HOT THINGS TO DO IN AUCKLAND

Our class, 6A, had a project on entertainment in Auckland. We went out on the street and interviewed people about their favourite cafes, night clubs, day trips and short activities.
We have used this information to introduce you to the hottest places – everything’s here at your finger tips. You don’t need to go to the tourist information centre and wait in a never-ending queue, wasting your time.
If you’re a new student, these are the MUST DO things in Auckland. Just click and dive into our entertainment world.

Bored on the weekend? The best daytrips around Auckland!

1. RANGITOTO ISLAND - "SKY OF BLOOD"

A beautiful volcanic island in Hauraki Gulf with 600 years history!!

Hike up the 260 metre high summit (takes 1 hour) and see the 360 degree panorama from the top! There is also the unique landscape of the island - caves, coves, bush etc.
It takes about 25 minutes by ferry from Downtown Auckland
* Attention!
There's no shop on the island. Make sure you take enough water and food.

2. WAIHEKE ISLAND

Waiheke Island is in the Hauraki Gulf of New Zealand. By the ferry it takes about 35 minutes from Auckland. The Island has a great range of adventure activities for every idea: relaxing on the beaches, wine tasting in the wineries, sightseeing, mountain biking, sailing, kayaking, and windsurfing. The most visited attractions are probably the plenty of beaches and wineries. During the summer you can choose between golden sand beaches or rocky clad bays - popular beaches are Oneroa, Little Oneroa and Palm Beach. The wineries are situated in a unique landscape and they produce high quality wines with a large grape variety. We recommend the Mudbrick, Goldwater and Cable Bay wineries.
http://www.waihekenz.com/
By Jinny and Judith

Cafés in Central Auckland close to Dominion School!

Here is the result of our survey about the best Cafés in Central Auckland.

STARBUCKS
Most people prefer the Starbucks Café on the corner of Victoria and Queen Streets. The Café is located in central Auckland and has an inviting ambiance. Customers can enjoy good service, drink and food. One of the most famous coffees is the Frappuccino and they’re good in Auckland too.
The best thing about Starbucks is you can use “High Speed Wireless Internet”.

http://www.starbucks.co.nz/

ESQUIRES

The Esquires on the corner of Queen Street & Wyndham Street is the closest to the Dominion School and only a little “Take away café”. There are a lot of other Esquires Cafés in Auckland too. The great thing about this café is if you have a student card you get a discount of 15% for food and drink.

The essence of the coffee of Esquires is 100% Fairtrade.

You can get a FairShare card and earn your loyalty dollars. The money you spend on food and drink at Esquires adds up to loyalty dollars that you can use to buy more food and drink. If you load a minimum of $20 on your FairShare Card you earn 10% in loyalty dollars for every food and drink purchase you make in-store using the card.

http://www.esquirescoffee.co.nz/

MEZZE BAR
The Mezze Bar on the Durham Street East offers all students of the Dominion School one FREE coffee. So that is a good reason to try the friendly coffee bar.

http://mezzebar.co.nz/

Wherever you go, enjoy your coffee.

By Kathleen and Maki

Entertainment in bars at night!

Out on the street, many people recommended their favourite bars and we’ve divided them based on the location. If you want to have a great night in a bar, why not try going to bars recommended by Kiwis.



Bars in the city:

Globe bar located in Darby Street. It’s crowded with lots of people every night with an awesome atmosphere. (www.globebar.co.nz)

Khuja lounge at 536 Queen Street. A number of events are held here, which makes it worth going to, and it attracts some great band as well. (www.khuja.co.nz)

Occidental is the one of the closest bars to Dominion. It’s at 6 Vulcan Lane. It serves excellent food which is matched to their beers and wines. (www.occidentalbar.co.nz)

Sky City Casino at the base of Sky Tower offers favourite table games as well as nice food and drinks in an enjoyable atmosphere.

Rakinos at 35 High Street. It seems as one of the good bars serving nice food. (www.rakinos.com)

Bars on the outskirts of city but worth going to:

Ponsonby Social Club located at 152 Ponsonby Road. It has a good reputation for not only the good music but also live gigs.

Metropole at 223 Parnell Road is a bit far from our school, but many of the people we asked recommended it because of its great music and interior. (www.metropole.net.nz)

The Drake at 2 Drake Street near Victoria Park. It has a good reputation for the service, food and atmosphere as well. (www.thedrake.co.nz)

Horse and Trap at 3 Enfield Street in Mt Eden. It serves a good food with a kind service. And there are many nice bars in Mt Eden. (http://www.horseandtrap.co.nz/)

By Rachel and Ron

The Top 5 Activities in AUCKLAND!

After interviewing locals on the street we have come up with the TOP 5 ACTIVITIES not to be missed in Auckland.

SKY CITY

At 328 metres high, the Sky Tower's three observation levels offer breathtaking views of Auckland. Stand on the glass floor panels and look down on the street below. If you want a bit of adventure, you could take the quick route down by jumping off with the SkyJump, or walk around the outside perimeter with the SkyWalk. Afterwards enjoy a coffee in the Sky Lounge or dine at Orbit or The Observatory restaurants.

FERRY TRIPS

• Devonport

Devonport is a lovely historical village near the sea with an abundance of free local activities. Devonport Village consists of a diverse range of boutiques, bars, cafés and restaurants. Devonport Wine and Food Festivals are held annually near the shore, attracting thousands from outside the area. You may choose to take a leisurely walk along the seaside promenade. Cheltenham Beach is a beautiful location to enjoy and also Mt. Victoria or North Head are very stunning places to enjoy a picnic.

• Fullers Harbour Cruise

Fullers Harbour Cruise is the best way to experience Auckland’s beautiful Waitemata Harbour and also gives you a free return trip to Devonport, which can be used whenever you like. Highlights include visiting the Viaduct Basin, historic Devonport and the Devonport Naval Base, the Auckland Harbour Bridge, Bean Rock Lighthouse and a brief stopover on Rangitoto Island.
The trip takes 1.30h and costs $33.

AUCKLAND WAR MEMORIAL MUSEUM

The Museum is the first stop for anyone wishing to gain an insight into New Zealand and its people. It includes priceless Maori treasures, amazing natural history, daily Maori cultural performances, and an ever-changing feast of local and international exhibitions. Open daily 10am – 5pm except Christmas Day. The entrance costs $5 per adult.

ONE TREE HILL and MT. EDEN

One Tree Hill and Mt. Eden are inactive volcanoes where you can relax or have a picnic with your friends. You can also enjoy the huge crater of Mt. Eden and see a stunning Auckland city view from both hills. It takes only 20 mins by bus to Mt. Eden and 40 mins to One Tree Hill.

MISSION BAY

Mission Bay's golden beach is safe for swimming year-round while the reserve and promenade are perfect for roller-blading, jogging, volleyball, touch rugby and a variety of other pursuits. Sailing, windsurfing, kayaking and cycling are also popular. Those who prefer a more leisurely life style may sun bathe, people watch, picnic or simply do nothing at all. The restaurant strip, Auckland's only beachfront dining precinct is the ideal place to enjoy a coffee, drink or meal.
By Rebekka, Pietro and Ally.