Auckland

Nestled in a bay on the North Island, Auckland faces the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Tasman Sea. Known as the "City of Sails", this gem is regularly rated one of the world’s most liveable cities and a top destination for travellers. Highlights include a vibrant indigenous Maori community, waterfront seafood restaurants and bars with Asian culinary flavours and cultural influences of a rich immigration heritage from Japan, China, Korea, India and Thailand and a dazzling skyline. It is worthwhile to spend some time exploring the small-town charm of its central business district, patio restaurants and quaint residential areas with Victorian-era homes. Hauraki Gulf and its many sub-tropical islands is worth a visit - the closest is Waiheke Island, home to world-class wineries. Further north is Goat Island Marine Reserve, an accessible underwater paradise teeming with sea life, and the island itself is home to rainforests, thermal springs, sprawling parks and volcanic cones.