Zipping through Auckland, NZ

[green slime]

14th-20th August. Anything to see, do, or avoid? People, places and events? Any gaming / conventions going on?

What's the story, on the right side of downunder?

 

[Lancelot]

Depends what you're after. If you haven't visited Auckland before, there are a number of options. Some of my personal favorites:

• Take a ferry out over to Rangitoto (volcanic island) and climb up to the summit. Make sure you take a detour to the lava caves (bring a torch, and wear old clothes so that you can crawl through low tunnels). The main caves on the walking track aren't extensive, but still fun.
• Visit the Auckland War Memorial Museum. Three levels, and it's not all military. First level is primarily NZ, Maori and Pacific Island culture (including reconstructed meeting houses, wakas/canoes, etc). Second level is other cultures and plants/animals/etc. Third level has a small reconstructed Victorian village and the military exhibits, including an intact Spitfire and a Zero. Other interesting items include the guns out the front of the museum, from HMS New Zealand (battlecruiser that fought in most of the major engagements of WW1, and had the distinction of firing the most shells of any ship at the Battle of Jutland).
• There are two MOTAT (Museum of Transport and Technology) sites, linked by a tram. The first has old engines, cars, trains, etc. The second has aircraft, including a Lancaster bomber, V1 flying bomb, etc. They're both very close to Auckland Zoo as well, which is another tourist option. Both MOTAT sites are better visted on the weekend, as they sometimes run special events.
• Devonport is one of the nicer suburbs in terms of casual shopping and dining. It's waterfront, you can get to it by ferry, it has many owner-operated stores (few chain stores), art galleries, antique shops, three 2nd-hand bookstores (some fantasy, sci-fi, RPG), plenty of cafes and a few pubs. It's also close to more of my beloved military locations: a small Naval Museum with some fascinating historical artifacts, the Devonport naval base (...where you'll be able to see NZ's mighty navy of a couple frigates and some auxilliary support vessels), and the old WW1/WW2 installations on North Head. The latter are worth a trip, again with old clothes and a torch. You can explore the old tunnels in a freeform fashion, there are great views from the summit of the hill, and there are several large guns maintained in emplacements.
• If you were visiting later in the year, I'd recommend a trip out to Piha beach on the west coast. Only 30-40 minutes drive from central Auckland, and there's nice scenery through the Waitakere hills on the way out there. Unfortunately, it'll be pretty cold and grey in late winter / early spring.
• In terms of gaming shops in the central city, there's King of Cards (Magic, DDM, Board Games), Vagabond (RPGs, Warhammer, Anime, Flames of War) and Heroes 4 Sale (RPGs, Comics). They're all roughly within a km/mile of each other in the central business district, which runs along Queen St and Karangahape Rd. There are a couple of generic Games Workshop stores at St Lukes and Sylvia Park malls as well.

Despite my love of Auckland, I'd keep your expectations relatively low for gaming, though. Our stores have a very limited selection compared with, say, Sydney (which has the population of our entire country within the city limits...) or most US/Canadian cities.

Most gaming is based around groups of friends at home. We have a couple conventions each year (e.g. Armageddon which includes gaming, comics, anime, sci-fi, etc), but it's just too small a market to support major events.

 

[Mikeythorn]

I have to say I am not a fan of Auckland. Mainly because it is one of those cities that is more a collection of seperate communities than a single cohesive whole. What that means is that you have a range of quite nice places spread out over a vast area, with a big vacuum where the centre of town is. Having said that, in recent years the centre of town has improved a little. The viaduct, the area around Vulcan Lane and Ponsonby are quite nice - but Queen Street (which should really be the heart of the city) is still a dive filled with tatty tourist shops and bewildered tourists who look confused about the lack of locals.

For a geek upper Queen Street does hold a bit of interest. There is a game store in the same complex as Borders, and another (better) one up on K' Road. If you like music then the nearby Real Groovy Records is a must.

Travelling out of the centre of town is probably your best bet though. If you like walking and nice scenery then take a ferry to one of the islands. The ferries are cheap and in my view there is nothing better than wandering around on an otherwise empty island. Devonport (also reached by ferry) is also well worth the trip if you prefer sitting and drinking coffee to wandering around on sand and grass.

Going even further afield I would also recommend heading way up north or out to the Coromandel. Both have great beaches (although August is probably not the best time to enjoy them) and the Bay of Islands also has the added bonus of history. I love wandering around Russell in particular, poking my fingers into the musket holes in the walls of some of the older buildings.

 

[mach1.9pants]

Just get south of the Bombay Hills ASAP! Auckland is not real NZ!

 

[green slime]

Wow! Thanks guys for all the great responses. I should mention I'm a Kiwi from the dim and distant past, but have been living an expat life for far too long. I have been to Auckland before, but never really done much touristy things, mostly visited relatives. One the trouble is most gaming shops seem to disappear/move between visits. Living in Europe, its kind of expensive to get back "home", and with kids and a mortage, it seems to take forever to save the cash to go.

The reason for my trip is twofold: a dear friend is getting married in Samoa, so I had to go to the antipodes anyway, and my mother's celebrating one of those decennial birthdays, so I want to treat her with some outings. Then by pure happenstance, an old boarding school buddy got in touch, so I'll be visiting him as well.

I really like the area around the War Memorial. Strange as it may sound, I have lots of nice memories from around there, and I think it is a fantastic museum. I do try and visit it every time I go to NZ.

Piha is also a favourite, I might try to get out there again this time, altho' as you guys say, it isn't really the best time of year.

MOTAT sounds great, and I have a dim recollection of having been there as a wee laddie with my father. That was a very long time ago. Don't think my old mum is too into vehicles. If I had more time, I'd definitely visit it.

Devonport, I think warrants further investigation, as does Rangitoto. Sort of semi-amateur photographer, I think I'll enjoy scrambling around Auckland's future doom. I'll definitely be paying King of Cards (I'm a MtG nut) and Vagabond a visit, so those were great tips.

 

[Tharian]

I haven't been there in a couple years and that trip was all too short, but while there, I enjoyed the view from Mount Eden and had fun visiting the Kelly Tarltons. The War Museum was so informative that I spent two days there.

I would really enjoy the chance to go back. If only I can get work to pay for it again...

 

[Cam Banks]

I was born in Auckland. Don't trust those people born south of Auckland. They are evil and wicked. Auckland is the best place in the universe. Especially the North Shore.

Just don't go to MOTAT. Nobody goes there.

Also, if you see two redheaded kids, trying to get to the dormant volcanoes, keep them from being caught by the horrible slug people.

Cheers,
Cam

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

If you could grab Hypersmurf and bring him back to the States, we'd appreciate it. It can't be too hard to track him down; New Zealand's not that big, is it?

 

[green slime]

If you could grab Hypersmurf and bring him back to the States, we'd appreciate it. It can't be too hard to track him down; New Zealand's not that big, is it?

I think I'd rather grab Hypersmurf, stuff him in a bag, and smuggle him into Europe, so my group could refer to his encyclopaedic knowledge at will (he could stand on a pedestal by the game table instead of the completely useless (for rules questions purposes, at least) plant we have growing there now. I suppose I'd have to bring a large supply of L&P to keep him functional.

 

[jbear]

May be too late, but if you're with kids motat has changed a bit if I remember right... or maybe its a new part they built close to it. Basically you go and and film some SFX clips of yourself. Little mini scenes of a movie, like being a tiny creature in a jar in the fridge and someone opens the door to take you out, or scaling a sheer cliff in an alien landscape. I remember having a real good laugh when I was 18... I imagine smaller kids will have a blast! Plus watching the 'movie' you made afterwards is an awesome keepsake.

I wish I could be more precise, but I know it was right next to MOTAT.