Auckland 3-Day Ultimate Itinerary
๐ Transport AT HOP Card ($10 with credit, available at airport convenience stores) Ferries + SkyBus (City Link - free) ๐ Day 1: Iconic Landmarks ๐ Morning 9:00 AM - Sky Tower (Student: $32 | Early entry avoids crowds) ๐ Glass-floor lookout for "floating" photos | Giant poker wall at casino entrance ๐ด Brunch: Federal Delicatessen (NYC retro vibe) ๐ 86 Federal St โ Must-try: Smoked beef bagel sandwich + cherry soda ($18) ๐ Afternoon 1:00 PM - Viaduct Harbour ("City of Sails") ๐ Walk to Auckland Fish Market for fresh oysters ($2/each) 2:30 PM - Mission Bay (Bus #755) ๐ธ Rent SUP board ($25/hr) or try Tip Top ice cream truck ๐ Evening 5:00 PM - Mount Eden (Bus #274) ๐ 360ยฐ free view of volcanic crater + city skyline ๐ด Dinner: Depot (Sky Tower hotspot) ๐ 86 Federal St โ Must-order: Bluff oysters + fish sliders ($30) ๐ Day 2: Hobbiton + Black Sand Beaches ๐ซ KKday Tour ($189 | Includes tickets + lunch) 8:00 AM - Hobbiton Movie Set (Matamata) โ Pose with the "One Ring" at Bilboโs door ๐ด Lunch: Green Dragon Inn (Free refills of ginger beer) ๐ Afternoon 2:00 PM - Piha Beach (The Piano filming location) ๐ Check tides! 1hr walk to sea caves 5:00 PM - Muriwai Beach (Gannet colony | Best Mar-May) ๐ด Dinner: The Grove (Affordable fine dining) ๐ St Patrickโs Square โ Must-try: Salmon Wellington ($39) ๐ Day 3: Waiheke Island OR Artsy CBD ๐ท Option A: Waiheke Wine Escape 9:00 AM Ferry ($42 round-trip) โ Mudbrick Vineyard (Riesling tasting $15/5 glasses) 12:00 PM Stonyridge Vineyard (Alpaca rides $45/30 mins) 3:00 PM Onetangi Beach (Hunt for greenstone) ๐จ Option B: CBD Culture Crawl 9:00 AM Auckland Art Gallery (Free Mฤori waka exhibits) 11:00 AM Parnell Village (Antique shops + pink church) 2:00 PM Western Springs (Feed black swansโbring bread!) ๐ด Dinner: Satya Chai Lounge (Creative Indian) ๐ 271 K Rd โ Must-order: Lamb curry roti + mango lassi ($22) ๐ Local Food Picks โช๏ธ Best Ugly Bagels (Kandahar-style) | 3 Wellesley St โช๏ธ Giapo (Artisan gelato) | 12 Gore St โ Try "Volcano Chocolate" #AucklandHiddenGems #MiddleEarthNZ #VolcanicCoast #TravelNZ