The city is focal point of the much larger Auckland region. With harbours east and west of the Auckland isthmus, opportunities abound for sailing, fishing, kayaking, surfing, swimming and beach idling. City attractions include Viaduct Harbour (Americas Cup venue), the Sky Tower, Kelly Tarlton's Antarctic and underwater experiences, plus shopping, restaurants, casino, theatres. The islands of the Hauraki Gulf are close enough to the city for day trips. Around Auckland are several regional parks with good walking tracks, as well as the Waitakere Ranges.
Ten minutes by ferry across the Waitemata Harbour brings you to historic Devonport, long associated with New Zealand's navy and notable for some well-maintained Victorian and Edwardian buildings and a strollable waterfront. Beyond are the summer resorts of the Hibiscus Coast. In the south, the region has Manukau City, where Rainbow's End Adventure Park is a major attraction. For a more sedate experience, visit the Regional Botanic Gardens, host to more than 10,000 plant species.