shrine. Opened in late 2007, the temple promotes Humanistic Buddhism and encourages interfaith understanding, education, and cultural diversity. Apart from the main shrine, there is also a beautifully decorated garden exhibition hall that hosts different exhibitions throughout the year, such as art, painting, and calligraphy. A cafe named Water Drop Teahouse serves delicious vegetarian food and different kinds of tea in a relaxing environment, and is a popular favourite among many locals.
- Continue the exploration to Howick Historical Village, situated in Lloyd Elsmore Park, one of Auckland's largest sports parks, with facilities for cricket, netball, rugby, badminton, swimming, and more. The village is a living history museum set on 7 acres of grounds and gardens, with collections including art, furniture, textiles, and original wooden buildings that show early Auckland life between 1840 and 1880 through the experiences of early settlers, known as fencibles, from Britain. Fencibles were retired soldiers or marines who fought wars for Britain in the 1930s and 1940s. They received a small pension after retiring and were offered the chance to begin a new life with their families in Auckland. You can open the doors to real homes and experience living history for yourself.
- Head to Half Moon Bay. Guests have the option to have lunch at Howick Historical Village or at a cafe in Half Moon Bay. Half Moon Bay is well known for its marina, home to more than 500 boats, with picturesque views over the water. It has a walking path around the bay and a ferry connection to downtown Auckland and Waiheke Island. Take a short walk around the bay to enjoy the scenery and fresh sea breeze.
- Stop at Bucklands Beach. Not only is it a popular local beach, but it is also an upmarket suburb famous for its sea views and Macleans College, which produces many brilliant students. From the beach, you can see Rangitoto Island, a dormant volcano that erupted 700 years ago. Rangitoto is a Maori word meaning "sky blood", possibly because of eyewitness accounts of the eruption at that time.
- Move on to Howick Musick Point, the headland of the peninsula, named in 1942 after American pilot Ed Musick, who visited New Zealand in 1937. It is a very scenic place and a favourite spot for walking, wedding photos, and sightseeing over the harbour. Howick Memorial Radio Station, constructed in 1940 to meet the need for international air communication in New Zealand, is located here. American naval forces used it during World War II. Howick Golf Club, also known as the golf course with million-dollar views, is also on the peninsula. The name comes from the spectacular views over the water and harbour from the course.
- Depart from here and return to your hotel, concluding the tour with sweet and unforgettable memories and lots of photos.
