Located on the North Island, on a tiny stretch of land between two immense harbors, Auckland is home to over one-third of New Zealand's four million residents, most of whom live in the surrounding suburbs rather than in Auckland proper. Even though the capital city is Wellington, the majority of the economic and cultural activity takes place in Auckland, which is well on its way to becoming a major international city. In addition, Auckland – with its tremendous number of beaches, islands and extinct volcanoes all ripe for exploration – is threatening to unseat Queenstown as the country's adventure capital.

Auckland is primarily a suburban city with several distinctive neighborhoods, such as Ponsonby, a funky little district packed with trendy boutiques and nightclubs, or Parnell, with its elegant jewelry stores and cafes. The dimensions of Auckland rival those of other large metropolitan areas, such as Los Angeles or Miami. Yet unlike many American cities experiencing the same sort of outward growth, Auckland is covered in greenery. Parks hosting small herds of grazing sheep are everywhere in town, while gardening is one of the most beloved local pastimes. One travel writer described the greenery of Auckland as having an almost "cartoonish, Pop Art vibrancy". Perhaps it's the nutrient-rich soils that support fabulous flora such as the New Zealand Christmas tree, which unfurls big, bright red flowers for two weeks a year, or perhaps it's the cultural ties to the English with their free-flowing, jungly gardens. Regardless, Kiwis love to garden, and their passion is evident everywhere one looks.

Kiwis also love to compete, and they embrace a wide range of sports, from a genteel, white-clad game of cricket to a down-n-dirty rugby match at Eden Park. Each weekend, games of field hockey, touch rugby and lawn bowling are played at parks all over the city. Bike trails criss-cross the city, and even extreme sports – like base jumping or bungee jumping – can be found at Auckland landmarks like the Sky Tower or the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Yet, with so much water on all sides, it's no surprise that Auckland is best known for water sports. The self-proclaimed "City of Sails" hosted the America's Cup yachting race in 1999 as well as the Louis Vuitton Cup in 2003. Sailing is immensely popular in Auckland, as are kayaking, surfing, kneeboarding or windsurfing.