gmjoja

We have 4 days in NZ, probably never to return. We fly into and out of Auckland but wonder if we should continue on elsewhere or enjoy the sights there.

Melnq8

Unfortunately, you're very limited with so little time.

Normally I tell people to head south, but with so little time, you might do well just to sit tight and see what you can around Auckland.

http://www.aucklandnz.com/

Or, if you're up for one more flight, you might consider flying to Queenstown and spending all of your time there.

That would be my choice if I only had four days.

http://www.queenstownnz.co.nz/

Or better yet, since this may be your only trip to NZ, why not add a few weeks?

tripplanner001

We also spent four days in Auckland during our visit to NZ in 2013. There is more than enough to keep you occupied. Spend at least a day in the city and one or two days to get out on the water. We did a day trip to Waiheke Island and loved it - the hiking, the beach walks, visits to vineyards, etc. You can also venture to the northwest of the city to visit Piha Beach for its beautiful black sands; it's a lovely way to spend an afternoon. Devonport is also worth a look and is a quick ferry ride from downtown Auckland. Hope this helps.

tasmangirl

I live in Auckland and while I hate some things with a passion (like house prices and commuter traffic)it really has a lot going for it. So stay for a few days and check it out.
As mentioned before Waiheke is awesome - walk to the lovely beach of Oneroa or if you like wine have lunch at any of the great wineries.
West Coast beaches are great and Taylor Swift has shot her latest video at Bethells Beach. Tiritiri Matangi is a conservation island where you can see the takahe (large native bird) and awesome views all over the Hauraki Gulf.
Good choice of day trips if you don't mind an early start and some hours in the bus. Bay of Islands, Coromandel, Hobbiton, Waitomo Caves are all a long day trip but worth it. Great Barrier Island is a day trip if you can spend $700 on the flight over there.
There is the Auckland museum if you like museums, and the HOHO bus goes around the other tourist sites like the Auckland Zoo and Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium. If you like excitement try the vertical bungee in Victoria St and then go up Sky Tower for a panorama over Auckland.
I like the serendipitous moment of travel - when you were ho hum about a place but then when you actually got there it was amazing. When I went to New York I could have 1 weekend in another city and tossed up between Washington DC and Boston. Boston appealed more probably because it is by the sea but the hotel prices were cheaper in DC so I went there.
DC was amazing despite me thinking would it be boring. The Smithsonian was the best museum I have ever been to and I was really impressed. I loved the streets and architecture and massive serious buildings of DC.
Come to Auckland and it may surprise you! We have great food and wine in New Zealand and amazing icecream.

GinnyJo

Thanks for the great info on Auckland!

scrb11

I just returned from 3 weeks in NZ. Maybe putting Auckland at the end colored my perceptions but I didn't really feel Auckland.

Seemed like a nondescript big city. The waterfront is okay but is in need of renovation. I did a harbor cruise and they said they were planning to build luxury apts. where there are oil tanks, which is a real blight, right next to the Hilton and the yacht club.

But there's too much contamination there so they have to clean that up before they can remove those ugly tanks.

Rather than luxury apts. they need to put up some iconic building there, like the Sydney Opera House or maybe a Gehry building.

I didn't visit the Sky Tower -- day I thought about doing, it looked like it was going to be overcast -- but that tower you see in many other cities now.

The most beautiful places were outside the big city centers. Like for instance, Mount Victoria Lookout which overlooks not only Wellington but the bay on the other side where the airport is or looking down on Queenstown from the Skyline. Or drive out towards Glenorchy or up to the Coronet Peak or to the Crown Range Summit.

Or in Christchurch, drive over to Lyttletown and hike the hills overlooking the town and the harbor.

I like big cities well enough but the most beautiful landscapes and views were outside of the big NZ cities, at least to my eyes.

I probably didn't research Auckland enough, especially day trips. I did consider Waiheke but again, at the end of my trip, didn't want to have a long day, just wanted to relax the last day before flying back.

I guess it depends on what interests the OP. If he or she likes museums, night life in cities and so on, a big city makes sense. But for natural beauty, QT, especially if you have a car for 1-2 hour drives, is hard to beat.

capekidnappers

Whatever you do, stay in and around Auckland or fly south you will love it, you're spoiled for choice. Perhaps give Auckland a fair go, given you have just 4 days.

For my money's worth I would ignore the negativity in the last post and do some of other earlier options suggested. Yes Auckland is a city with all the down stuff a city can bring but the Gulf and its the islands (Tiritiri Matangi wildlife sanctuary full of birdlife, Rangitoto and Motutapu have walking trails plus Maori cultural guided options, Waiheke full of classy wineries! just some example a ferry trip away from downtown Aucklands), then the Waitakere Ranges and West Coast beaches. And a loooong day trip to Rotorua, Hobbiton, and maybe Waitomo Caves will give you some rural NZ landscapes as well.