Explore Auckland in a Day: 20,000 Steps City Walk Itinerary

💡Route: 🚶🏻‍♀️Take a boat from Prince’s Wharf to Devonport – Mount Victoria – Fish Market (passing through the Auckland Pedestrian Suspension Bridge) – Auckland Art Gallery – Albert Park

‼️Tips: 1️⃣ Tickets can be purchased directly at the wharf, with a round-trip fare of $23 per person. Payment can be made by card or cash, and it is important to keep the ticket as it will be collected manually upon exiting on the return trip, even though there is no ticket check when boarding. 2️⃣ The ferry schedule between Downtown and Devonport, except for a single departure at 12:45 PM, has departures at 15 and 45 minutes past the hour.

3️⃣ Upon arrival in Devonport, follow the walking directions to Mount Victoria. It takes about 15-20 minutes to reach the summit, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of Auckland. The backside faces a volcano, and there are cute mushroom installations on the mountain (⚠️ Be sure to apply sunscreen, as the route up the mountain offers little shade).

4️⃣ After returning, the Fish Market is not far from the wharf, about a 20-minute walk. You will pass the pedestrian suspension bridge along the way. The popular oyster happy hour spot, Oyster and Chop, is also nearby, allowing you to eat your way through. 5️⃣ There are only two stores selling fresh seafood at the Fish Market.

One of the larger ones sells crayfish (numbered 1-5), with smaller numbers indicating larger size and better quality. A kilogram costs $140, incredibly fresh and sweet, a must-try in New Zealand (crayfish are delicious but really hard to peel; you can learn from videos on Little Red Book 😂). 6️⃣ After eating your fill, you can walk to the Auckland Art Gallery, a free attraction in the city.

On the second floor, there are Monet’s Japanese Bridge and two Picasso paintings. If time permits, you can take your time listening to the commentary and browsing. 7️⃣ Behind the art gallery is Albert Park, which features distinctive trees and is not far from the University of Auckland. There are also some churches in the vicinity that you can visit while walking 🚶🏻‍♀️.

🏠 Accommodation: Auckland City Hotel (near Sky Tower)

🎈 Auckland’s downtown area is not large, and most attractions can be reached within 20,000 steps in a day. However, if you have the time to slow down, you should be able to better experience the city.

⚠️‼️ I cannot stress this enough, even though temperatures begin to drop as New Zealand transitions from summer to autumn in mid-March, with daytime temperatures around 25 degrees, the UV index is still very high due to clear skies. Make sure to apply plenty of sunscreen!!! This advice comes from someone who got sunburned on their neck on the first day and is now tearfully warning others 🥹