Top spots in Auckland

So naturally, the main reason I chose to come to New Zealand was to explore the beauty of the landscapes and to take in the sights. You’d think coming to Auckland kind of defeats the purpose of that... Okay, it kind of does, but honestly it's a pretty nice city. I’m not from a big city, nor have I really spent a lot of time in big cities so it’s been a really different experience for me. I would have definitely preferred to go to a smaller town, but it's all part of the learning process. I think being surrounded by people makes me even more introverted. I just feel exposed and if I do anything weird people will see me and judge me for it or something. That's probably not the reality, but I would still find myself seeking out the nice quiet spots away from all the hustle and bustle.

Also, I'm bad at decision making and when I have too many options for places to shop or eat... just forget about it. I'd rather someone else to choose where to go, or to already know where the chilled places are. Luckily, I now know some of those places, so if you go to Auckland I'll save you some trouble. You're Welcome. But first you are probably wondering, "Where did you even go to school?", "What does the campus look like?". Well, here you go, my friends:

The University:

It was almost a little strange to be in the middle of the city, and at the same time be on campus. You walk down the street and all of a sudden you are immersed in the culture of the streets of Auckland. I was pleasantly surprised that the University of Auckland has a lot of little areas to sit and it feels like you are not as close to the city as you really are.

                            

By far, my favorite way to walk to and from campus was through the pacific studies complex. I really like the style of the buildings and it was generally refreshing to see so many plants and trees around. To me it feels really peaceful, so when I was stressed out it almost relaxed me just to walk down that street. It is tucked a bit more away from the hustle and bustle, and less people tended to walk through that way.

It is also interesting to me how different each building on campus really is from one another. You have really new and modern looking building like the OGGB that are really open and big, then cute older ones that belong to the arts. Then there is always Old Choral Hall and the Clock tower that give off a British architectural style feel.

Art buildings

OGGB

Old Choral Hall

The Clock Tower

Apart from the academic buildings, they have a really cool recreation center, but it is just about the most confusing gym I’ve ever been in. I am used to American style, wide open space with machines everywhere. But since this is in the middle of the city, it is pretty compact. There are multiple floors, with stairs branching off from area to area. The best part is the offer free group classes like yoga, weight training, cycling, and others. They also have a rock wall I never climbed (I'm really sad about this) and a basketball court. I did try out the cycling classes a few times and it was just not a pleasant form of exercise for me. If I'm on a bike I need to actually be going somewhere.

Recreation Center

And like all campuses they have a library with you know… books (exciting, I know). They also have a student center where you can get pretty much everything you need like Course books, food, mail, a health center, pharmacy, and a nifty study lounge that I utilized with my tutor. Shout out to Anka.

My least favorite thing ever about being in the city and what I actually missed about URI was the freedom to jaywalk. I had to cross this really busy street every single day on campus and it takes literally 2 or 3 minutes for the cross walk to let me know I could go... it was the worst. And if you did dare to jaywalk, you better do it briskly because people in Auckland do not slowdown for you. I could no longer preach my slogan of, "I don't stop for cars, cars stop for me"... or no, more like "If you wanna cross, you better hurry the heck up, because ain't nobody stoppin' for you. That's fo' sho".

Around the City:

But enough about the university, let’s move onto the city, because there are some really good places to check out.

Mezze bar was one of the places we ate when my study abroad group arrived. I didn’t know what kind of food it was they were serving me, but come to find out it is Spanish. The food was very good and normally you would order at the counter, so it gives it a café type of feel. They brought out the entrees and we tried a bit of everything. The atmosphere was vibrant and the staff were friendly. I would recommend going there.

Giapo is a classy and quite fancy gelato place if I ever did see one. They top each cup off with these cute decorative things so it is definitely Instagram worthy if you are into that. The only drawbacks are the price and it can be busy at times. So it is a little crowded, but the line goes pretty quickly and the staff are really kind. The best part is they let you try every flavor before you buy. I was will some friends so I did not get a $7.50 scoop of gelato but I did get to try the delicious flavors. Seriously, good. If you ask me, it is very well located and generally cute and trendy.

Cassette bar is the place to go if you like to go out. I hear it’s a cool place when they have a good DJ. They have a bit of seating and it still has a dance floor, but very small. Apparently, they serve cocktails in teapots for $15, which serve four glasses or multiple shots. It looks a bit hipster-ish, with a dark atmosphere and interesting decorations.

No. 1 Pancake is right on the corner of Wellesley and Lorne Streets in the city center. If you want a good quick cheap food, it is the place to go. It always has a few people waiting outside, but all the food is made to order so it’s hot and fresh. It is Korean style pancakes with flavors like beef, chicken, and ham, all with cheese, or chocolate or cinnamon sweet pancakes.

Depot Eatery and Oyster Bar just recently reopened due to a fire but the food is delicious and I believe it really captures the essence of Auckland. With a neighborhood bistro feel and very friendly workers

La Cigale French markets is a bustling market for your French needs. I don't think it is exclusively French but there is a lot of French produce, especially patisserie, cheese, crepes, etc. Other things there were selling were soaps, jewelry, smoothies, and honey. They even had a live music performer, which I really liked. You could just sit on the side, enjoy your food, and listen to the music.

The Domain is a beautiful park. It is an excellent place to go running if you are visiting the city and want a safe place to run. It also has some nice places for a picnic. It is the largest park in Auckland, complete with a winter garden, fish pond, museum, and café. Although, the Museum will cost you to enter. It just provides a nice space separated from the noise and bustle of Auckland.

Lastly, Oh Calcutta is on METRO'S Top 50 Best Asian Restaurants. From what I hear, it is incredibly delicious Indian food. It has really high rating and positive reviews. My flatmate says it is hands down the best Indian food she has ever had. The restaurant is open to the street and has outdoor seating available.

Day trips:

If day trips are more your thing… Our group went to Waiheke which is really nice. It has a nice beach, small wineries, and a lot of art galleries and craft stores to check out.

Waiheke Coastal Walk

Other activities you could do is to go to Auckland Zoo, visit One Tree Hill, or Mt. Eden. You can do a coast to coast walk that goes up Mt. Eden, which is the highest natural point in Auckland and it is actually a dormant volcano. Both One Tree Hill and Mt.Eden give you a really nice view of the city.

I went to each of those three places, so I'll probably write another post about those. Okay that is all for now. Another successful post, WOO!