Ports of Departure - Auckland, New Zealand

With a population just under 1.5 million people, Auckland is the largest and most populated urban area in the country of New Zealand. Its beauty will reel you in and its rich culture will make you wish you had more time to visit. The good news is that if you give yourself an extra day or two before your cruise departs from this port you can enjoy much of the scenery. The best part? Many of the activities below are free or at least darn near free!

1. You can climb a volcano – There are plenty of volcanic areas to choose from, but the most recommended ones include One Tree Hill, Mount Eden and Mount Victoria. The higher you go up these mountains the better the panoramic views of the city you will get to enjoy. Of course, if the climb gets to be too much you can take a taxi up to the top, but it'll cost ya!
2. Take a walk – There are several walking trails to enjoy throughout the region, but your best bet for some of the most beautiful trails is Woodhill Forest. There are many family friendly walking trails that wind through the pines here making for quite the natural playground. If you get the chance to rent a bike you can also check out the amazing bike trails here. Of course, renting a bike won't be free so if you want to stick to the on foot trails you definitely can.  If flowers and plants are more your thing consider heading to Auckland Botanic Gardens. Here you will get to walk among more than 10,000 plants from around the world, set in different themed spaces among peaceful park lands.
3. Get up close and personal with nesting gannets at Muriwai Beach – This beach boasts a huge gannet colony where more than 1,200 pairs of gannets nest on rugged cliff tops. There are two viewing platforms that you can watch from during the months of August to March.
4. Visit the Auckland Museum and get schooled in history – Entry to the museum is by donation so pay what you can to check out a fascinating collection of Maori artifacts, natural history exhibits and wartime memorabilia.