For your reference, general information and tourist attractions from the Tourism Auckland website have been summarized below. Please use the links to Tourism Auckland and Waiheke Island New Zealand for images of Auckland city and to discover further options available to you.
www.aucklandnz.com
www.waihekenz.com

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Auckland is one of the sunniest spots in the country, with annual sunshine hours of 2060. December, January and February are summer months for New Zealand. In December mean daily maximum temperature is likely to be of 21.61 degrees Celsius and 70.9 degrees Farenheit. High levels of rainfall occur almost year-round with an average of 1240 mm per year - an umbrella is a good item to include in your luggage. Climatic conditions vary in different parts of the city owing to geography such as hills, land cover and distance from the sea.

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New Zealand's currency comprises New Zealand dollars ($) and cents and is based on the decimal system, with 100 cents in the New Zealand dollar. The exchange rate as at 29 November 2007 is for US$ - 0.761, for Euros - 0.511, and for GBP - 0.366. (as at November 2007). The smallest denomination of coins is 10 cents. There are also 20 cent, 50 cent, one dollar and two dollar coins. Bank notes have the face values of: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 dollars. Travellers' cheques and foreign currencies can be exchanged at banks, bureaux de change, hotels and some shops.

Banks are numerous and are generally open Monday to Friday from 9am to 4.30pm, although in Auckland some of the larger shopping malls have banks that are also open on weekends. Automated Teller Machines (ATMs, cash dispensers) are located on the outside of most banks as well as some shops. International credit cards and ATM cards will work as long as they are encoded with a four-digit PIN code. Check with your bank before leaving home. Credit cards are accepted widely, especially Mastercard and Visa.

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Auckland International Airport is approximately 40 minutes from the City Centre. An Airbus has scheduled services every 20 minutes during the day and 30 minutes during the evening. Taxis and door-to door shuttles are also available. Arrangements will be made to meet delegates at the airport.

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Auckland offers diverse natural beauty and a cosmopolitan lifestyle. Stretching from the wild, expansive west coast and the Tasman Sea, to the white sand beaches of the Pacific Ocean in the east, the Auckland region is a marine playground, and a gateway to other parts of New Zealand. Auckland's modern city environment is set against the backdrop of an eclectic range of islands, forests and bush, and glistening harbours.

With a unique mix of people, places and cultures, Auckland is ethnically diverse and geographically varied. Auckland is New Zealand's largest city with a population of about 1.3 million, with overall quality of life ranked one of the highest in the world.

Some attraction and activity suggestions to sample a little of what Auckland can offer are :

Sky Tower
At 328 metres Sky Tower is the tallest tower in the Southern hemisphere, offering breath-taking views for more than 80 kilometres in every direction. It is the 12th tallest tower in the world - taller than the Eiffel Tower in Paris or Sydney's AMP Tower.

• Open Sun-Thur 8:30am-11:00pm, and Fri, Sat 8:30am-Midnight.
• Website: www.skytower.co.nz

Auckland War Memorial Museum
Commanding spectacular views across Auckland's cityscape and Waitemata Harbour, is the Auckland War Memorial Museum. Within its walls lie the stories and treasures of Aotearoa - New Zealand. As New Zealand's first museum and as a war memorial housed in one of the nation's finest heritage buildings, Auckland Museum is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike.

• open every day from 10am until 5pm, except Christmas Day (25 December) and Anzac Day morning (25 April), when the Museum is closed to visitors.
• Adults $5, Children (up to 6 years old) - free

Maori Cultural Performance - The Museum presents an outstanding Maori Culture Show. The 30 minute performance will introduce you to the story of New Zealand through traditional song and dance and is performed three times a day (four times a day from January to March). Nowhere else in New Zealand can you be so quickly and so compellingly introduced to the people of New Zealand. The performance is followed by a tour of Maori treasures in the Maori Court where there is also a photo opportunity with the performers.

• Daily 11am, 12 noon, 1.30pm
• Extra performance at 2.30pm January - April
• Adults $20, Children (5-15) $10

Fullers Harbour Cruise
Escape the city and cruise the sparkling waters of Auckland's beautiful harbour. Sit back, relax and let our crew look after you with a full commentary during the one and a half hour harbour cruise. Visit the viaduct basin, home for many of the America's Cup syndicates and scene of frenzied excitement after New Zealand's historic win in 2000. See harbour highlights which include historic Devonport, the harbour bridge and the New Zealand naval base.

• Departs daily: 10.30 am and 1.30pm.

City Highlights with Great Sights Tour
See first hand why Auckland is known as the City of Sails as you enjoy a trip over the Harbour Bridge. Visit the famous Auckland landmark of Mount Eden, a dormant volcano whose summit offers excellent panoramic views of the city and harbours. From this fantastic vantage point you will see evidence of Auckland's volcanic history, the most significant being the youngest volcano of Rangitoto Island at the entrance to the Waitemata harbour. The sightseeing tour also takes in the Auckland Domain, the city's oldest park which is situated on a 62,000 year old volcano. In addition to these natural features the city sights tour also takes in the trendy shopping area of Parnell Village with its historical buildings that have been transformed into boutiques, antique, craft and specialty shops. Your tour will then take you along the scenic waterfront route of Tamaki Drive before returning to Downtown.
www.greatsights.co.nz

Bush and Beach Tour
Award winning Bush and Beach offers interactive, enjoyable guided full or half day eco-tours in the greater Auckland region. Walk in the unique Waitakere rainforest with giant tree ferns and ancient kauri trees and on the wild west coast's black sand beaches - incredibly just a thirty-minute drive from downtown Auckland. Unwind by a spectacular cascading waterfall.

• Wilderness Experience - Half Day Tour
• Best of Both Worlds - Full Day (City Highlights and Wilderness Experience)
• Coast and Rainforest Walk - Full Day Tour - (picnic lunch included)

Ananda Tours on Waiheke Island
Depart downtown Auckland at 10.00am for a 35 minute ferry ride to Waiheke Island which is situated in the Hauraki Gulf. Upon arrival you will be greeted on Matiatia wharf by an Ananda Tours representative and shown to an awaiting vehicle. The 3 hour tour will begin with our knowledgeable driver telling of the history of Waiheke as you're driven along scenic routes with views out to sea & overlooking hillsides of grapevines. We will visit an olive oil mill & 2 vineyards for tasting before stopping at a vineyard restaurant or café for lunch - own expense. Our driver will pick you up & take you back to Matiatia wharf for your sailing back to downtown Auckland, arrival time 4.45pm.
www.ananda.co.nz

SAIL NZ - The Ultimate America's Cup Experience
The America's Cup is the world's oldest and most prestigious sporting trophy and ultimate yachting regatta. Usually the domain of billionaires and elite professional yachties, NZL 40 and NZL 41 offer the unique opportunity for everyone to participate in sailing on these grand prix racing machines. Passengers become the crew and are encouraged to take the helm, exert energy on the grinders or simply sit back and enjoy the action as we sail down the Auckland Harbour. The trip suits people of all experiences and abilities and is the perfect activity in Auckland, 'City of Sails'.

• America's Cup Sailing Experience - Two hour sailing experience, participate as crew or sit back and relax. Sailings daily.
• Match Race NZL 40 And NZL 41 - Three hour racing experience, participate as crew or sit back and enjoy the action. As close as it gets to being in the America's Cup.

Auckland's Dolphin & Whale Safari
The Hauraki Gulf is considered one the most biologically and geographically diverse marine parks in the world, over 60% of the southern hemisphere's entire marine mammal species have been seen in the Gulf. With a population of 500 - 1000 marine mammals, the success rate of viewing is phenomenal. Safari includes:

• Dolphin / Whale Watching guaranteed*
• Fully licensed bar onboard
• Cruise and Commentary

Auckland Bridge Climb
Only AJ Hackett Bungy can offer you this level of access to the Auckland Harbour Bridge; and this is the one and only Bridge Climb in New Zealand, coming complete with your very own tour guide. Lasting for 1½ hours, this climb will have you wondering whether to look at your feet or focus on the spectacular views.
www.aucklandbridgeclimb.co.nz

Snowplanet
If you're looking for somewhere fresh, fun and unique to visit in Auckland, then Snowplanet is the destination for you. Snowplanet is New Zealand's first and only all-year indoor snow resort where the giant snowdome features 50 centimetres of real powder snow, three lifts, a terrain park for snowboarders and freestyle skiers and a separate learner area for a fun day out, irrespective of Auckland's weather. Snowplanet is located only 20 minutes north of Auckland's CBD.

• 1 hour snowdome entry ticket & rental equipment
• 2 hour snowdome entry ticket & rental equipment
• Day pass snowdome entry ticket & rental equipment
• Tuition - ski or snowboard - for up to 10 people per instructor

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