Four hours in Auckland 2024

Scaling one of Auckland’s most iconic structures – slap in the centre of the city, with stupendous metropolitan and marine views, plus bragging rights to match – is any visitor’s quintessential amuse-bouche. The Auckland Harbour Bridge, which celebrates its 65th anniversary in May, is 43 metres high.

Safety is paramount: climbers are kitted out in overalls; phones and similar clutter are banned; and a chatty, experienced (albeit laid-back – this is New Zealand) guide shepherds each group. Unlike a regular city sightseeing tour, the bridge climb requires a bit of physical effort but provides a real sense of reward.

Automatic cameras snap photos of climbers along the way, and these are on sale at the end of the tour. (Tickets start from NZ$155/£75.) Bungee jumps are also on offer (NZ$210/£102) – reportedly a sure-fire fix for jet lag. bungy.co.nz

Spend an afternoon immersed in both indigenous and international creativity at the Auckland Art Gallery. Headlining ‘Guo Pei: Fashion, Art, Fantasy’ is the iconic yellow gown worn by Rihanna to the 2015 Met Gala – one glance is enough to explain why the 57-year-old Beijing-born designer is the darling of celebs and royalty around the world. More than 60 designs of clothing, jewellery and shoes are featured in this phantasmagorical expo, presenting a joyous kaleidoscope of jewel-like flowers, cosmic landscapes and mythical creatures (runs until 5 May).

Meanwhile, ‘Portals and Omens: New Work from the Collection’ explores how we travel with art, with key themes ranging from passports to portals (runs until 7 July). Te Toi o Mangahekea on the exterior pays tribute to the vitality of water and lakes in Māori culture (until 1 May). aucklandartgallery.com

Say “K’Road” if you want to sound hip and like a local. Some folk come here to shop (fashion, gifts, “adult” even), others have more creative activities in mind (running the gamut from tattoo parlours to film production studios), but everyone loves the food that puts the poetry in “diverse” along this strip, which is one of the main thoroughfares in the CBD. There’s Thai, Turkish, Japanese and Lebanese, as well as vegan burgers at Lord of the Fries and vegan pizza at Gorilla Kitchen.

A special shout-out goes to Mexican-inspired Zambrero that donates a meal to someone in need for every burrito or bowl sold. Come dusk, K’Road cranks it up a notch as the bars and clubs swing into action. Visit Underground, a multi-use space in the old vault of St Kevin’s Arcade, for a hefty dose of edge. karangahaperoad.com

Running for three kilometres through the heart of Auckland, Queen Street (named after Victoria) has a little bit of everything. Smith & Caughey’s is one of those traditional department stores where quality and quantity go hand in hand. SkyWorld is an indoor entertainment centre, with a high-tech adventure – Odyssey Sensory Maze – at its heart. International names like Prada and Van Cleef & Arpels trade next to health and wellness outlets like Beauty Refinery and Glow Up Lounge.

Pause for a breather in Aotea Square, which is often used for concerts, markets and political rallies. At the end of the street is Britomart, a dynamic neighbourhood with historic warehouses, shopping and dining options and The Hotel Britomart – the country’s first 5 Green Star hotel. heartofthecity.co.nz/explore/queen-street

If you’re a rugby fan, this tour is for you. If you’re not – what’s the matter with you, mate? Auckland, and indeed the whole of New Zealand, lives and breathes rugby, and if the national team is winning, all’s right with the world.

Interactive is the watchword here, so visitors get the chance to test their passing and kicking skills as well as perform a haka while learning about the All Blacks – the most successful international men’s rugby side of all time with a winning percentage of 76.77 per cent over 637 Tests – and what it takes to make the team. Souvenir All Blacks shirts cost from NZ$103/£50. As Banksy would say: “Exit through the gift shop.” experienceallblacks.com

Words: Ed Peters