Auckland is New Zealand's largest city, situated at the top of the North Island with a population of around 1.5 million. This represents about 33% of the population of the whole country! Auckland is also supposedly the second largest urban sprawl in the world, after Los Angeles, which might give you an impression of the size.

Luckily, (if you're useless with languages like myself) you'll be pleased to find that English is the main written and spoken language in the city, with Maori, Polynesian and Asian languages also being spoken by the ethnic communities. In fact, one of the strangest things I found when travelling around Auckland the first few times (certainly within the central areas) is that the majority of people you will see will be Asians rather than Caucasian or Maori / Islanders. This is due to the relative cheapness of NZ compared to the Asian countries and parents then send their young people to NZ where it is cheaper than their own homes.

The city is built on a narrow isthmus between two harbours: to the East, the Waitemata and to the West, the Manukau. The Waitemata is the main deep water shipping access, with extensive wharf facilities and the largest container port in the country and is right in the heart of the city. Water sports are a pastime enjoyed by a large number of Aucklanders and the city enjoys the reputation as being known as the 'City of Sails' due the number of yachts which sail in the harbours and the adjoining Hauraki Gulf. Each weekend, if the weather is agreeable, you won't believe the amount of water-based craft out and about, and the sea will be packed with boats, jet skis, windsurfers and other exotic water craft. If you go down to the Viaduct (where, handily there's a tourism information shop), you can see some of the huge yachts that take part in the Americas Cup race. PLus it's some to some excellent pubs - The Loaded Hog is great during the day (especially their wheat beer), and O'Hagans Irish Bar also come recommended.

The main tourist attractions within the city include the Auckland Museum which is home to one of the best Maori and Polynesian collections in the world, the Maritime Museum on the waterfront, Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World Aquarium, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki, the Museum of Transport and Technology, the Auckland Zoo, Cornwall Park and the many ferry and scenic harbour cruises which operate to the North Shore and islands of the Hauraki Gulf.

The city of Auckland is the retail and commercial centre of New Zealand, with a number of head offices and businesses servicing commerce, manufacturing and tourism. Because it is the focal business centre for the region a large number of people commute daily into the city by bus, ferry, rail and private car. This has led to the air pollution in Auckland being quite severe, and respiratory diseases are common due to this pollution, and the fact that very few houses have central heating despite night-time temperatures being quite cold, and the fact a lot of houses can get very damp. Strangely, despite their attitude towards domestic central heating, you'll find pubs and cafés to be very comfortable and dry, many having powerful gas powered heaters. At the same time, the public transport system leaves a lot to be desired. Buses are excellent during the day, arriving at their intended stops practically to the second, but at nights, they can be very unreliable at night after the rush hour has died down.

The main shopping areas are downtown Queen Street, High Street, Parnell, Newmarket and the St Luke's mall. There are also a large number of shopping malls throughout the region so you're probably not too far from one, no matter where you're staying. What surprised me about the shopping over here was that, despite being a very large city, there were none of the big name international chains I was expecting to see like Gap, HMV, Tower Records, Next etc. However, apart from the usual fast food chains (McDonalds, KFC, Burger King, Subway etc.) the shops are strangely unfamiliar. However, you can still buy some labels you'll recognise Levi's are a big thing, and surfer and outdoor gear is huge, so you'll be able to pick up your Quiksilver, Oakley O'Neill's etc.

Depending on the exchange rate (a good rough guide is approximately NZ$3 to £1, although see below for a currency conversion website), you'll find that shopping is slightly cheaper than the U.K, although there aren't too much in the way of bargains unless you're really prepared to hunt.

As I've already said, the Aucklanders can be very friendly people and you can strike up many conversations quite easily. They are also big into fitness and mental strength so it's not uncommon to see people cycling or roller-blading into work! During the evening, especially in the suburbs, there will be many people out cycling, jogging, power walking and roller-blading. A quick glance into a book shop (I highly recommend Borders in Queen Street) will show you a plethora of self help books which are given very prominent placing and regularly gain positions in the best seller lists.

** Currency Conversion
http://www.xe.com/ucc