New Zealand
Auckland
Welcome to New Zealand! Auckland is a city surrounded by water on almost every side, with two harbours, dozens of small volcanoes, and a tall spiky tower poking up above it all. Locals call it the 'City of Sails' because so many people here own a boat.
Why is it famous?
Auckland sits on a narrow strip of land between two harbours, which is why boats and sailing are such a huge part of life here.
The Sky Tower stands taller than any other structure in the Southern Hemisphere and lights up in different colors at night.
How was it built?
Māori people lived on this land for hundreds of years before European settlers arrived, valuing it for its rich volcanic soil and easy access to two coastlines.
Because the city is squeezed onto an isthmus barely a few miles wide, engineers had to build bridges like the Auckland Harbour Bridge to connect neighborhoods across the water.
Amazing facts
Auckland has more boats per person than almost any other city on Earth, which is exactly how it earned its nickname.
You can see both the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean from parts of the city, since it stretches between two different coasts.
Quick facts
- Auckland has more boats per person than almost any other city on Earth, which is exactly how it earned its nickname.
- You can see both the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean from parts of the city, since it stretches between two different coasts.
- The Sky Tower is 328 meters (1,076 feet) tall, and brave visitors can even walk around its outer ledge on a guided SkyWalk.
- Auckland's volcanic hills, like Mount Eden, are actually old craters that people can walk right up into today.