Auckland is New Zealand’s largest city and the centre of the country’s retail and commercial activities. Approximately 401,500 people live within the city boundary and 1.6 million in the greater Auckland area, which is more than one third of New Zealand’s population. This proportion is predicted to increase to 39% by 2043, when the population could reach 2.4 million.

Auckland City is built on a narrow isthmus between two harbours – the Manukau and the Waitemata – and is surrounded by 11 dormant volcanoes and numerous picturesque islands. Auckland City is also known as the “City of Sails” because of the great number of yachts that sail in the harbours and the adjoining Hauraki Gulf.

Auckland’s amazingly diverse geography and (generally) warm, humid climate has inspired a lifestyle that is regularly ranked in the world’s top ten. In just half an hour, you can be enjoying a myriad of life experiences: sailing to an island, trekking through the lush rainforest, sampling wines at a vineyard or wandering a wild, black sand surf beach. What else can you possibly ask for? This is why Auckland consistently ranks high on quality-of-life rankings. 

Auckland consists of four major areas: Auckland CBD, East Auckland, South Auckland, West Auckland and the Eastern Suburbs (which consists of the traditional Eastern Bays and its inner suburbs).