City Drive & Auckland Museum
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Port
Auckland, New Zealand
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Activity Level
Easy
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Excursion Type
All,60
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$79.95
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 4 Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
Board a motorcoach for a short drive to take advantage of an exclusive early opening of the Auckland Museum just for Holland America Line guests.
Housed in a spectacular neo-Classical building, this comprehensive facility is dedicated primarily to those who sacrificed their lives for their country through New Zealand's involvement in both world wars.
Additionally, its outstanding collection features exhibits on the New Zealand and Pacific Island culture, and showcases an extensive collection of Polynesian artifacts. You may choose to view the museum with your knowledgeable guide or explore independently. Highlights include a large Maori meeting house and a mighty, 82-foot war canoe carved from a single enormous totara tree.
Re-board your motorcoach for a panoramic drive past Auckland's most popular sights. Nicknamed the City of Sails, Auckland is one of the few cities in the world to have harbors on two different bodies of water -- the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Its waterfront location offers visitors and locals alike access to beautiful beaches, breathtaking scenery, and a temperate climate in addition to a cosmopolitan city just waiting to be explored. A diverse population brings an exciting blend of cultures to Auckland, and European, Asian, and South Pacific influences are reflected in the city's architecture and cultural charm.
Your narrated tour takes you past many of the city's major points of interest. Drive through the downtown area and note the contrast in architectural styles -- modern skyscrapers and restored Victorian buildings coexist in pleasant harmony.
You'll also see the colonial-style shops that line the charming streets of Parnell Village -- an exclusive shopping district.
No tour would be complete without a photo stop at a scenic viewpoint; then, continue through the city for the completion of your tour and return to the port.
Notes:
Approximately a half-mile of walking is required at the Auckland Museum. Commercial photography and tripods are not allowed. Backpacks and other large hand-carry items are not allowed into the museum. The Auckland Museum exclusive to Holland America Line early opening is available only on voyages arriving in Auckland before 8:30am.