Auckland

Lifestyle

Attractive aspects of Auckland life are its mild climate, plentiful employment and educational opportunities, and numerous leisure facilities. For quality of life, Auckland currently ranks 8th equal in a survey of the world's top 55 cities.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

(Link: Mercer Consulting quality of life survey)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Leisure

Auckland is popularly known as the "city of sails", because the harbour is usually dotted with hundreds of yachts. The recently refurbished Viaduct Basin hosted two America's Cup challenges, and its cafes, restaurants, and clubs add to Auckland's vibrant nightlife. High Street, Queen Street, Ponsonby Road, and Karangahape Road are also very popular with urban socialites. Newmarket and Parnell are upmarket shopping centres. Otara's and Avondale's famous fleamarkets and Victoria Park Market are a colourful alternative shopping experience.

Related Topics:
Viaduct Basin - America's Cup - Queen Street - Newmarket - Otara - Avondale

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Waitemata Harbour has popular beaches at Mission Bay, Devonport, Takapuna, Long Bay, and Maraetai. Pleasant ferry trips go to Devonport, Waiheke Island and Rangitoto Island. The west coast has good surf spots at Piha and Muriwai. Pleasant picnic spots may be found at Auckland Domain, Albert Park, One Tree Hill Domain and Western Springs. Auckland has its fair share of rugby and cricket grounds (notably Eden Park), and venues for motorsports, tennis, badminton, swimming, soccer, rugby league, and many other sports.

Related Topics:
Mission Bay - Devonport - Takapuna - Waiheke Island - Piha - Muriwai - One Tree Hill Domain - Western Springs - Eden Park

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Every year in March, an 8.4 kilometre (5.2 mile) fun-run known as "Round the Bays" starts in the city and goes along the waterfront to the suburb of St Heliers. It attracts many tens of thousands of people and has been an annual event since 1972.

Related Topics:
Fun-run - St Heliers - 1972

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Auckland Town Hall and Aotea Centre host conferences and cultural events such as theatre, kapa haka, and opera. Many national treasures are displayed at the Auckland Art Gallery, such as the work of Colin McCahon. Other significant cultural artefacts reside at the Auckland War Memorial Museum, the National Maritime Museum, and the Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT). Exotic creatures can be observed at the Auckland Zoo and Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World. Movies and rock concerts (notably, the "Big Day Out") are also well patronised.

Related Topics:
Kapa haka - Colin McCahon - Auckland War Memorial Museum - National Maritime Museum - Museum of Transport and Technology - Auckland Zoo - Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World - Big Day Out

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Work

Every business day, many professional workers commute from all points of the city to downtown Auckland. Most major international corporations have an Auckland office. The most expensive office space is around lower Queen Street and the Viaduct Basin. A large proportion of the technical and trades workforce is based in the industrial zones of South Auckland.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Housing

The most common residence of Aucklanders is a bungalow on a "quarter acre", with the resulting large urban sprawl and reliance on motor vehicles. The regional council is trying to curb this trend, with housing density strategies such as more townhouses and apartments, and prohibiting subdivision of properties on the city fringes.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~