Discover hotels for Australia Day in Auckland, New Zealand

Beneath the shimmering surface, however, there’s something more: a young culture building an international reputation for design, the arts and the high life. The rest of the population of the country might regard Aucklanders as arrogant, but there’s no denying they've reason to be proud. From hot shopping to cool beaches, Maori culture, vineyard hopping, surfing and boating, the 'City of Sails' has the chutzpah of a capital city – even though its smaller rival Wellington actually wears that crown. Don't miss the surrounding Hauraki Gulf either, dotted with idyllic islands such as laid-back weekend haunt Waiheke.