Water Sports 
Each of Auckland's east and west coast maintains a startling distinction in their geographical properties.  While the east coast beaches generally have white or golden sand and mild waves suitable for swimming and boating, the west coast sand's color ranges from gray to black, the terrain rugged, and the high waves apt for surfing.  Regular ferries service the islands of the Hauraki Gulf, while charter boats are available in every incarnation, from classic yachts to speed launches. Windsurfing is popular in the bays around the harbor, and so is kayaking, with regular guided expeditions to the far reaches of the Waitemata.  The Hauraki Gulf is also home to herds of dolphins and whales which can be viewed on regular boat trips on the Dolphin Explorer. Sea life can also be seen from underwater, through transparent tunnels built in an underground aquarium at Kelly Tarlton’s Antarctic Encounter and Underwater World.  In addition, the Great Barrier Island has hot springs and also provides some of the most varied scuba diving in New Zealand.

Trekking/bushwalking
The hiking trails in the Waitakere and Hunua Ranges, to the west and south of the city center respectively, take you deep into cool, peaceful rainforest. The Woodhill and Riverhead plantation forests attract mountainbikers and motocross riders.  The Great Barrier Island houses historic kauri dams as well as a forest sanctuary and myriad of ecological hiking tracks.  History buffs can tramp on one of Auckland's inspiring heritage trails through historic city districts or take a leisurely stroll in the business quarters, observe the yachts and take a glimpse of water birds along one of the Auckland bays or visit Auckland's numerous parks and galleries that the city has arranged for walking and sightseeing pleasures.

Shopping
All of New Zealand’s top fashion designers have stores in Auckland. Real bargain-hunters can head to the Dress-Smart mall for factory and outlet stores. Unique Pacific-flavoured crafts, including tapa cloths and carvings, are also readily available in specialty stores and souvenir shops near the waterfront.  The commercial heart of Auckland is Queen Street which runs from Queen Elizabeth II Square near the waterfront pass Aotea Square and the visitor center to the bustling Karangahape Road.  East of the city stands Parnell which is a chic area fortified by stylish restaurants and trendy boutiques.  Victoria Park Market which is set in the cobblestone courtyard once used as the city's rubbish furnace has been transformed into a pavilion that houses shops, cafes and restaurants as well as crafts and souvenirs stalls.  Another interesting place for more earthy shoppers is the Otara Market which is an open-air market where you can find every kind of products from fresh fruit and vegetables to Maori music CDs and handmade crafts.    

Dining & drinking
Being the largest city and a major national tourist attraction, Auckland is replete with well-established and high-reputation dining places.  The city hosts several international food and drink events throughout the year that there has been an unprecedented growth in new and fabulous eateries.  Countless beautifully-decorated cafes have sprung up to implement the thriving coffee culture, and a dazzling diversity of ethnic population has resulted in multi-national gourmets such as Asian, Fijian-Indian, Mediterranean, Italian, or even French.  Better yet, these cuisines are not confined in their ethnic enclaves, so you have the advantage of trying out as many different kinds of food as your appetite can handle without having to get out of the city center.  The ingredients are usually home-grown or freshly fetched which bring out the taste and aroma of your ordered dish to the full.  There is also ample choices of wine to choose from.    

Entertainment
After dinner, there are plenty of options for enjoying Auckland’s nightlife as bars and pubs can be found all over the central city.  Many exotic dance clubs are centered on Karangahape Road, or locally known as K Rd.  Gamblers may head to Auckland's casino which is located inside the the Sky City complex complete with bars, restaurants and a hotel. Live music and theater can be found in large venues such as the Aotea Centre, the Bruce Mason Theatre and Sky City Theatre. The Civic Theater in Queen St has recently been restored to its art nouveau splendor. Another historic venue is The Pumphouse, an old brick water pumphouse constructed in 1894 on the edge of Lake Pupuke on the North Shore. Other smaller theaters are scattered through the central city and outer suburbs, whereas visual arts are put on display at the city's numerous galleries such as the Auckland Art Gallery and the New Gallery as well as in the artists enclaves on Waiheke Island, Titirangi and Devonport. 

January

• ASB Bank Classic & Heineken Open
  Top International male and female tennis players compete in Auckland at the ASB Bank Tennis Centre on Stanley Street.
• Auckland Anniversary Weekend Regatta
  The City of Sails celebrates its founding anniversary with an annual regatta on the harbour.
• Starlight Symphony
  A free open-air musical extravaganza in Auckland Domain, featuring classical favourites, a laser light show and entertainment by local celebrities.
• Mission Bay Jazz & Blues Festival
  An evening of live jazz and blues performances on the streets of this seaside village on Auckland's Tamaki Drive.
• Big Day Out
  Cutting-edge rock groups from New Zealand and around the world perform at Auckland's Ericsson Stadium.
• Auckland Folk Festival
  International and national folk singers perform at Kumeu Showgrounds.

February

• Devonport Food & Wine Festival
  Enjoy a weekend of fabulous food, wine tasting and live entertainment, including jazz, soul and buskers, at the charming seaside village of Devonport in Auckland.
• Auckland International Cultural Festival
  Auckland celebrates its cultural diversity with ethnic food, crafts, music and entertainment at Potters Park, Mt Eden.
• Hero Festival
  Auckland's gay and lesbian community celebrate with the Big Gay Out, the Hero Pride March and Hero Dance Party. 
• NZ Polo Open
  International and national polo players gather for this premier contest held at Clevedon Polo Grounds south of Auckland.
• Teddy Bears Picnic
  A fun family day at Auckland domain featuring teddies, a travelling farm, pony rides and entertainment.
• Chinese Lantern Festival
  Auckland's grand finale to the Chinese New Year featuring three days of lanterns, stalls, traditional food and entertainment. Held at Albert Park.

March

• St Patrick's Festival
  Auckland's Irish community celebrates with music and dance, pub crawls, fun activities and the famous Travelling Hooley.
• Pasifika
  A day when Auckland, as the world's largest Polynesian city, showcases the color and cultures of its Pacific people at the Western Springs Stadium.
• Dragonboat Festival
  Dragonboat teams battle it out on Auckland's Waitemata Harbour.
• Round the Bays Run
  One of the world's largest fun runs around Auckland's scenic waterfront.

March/April

• Montana Waiheke Island of Jazz Festival
  Top New Zealand and international jazz acts gather at Waiheke Island near Auckland for a programme of great Easter jazz.
• Easter Show
  The country's largest trade fair featuring a carnival, show jumping, farm and animal displays and live entertainment. Held at NZ Expo Centre, Greenlane, Auckland.
• Rally of New Zealand
  The best of the world's rally drivers tackle the roads of Auckland region in this official leg of the World Rally Championships.

May

• International Laugh Festival
  The cream of international and NZ comedians come to Auckland for cutting-edge comedy and drama.
• Auckland Writers & Readers Festival
  Overseas guests and homegrown talent offer book readings, discussions and seminars in this biennial festival.

June

• Celebration of Performing Arts Festival
  Three days of largely free entertainment by Auckland's vibrant arts community over Queen's Birthday Weekend, including music, dance, street theatre and opera.

July

• Auckland International Film Festival
  A selection of new releases and classic films, rare footage and guest speakers at Auckland cinemas.

September

• Going West Literary Festival
  Readings, workshops, debates and train rides in Auckland's Waitakere City.
• Auckland Home Show
  Everything for the home, including a street of homes built especially for the show. Attracts over 500 exhibitors and 60,000 visitors.

October

• Lindauer Coastal Classic Yacht Race
  An annual Labour weekend yacht race from Auckland to Russell in the Bay of Islands.

November

• Ellerslie Flower Show
  The Southern Hemisphere's largest flower show takes over the Auckland Regional Botanic Gardens at Manurewa. Featuring workshops, seminars, music, exciting garden designs and dazzling floral displays.
• Santa Parade
  The largest of the nation's parades marks the Christmas season with colourful floats along Auckland's central streets.
• Parnell Festival of Roses
  The Auckland suburb of Parnell celebrates with a weekend of live entertainment featuring music, dance, street theatre and art exhibitions. A free double decker bus makes the circuit of festival venues - the Parnell Rose Gardens, Trinity Cathedral and Parnell Mainstreet.

December

• Auckland Airport Qantas Three Day Event
  The world's best horse riders compete at Puhinui Reserve in South Auckland. Entertainment includes a country fair with food and craft stalls.
• Music in Parks
  A series of free open-air concerts on Sundays featuring a mix of classical, jazz, pop, Latin and local rock. Main venues are the Auckland Domain Band Rotunda and Wintergardens.

 This article is authored and copyrighted
by Royal Exclusive Travel