Auckland, New Zealand an odd attraction is a party with zombies. In Auckland places to go include whitewater rafting in a city with a motorway next door. Auckland’s fascinating places cover exploring recent volcanic activity. In Auckland find weirdly shaped trees or go golfing at midnight after you biked an unusual neon pink bike route. Discover a cafe where the hosts are four pawed cats or go glamping in a rugby stadium.
Volunteer for hard work with no pay
This is not really wacky, odd or weird. Rather it’s lots of hard work, outdoors and nobody is going to pay you a cent. DOC VOLUNTEER. There are loads of volunteer opportunities this summer to work with the Department of Conservation in the great outdoors doing things such as helping maintain the pest-free sanctuary that is Tiritiri Matangi, hosting visitors on Rangitoto, helping with maintenance on the Okura bush walkway or practising your green thumb by planting on Motuora Island.
Inside Weta Workshop unleashed, Auckland
Scared, that’s the whole point of this visitor attraction. Walk through special effects, gory visuals of animation and props of film magic creators, Weta Workshop. Sit in front of a 3D screen and watch as your image is covered with blood and guts. Open a drawer and gawp at eyeballs. The 90 minute guided tour through the world of sci-fi, fantasy and horror. Then there is the gift shop with collectables and keepsakes.
A volcano emerged out of the Waitemata Harbour
Approximately 600 years ago the locals got the fright of their lives when a volcano erupted. Rangitoto is lava strewn and dormant. It is not extinct and oddly exciting to be standing on a volcano that very recently (geological measures) erupted with dramatic force. Auckland is built on volcanoes, over 48 cones are dotted around the city. The hills are in fact volcanoes with the top of the hill a crater. Visit Mt Eden or Mangere Bridge for excellent views and great examples of a volcanic eruption. And people enterprisingly realised the land was fertile leaving evidence of terraces.
Elves in Albert Park
Twisted trees in Albert Park (Auckland City Centre) in extraordinary shape are possibly the home of fairies or elves. The Argentine native tree is an Ombu with massive roots emerging from the ground as the tree grows. Definitely nature has the upper hand when it comes to natural sculptures.
Watch people hurdle themselves off the Sky Tower
The Glass Goose Bar & Eatery is located behind Federal Street, at the top of the staircase and the rooftop is glass. It is quiet and eats, drinks and gawps at people as they bounce back and forth. The Glass Goose is a must-go destination both for food and sheer entertainment value.
HINT
The bungee guest will be in fetching blue jumpsuits and are 192 metres at 85 km an hour.
Ride the pink highway
Well, it’s actually not very long, less than a 1 km, yet it is endearing that a motorway offramp is now repurposed as a cycleway to complete the bike inner city loop. The trail is bright vibrant pink and neon lighting up at night. Very eye-catching and practical.
Zombies
Adrenaline, scary adventures on your radar, then the Zombie Survival Challenge might be the answer to a night out. Zombie Survival takes guests into West Auckland on a Saturday Night Challenge. The course is approximately 2. 5km with guests evading the undead while travelling to a series of checkpoints and challenges.
Want to become a zombie
Guests get BODY FX to organize a workshop on trauma and moulage effects. You learn how to create realistic wounds, bruising, scarring and contorted faces. And go the whole way with costuming and props to get the scary theme going.
Play golf at midnight
JK World of Golf is a 24 / 7 golf course adjacent to the Auckland airport. The driving range is full range with the fairway 270 m long. The balls are actual course balls, they are not limited to a certain distance. There is a fully stocked golf shop.
Love affair with cats + coffee
Purrs & Beans is New Zealand’s longest running cat café and forever home to 13 special rescue cats now located in Birkenhead, the ‘village with a view’. Watch the video of the cats and your heart will melt. Definitely once the new normal is established the place for a coffee is with the rescue cats. Birkenhead has great beaches for a picnic, beforehand drop in for some love with cats. The welfare of the cats is also dependent on the goodwill of customers and donations are welcome.
Sleep in rugby stadium
Staydium glamping in the middle of the city and enjoy a Premium game-day experience. Want an unmatched game-day experience for an international test match or other premium fixture? The Staydium Glamping domes are the place to be on match day, offering world-class views of the action up close and personal, game day tickets and parking. Staydium Glamping gets in before the rush.
Go white water rafting in the city
You will not be white water rafting on a river. In fact there are no rivers in the proximity of the attraction however it is exhilarating fun and could tempt you to try rafting on a real river. In South Auckland is the visitor attraction, Wero, Whitewater Park. There is the beginner course ‘Tamariki’ River rafting however consider a River Rush course. The advanced course for those who are ready for the next level. This adrenaline-pumping Grade 3-4 course is not for the faint-hearted. It is 300m long and has the equivalent of an Olympic swimming pool being pumped down it every 95 seconds.
Ghosts, world war II & underground tunnels
An unmissable highlight for heritage buffs and lovers of military history / military tunnels is Stony Batter on Waiheke Island. Find out where World War II guns were positioned. There is a series of impressive underground tunnels built as potential defence against Japanese bombing of New Zealand (which did not actually take place). The tunnels can be closed due to safety hence the best way to savour the moment is join a tour. Waiheke Island Stony Batter tours Fort Stony Batter Tunnels. As visitors walk in from the small car-park, they are greeted by large, volcanic boulders on each side before reaching the open-field battery. The area is complete with panoramic views of the surrounding island. Due to its relatively remote location, the site is often quiet and has an open-air nature that allows for free exploration of the gun emplacements and tunnels. It’s an awesome place to view World War II ruins.
Amazing Auckland travel guide is a great way to find ideas for your next adventure.
BEST BITS TRAVEL GUIDE
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