Auckland offers different perspectives for your stay: observation decks, art from Māori and Pacific perspectives, and green spaces in Auckland Domain. You can choose what suits you based on whether you want to stand high above the city, see art from different eras, or experience glasshouses and native forest.

Views: Observation Decks or Outdoor Walkway

A Sky Tower admission ticket gives you access to three observation decks: Main Observation at 186 metres, The Lookout at 192 metres and Sky Deck at 220 metres above street level. The heights are clearly tiered: The Lookout is six metres above Main Observation, and Sky Deck is another 28 metres above The Lookout. The tower therefore offers several levels from which to take in views over Auckland.

The SkyWalk at the Sky Tower is a different kind of experience. It takes you along an exposed outdoor walkway with no handrails, beside a 192-metre drop. The key difference when choosing between the options is clear: a view from an observation deck or a walk along the outdoor walkway.

Art in Collections, Video and by the Water

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki holds more than 17,500 works of art. These include outstanding works by Māori and Pacific artists, as well as international collections of paintings, sculptures and prints. The collection spans from the 11th century to the present day. A range of media, cultural perspectives and eras therefore come together in one collection.

General collection tours take place on weekdays at 1:30 pm and on the first Saturday of the month at 11:00 am and 1:30 pm. Check the times before you arrive. If you are travelling with children, the family-friendly Creative Learning Centre offers hands-on art-making activities.

One work takes a different approach: Reihana’s large-scale video installation Ihi in the lobby of the Aotea Centre tells the story of the creation of the world from a Māori perspective. While the Gallery brings together works spanning many centuries and different media, this installation focuses on a story told through video.

By the water in Wynyard Quarter, the Silo Park Art Trail is a waterfront path featuring artworks with unique stories inspired by Māori culture. Here, you encounter art not as a gallery collection, but along a waterside route. The Gallery, video installation and art trail therefore differ both in form and in how they engage with Māori culture.

Glasshouses and a Forest Walk in Auckland Domain

In Auckland Domain, you can compare two different kinds of green space. The Wintergardens comprise two large glasshouses with temperate or tropical plants. There is also an enclosed courtyard with a fishpond and fountain. The glasshouses and courtyard bring together plant spaces and a landscaped indoor area.

By contrast, a short forest walk in Auckland Domain takes you through a hilly area of native forest and offers views over Auckland. Here, the woodland path and views of the city shape the experience. The difference from the Wintergardens is specific: you can choose between the glasshouses and courtyard, or a short walk through native forest.

Discover more destinations: Bombay, Mangatangi, Epsom, Ellerslie, Karaka, Piha, Port Waikato, Whangaparaoa.

For the main travel overview: Auckland.