Our most recommended things to do in Grafton, Auckland

Auckland Scenic Half-Day City Sightseeing Tour

1. Auckland Scenic Half-Day City Sightseeing Tour

Get a real feel for Auckland on a comprehensive city tour with a great deal of sightseeing fitted into the 3.5- to 4-hour experience. Join an owner-operator for detailed commentary full of insights from a local perspective, delivered with humour. After pick up from your central Auckland hotel or a convenient downtown departure point, head down to the Waterfront area. Visit the Viaduct Basin, Wynyard Quarter, and Westhaven Marina, where you can sometimes see bungy jumpers taking the plunge off the Harbour Bridge. Travel over the Harbour Bridge to the Victorian suburb of Northcote Point for a fantastic view back to the city. Here you will find great photo opportunities. Continue on through the very groovy suburb of Ponsonby with its fantastic cafes, fashion boutiques, plus eclectic and unique shops. Journey along the infamous K Road (Karangahape Road) and up to Mount Eden Volcano for dramatic views of the city. Drive through the Auckland Domain and past the Auckland Museum. Continue on to Parnell on the way out to the Eastern Beaches of Mission Bay and St Heliers. Stop at Achilles Point for a wonderful view over the Hauraki Gulf.

Auckland: Hop-On Hop-Off Explorer Bus Ticket

2. Auckland: Hop-On Hop-Off Explorer Bus Ticket

Auckland Attractions The largest free-standing structure in the Southern Hemisphere, New Zealand’s largest art collection and up close encounters with penguins and sharks – just a few of the incredible experiences that can be visited with Auckland Explorer Bus. Downtown Auckland Sky City / Sky Tower Weta Workshop Unleashed The All Blacks Experience Queen Street Auckland Art Gallery Newmarket Auckland Museum Hold Trinity Cathedral Parnell Bastion Point SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's

Auckland War Memorial Museum Entry Ticket

3. Auckland War Memorial Museum Entry Ticket

Regarded as one of the finest museums in the southern hemisphere, discover Auckland Museums' renowned and unique collection of Maori and Pacific treasures. Visit one of the nation's best heritage buildings that house the museum's three floors with stories of New Zealand. Learn about the great Polynesian voyages that brought people to Aotearoa. Then discover details about the diverse cultures and communities of Auckland. Enjoy views from the roof when you take part in the Incredible Rooftop Tour or discover the best bits of our galleries with the Gallery Highlights Tour.

Auckland: Half-Day Scenic Sightseeing Tour

4. Auckland: Half-Day Scenic Sightseeing Tour

Join this award-winning sightseeing tour to see as much of Auckland as possible in 4 hours. Make the most of your time with convenient pickup and drop-off from all central Auckland hotels with a maximum of 14 people per tour to guarantee a personal and comfortable experience. Travel across the Auckland Harbour Bridge and take in 360-degree views of the city on your way to the North Shore of Auckland. Explore Devonport, arguably the quaintest township in Auckland and dating back to 1850, making it the oldest on the North Shore. Marvel at the 5,000 odd villas as we explain how to tell their age. Take in more spectacular views of Auckland city and the Hauraki Gulf from North Head. Hear stories about how this was an underground township with a labyrinth of tunnels during the 2nd World War and the 1880s. Explore two Victorian-style glasshouses, the Winter Gardens, which are over 100 years old. See 80 endemic ferns including the most famous Silver Fern at the Fernery. Then, journey to the top of Eden, the highest point on the isthmus of Auckland at 196 meters. Gaze out over some of the best 360-degree views of the city of Auckland. Explore Tamaki Drive and take in the beauty of Auckland's inner-city beaches and the beautiful native Pohutakawa trees that flank the coastline. Move on to Paritai Drive, the richest street in New Zealand, and enjoy spectacular views over Okahu Bay and Auckland Harbour. Visit Mission Bay and see the old stone cottage constructed from volcanic rock by Bishop Selwyn in 1848. Meander through one of the quaintest coastal suburbs in Auckland and make your way via Kohimarama to Achilles Point. Take a photo opportunity with the most spectacular views of the Auckland Harbour and the Hauraki Gulf at one of the most historic places in Auckland. You will also visit Orakei Basin, one of three crater lakes in Auckland. Listen to stories about its role in history.  Next, pass by the homes in the richest suburb in New Zealand, Remuera. Learn about the types of timber used in the construction of this district's houses and how to tell how old each building is. Drive down the golden mile of Parnell and see the oldest suburb of Auckland. After a full day of sightseeing, enjoy the convenience of being dropped back off at your hotel in the city center.

Auckland: Full-Day City Highlights Tour

5. Auckland: Full-Day City Highlights Tour

Explore Auckland with an experienced New Zealand driver/guide on a multi-award-winning tour. Enjoy the company of a small, personalized group, allowing you to stop often for stunning photos and to access the best vantage spots that larger buses can't reach. The tour starts with pickup from your hotel in Auckland CBD in the morning. Head to see the stunning attractions and unspoiled scenery of the City of Sails, as Auckland is affectionately known. There are plenty of opportunities to capture amazing photos that you will treasure for a lifetime. The tour stops at the major highlights of the city, including Auckland Harbor Bridge, Devonport and North Head (Maungauika), Auckland Waterfront and Viaduct, Bastion Point, Mission Bay, Tamaki Drive and Achilles Point, and the Historic Mount Eden. Check out the amazing gannet colony at Muriwai Beach, the fabulous Auckland Domain, Museum, and Wintergardens, Parnell, the 1857 historic Riverhead Tavern, as well as the War Memorial, Wynyard Quarter, and the Viaduct Harbor. Your fun and friendly tour guide will offer commentary on the breathtaking scenery and take you out of the concrete jungle and into the stunning landscapes that surround the city. When the tour ends in the afternoon, you'll leave Auckland with a day you'll never forget.

Auckland City & West Coast Luxury Tour

6. Auckland City & West Coast Luxury Tour

Enjoy spectacular views of both the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea, several ancient volcanoes in the Auckland isthmus, untamed coastline, black and golden sand beaches, subtropical rainforest with the famous Kauri trees and unique indigenous flora and fauna. This tour will show you why Auckland is known as one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Drive through Auckland Domain and see some of New Zealand’s most beautiful buildings, including Auckland Museum. Continue with a drive through the suburb of Parnell, restored in the old colonial style and with many beautiful mansions. Along the waterfront of Tamaki Drive, view several of Auckland’s stunning beaches. These are just some of the main highlights. From 09:00 to the end of the day, your tour aims to show you as much of Auckland and in as much detail as possible.

Auckland: Ship to Shore Full-Day Excursion

7. Auckland: Ship to Shore Full-Day Excursion

Embark on an adventure and go on a comprehensive 8-hour Auckland Tour. See the top attractions of Auckland on this scenic full-day tour. Drive along Tamaki Drive in an air-conditioned Mercedes with one of the guides renowned for their knowledge. Discover the quaint village of Devonport, Mission Bay, and gaze over the coastal scenery from Achilles Point. Travel to the top of 2 of Auckland's volcanoes for stunning 360-degree views. See North Head, a volcano with the most spectacular views over the City and the Inner Harbour. You will also witness Auckland's highest volcano, historic Mount Eden. Admire native birdlife at Muriwai and the spectacular rugged coastline with black sand beaches. Sip fine wines along the Kumeu Wine Trail. Visit the Auckland Domain, home to the Auckland Museum, and the 2 stunning Wintergardens and Fernery.  Enjoy our historic lunch stop in Riverhead. Marvel at the surroundings while traveling into the lush countryside.

Auckland Fullday City Tour

8. Auckland Fullday City Tour

You will visit the most highlight locations in Auckland City. You can enjoy the panoramic view of the city, cultures, history, and food. You can get to know about New Zealand briefly through this tour. It's good for first time visitors to New Zealand. Ideal for first-time visitors to Auckland, this all-day sightseeing tour includes the city’s popular attractions and landmarks such as Mt.Eden, Cornwall Park, Auckland Museum, the War Memorial Museum, Viaduct Harbor, Mission Bay, and the Harbour Bridge. Plus, a stop at the Parnell Rose Garden, which contains over 5,000 roses, may be included, depending on the season.

Frequently asked questions about Grafton, Auckland

What are the best indoor activities in Grafton, Auckland for rainy days?

Other Sightseeing Options in Grafton, Auckland

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What people are saying about Grafton, Auckland

Overall rating

4.4 / 5

based on 233 reviews

Excellent tour. Great itinerary. Our guide David was excellent, very knowledgeable and clearly proud of his city. Overall this tour exceeded our expectations. Great value for money. I would definitely recommend.

Wonderful experience getting to know the surrounding Auckland area. During the tour there was a fountain of information shared with us regarding the native history of the Maori tribes. Highly recommended!

Mike was a friendly engaging fellow with lots of useful information to share. Be aware that you will spend a lot of time in traffic but for us it was fun to look at the shops and homes as we drove around.

Wonderful experience. Very easy to navigate around with lots of staff to help send us in the right direction if needed.

David did a great job showing and telling us all the highlights of Auckland. Thank you, David.