A friend of mine asked me for some advice, knowing that I spend a lot of time in New Zealand -- but her question has to do with Auckland and I spend ALL my time on the South Island, So here's what she asked me: She and her husband are en route to Australia and will spend two days in NZ total. They'll spend a day in AKL to recover from the flights, and the next day they'd like to get out of the city. One day! Anyone care to make a suggestion?

Maybe they ought to skip AKL or jump on the ferry for http://www.waiheke.co.nz/

Trip out to the west coast Muriwai if the weather is good

Hire a car and drive up to Matakana.

Matakana? How far and what's there? You've hit on yet another gap in my education!

It is a little village a little further on from http://www.warkworth-information.co.nz/ and yes a lovely area about Warkworth generally.

But I am loave to suggest to people hoping to get over jetlag to rest themselves the next day by jumping into a car for a drive an hour or so into the countryside [on opposite side of road to that they normally drive on]

The island suggestion allows then to get on to the airportbus or get a taxi direct to the ferry terminal and 45 minutes they have a nice peaceful island to relax on, ferry back, another taxi and no driving by themselves involved.

This couple has two days in Auckland -- one day to loll about getting over jetlag and doing whatever they feel up to, and one to plan. If they're still screwed up (you never know), they certainly don't have to do anything! But it's nice to have some options thought out in advance. As cities go, I'm not an Auckland fan and therefore recommend a day's road trip if they're up to it. They have experience driving on the left. So, Matakana is on the list, and thanks.