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New Zealand Customs & Plant Quarantine Services:  Blessed with a benevolent climate and fertile soils, New Zealand is a major producer of high-quality land-based foodstuffs.   There are no animal diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease, swine fever or poultry diseases and every precaution is taken to ensure that they do not enter the country.  Particular attention is drawn to the provisions regarding prescription drugs and firearms.  Full disclosure on the Entry Form issued just prior to landing is important.   Failure to do so can be very costly.   Details of the requirements are at:

http://www.customs.govt.nz/travellers/Arriving+in+New+Zealand/Prohibited+and+Restricted+Imports/default.htm

and

http://www.newzealandatoz.com/index.php/page/display/648/

Immigration Service:  Visitors from many countries do not need an Entry Visa and are able to receive a Visitor’s Permit which provides for a nine-month non-working holiday, subject to certain provisions found at:

http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/visit/visitors/

Travel Insurance:  A free national health service is in place for natural-born New Zealanders and immigrants having permanent residence of at least five years.  Visitors are urged to take out their own Travel Insurance policies.

Currency Transactions:  New Zealand foreign exchange currency is subject to a floating exchange rate so the relative values of any two currencies fluctuates daily.  A guide to values can be found at:

http://www.xe.com/ucc/

Mastercard and Visa bank cards are universally accepted.  Amex is not.  Payment of gratuities for services is not normal, but is optional in cases where it is deemed that exceptional service has been rendered.  All transactions, other than financial transactions, are subject to a government Goods & Services Tax (GST) of 15% which is included in the price of the goods or service and shows as a separate entry on the invoice.

 The preferred airport for Copthorne Hotel Auckland, HarbourCity is Auckland (AKL-Auckland Intl.) - 18.2 km / 11.3 mi.
Distances are calculated in a straight line from the property's location to the point of interest or airport and may not reflect actual travel distance.
Distances are displayed to the nearest 0.1 mile and kilometre.
Nearest Major Airport:
• Auckland, New Zealand (AKL-Auckland Intl.)
Area:
Auckland CBD, New Zealand: On a peninsula overlooking scenic Waitemata Harbour, Auckland CBD is not only the country’s major business centre, but plays host to a concentration of artistic and cultural venues in addition to nightlife precincts. In more recent years, much of the waterfront has been reclaimed for high-end residential apartments, trendy cafes and bars, marinas, and public recreational use.
 
• Check-in time starts at: 2 PM
• Check-out time is: 10 AM
Fees
• The following fees and deposits are charged by the property at time of service, check-in, or check-out.
• Self parking: NZD 20 per night

PROPERTY AMENITIES

http://www.millenniumhotels.co.nz/copthorneharbourcity/index.html
Copthorne Hotel Auckland, HarbourCity offers a restaurant and a bar/lounge. High-speed wired and wireless Internet access is available for a surcharge. Copthorne Hotel Auckland, HarbourCity features a sauna and a fitness facility. Event facilities include conference/meeting rooms, small meeting rooms, and banquet facilities. This Auckland hotel also offers a concierge desk, complimentary newspapers in the lobby, and laundry facilities. Currency exchange and tour assistance can be provided.
• 24-hour front desk
• Air-conditioned public areas
• Number of rooms: 187
• Medical assistance available
• Restaurant(s) in hotel
• Room service (24 hours)

Rooms

Copthorne Hotel Auckland, HarbourCity offers 187 guestrooms. Rooms feature ocean, sea, or water views. Televisions come with satellite channels. Complimentary wireless Internet access is provided along with direct-dial phones and complimentary weekday newspapers. Refrigerators and coffee/tea makers are provided. Bathrooms include separate bathtubs and showers, makeup/shaving mirrors, complimentary toiletries, and hair dryers. Minibars, air conditioning, and clock radios are also included. Amenities available on request include wake-up calls. Cribs (infant beds) and rollaway beds are also available.

Room Amenities

·         Air conditioning

·         Complimentary weekday newspaper

·         Direct-dial phone

·         Refrigerator

·         Minibar

·         Coffee/tea maker

·         Wake-up calls

·         Complimentary toiletries

·         Hair dryer

·         Makeup/shaving mirror

·         Separate bathtub and shower

·         Window opens

·         Clock radio

·         Desk

·         Iron/ironing board

·         Rollaway beds

·         Cribs (infant beds) available

·         Wired high-speed Internet access (surcharge)

·         Satellite television service

·         Wireless high-speed Internet access (complimentary)

·         Water view

·         Sea view

·         Ocean view

Dining

Copthorne Hotel Auckland, HarbourCity has a restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 24-hour room service is available.

Recreation

Recreational amenities at the hotel include a sauna and a fitness facility.

Free time suggestions

Sky Tower

Restaurants:

Orbit Revolving Restaurant is situated at the top of the Sky Tower, 190 metres off the ground. The dining room rotates once every hour, providing a truly unique experience and amazing 360-degree views of Auckland City. A minimum spend of $30 per person applies for lunch and dinner. 

The Observatory Restaurant.  For a dining experience with magnificent views of Auckland, take a ride up the Sky Tower. With our unique combination of sumptuous brasserie-style buffet, stunning seafood specialties and succulent specials. Lunch $42.50 adult

SkyJump
Share the excitement and challenge of jumping 192m from the Sky Tower to land on the bull’s eye below! The rest of your corporate group will be cheering you on while they wait to jump, or from the landing platform below.
SkyWalk
Groups of 6 depart every 20 minutes, to walk around the outside ring of the Sky Tower - 192m above ground, with no handrails! Be rewarded and share with your team, the fantastic views of Auckland.
Note that both of these top Auckland activities include admission to the observation level of the Sky Tower. 

SkyWalk and The Observatory Lunch Package $140 per adult (normally $174.95)

SkyJump and The Observatory Lunch Package $185 per adult (normally $235)

Auckland Maritime Museum

On Hobson Wharf, adjacent to the Copthorne Harbourside Hotel, is the New Zealand Maritime Museum, offering a comprehensive survey of the history of seafaring in New Zealand. The exhibits include Maori canoes and outrigger boats, whaling equipment and old instruments and implements. A section is devoted to New Zealand yachts that have distinguished themselves in international regattas.  A cruise on the historic sailing scow Ted Ashby is available. Allow at least 2-3 hours to complete your museum visit – sailing times additional.

     Museum entry Adults $16.00       Museum & cruise combo $26.00

Kelly Tarlton’s Undersea World

Opened in 1985, the original Underwater World was the vision of Kelly Tarlton - an extraordinary Kiwi adventurer, diver, explorer and inventor, who wanted to share his love of the ocean with others. Today, Kelly's vision has grown to become a world-class visitor attraction, offering a uniquely New Zealand Pacific and Southern oceans experience.

Antarctic Encounter

The Antarctic Encounter is home to New Zealand’s only sub-Antarctic penguins, offering a rare opportunity to see the magnificent birds up close in their icy domain. A unique snowcat ride brings you within arms length of the 80-strong colony of King and Gentoo penguins to watch their playful antics on the snow and their elegant flight underwater.
A walkthrough replica of Captain Robert Falcon Scott’s Antarctic hut (established back in 1911), complete with authentic memorabilia offers a glimpse at what it was like to live 100 years ago in the coldest place on Earth.

Underwater World

Enter Stingray Bay for an awe-inspiring look at the giant stingrays, before delving deep into the Underwater World to see the rich variety of species from New Zealand’s coastal waters. Come face to face with sharks, turtles, giant rays and other incredible deep sea creatures on the moving walkway.
New Zealand’s rocky shore and tropical species await you in Fish Alley. See everything from crayfish to seahorses, octopus to piranha and moray eels.

Animal Adventures
Kelly Tarlton’s offers thrilling Animal Adventures; hand-feed our giant stingray during a Stingray Splash, snorkel with amazing predators of the deep on a Shark Cage experience, or for the true adrenaline junkie, join Shark Survival – a cage-free shark dive.

The recommended length of stay is 2 - 2½ hours.  Admission $33.90

Shopping – see also BIG little city (below)

Newmarket is the fashion capital of New Zealand and offers an uplifting and inspiring experience for lovers of all-things retail. From the hum of Broadway to the sophisticated high streets lined with both international and local designers, Newmarket offers a shopping experience as diverse as you will find in any international cosmopolitan city.

Link bus from Customs Street East stop D 11

Overlooking the Waitemata harbour and occupying one of New Zealand's finest heritage buildings, the Auckland Museum War Memorial Museum is the cultural and spiritual touchstone for New Zealanders.

The Museum is the first stop for anyone wishing to gain an insight into New Zealand and its people. Includes priceless Maori treasures, amazing natural history, daily Maori cultural performances, and an ever-changing feast of local and international exhibitions.

Open daily 10am – 5pm except Christmas Day.

MOTAT (Museum of Transport & Technology)

Address

Great North Rd Western Springs

Transport

Explorer Bus or bus 045

Website

www.motat.org.nz

Price

full NZ$14.00, child NZ$7.00

Hours

10:00-17:00

The 19ha (48ac) Museum of Transport and Technology is near the zoo. It's in two parts: Motat I has exhibits on transport, communications and energy, including vintage cars, a display about pioneer aviator Richard Pearse and the infotainment Science Centre, with hands-on displays.

Motat II features rare and historic aircraft as well as railway and military hardware. Exhibits include a V1 flying bomb and a Lancaster bomber from WWII, but pride of place goes to the huge Solent flying boat that ran a Pacific islands loop in the days of luxury flying.

BIG little city

Right downtown in the hub of Auckland lives the BIG little city. With a BIG variety of new and exciting places to shop, dine, drink, dance and stay there’s something to suit everyone’s desires.

You’ll be wowed by International acts, local musicians, thespians, comedians and colourful displays of expression. It’s all happening right here, down in Auckland’s BIG little city.

Britomart

For all things beautiful, eclectic and yummy head to Britomart. There is MADE, Debut, Storeroom and Federation to indulge in beautiful designer clothing. NOOD, Urban Loft and Living and Giving for eclectic furniture and homewares and A&M, Northern Steamship, Smith and Santos for all things yummy. And Bike Central for all things bike related and a great coffee!

To find the Britomart precinct: Head down to Customs Street East. http://www.britomart.org/

Chancery

A leading light in Auckland's central city fashion district. Chancery is a fascinating, eclectic mix of world-leading fashion, beauty, cuisine, giftware and vibrant al fresco cafes. There are stores for those in love with all things colourful, beautiful and fragrant, stores for those in love with all things fashionable and stylish and there are stores for those in love with all things delicious and delectable. So head to the Chancery to really spoil yourself.

To find the Chancery precinct: Head down to the corner of Chancery and O'Connell Streets, Auckland Central. http://www.chancery.net.nz/intro.php

Elliott Stables

An epicentre of style, tucked away in a neighbourhood of substance, Elliott Stables' gourmet food village is located directly behind Smith & Caughey’s and rekindles the character of a gracious era. There is aahh Nourishing Teas for those who are in search of a huge variety of delicious gourmet teas or Kapiti Cheeses for those who love their cheese rich, creamy and homemade or the Chocolate Cake Company for those who love elegantly crafted cakes. There is something for everyone at Elliott Stables amongst their unique collection of gourmet stores, deli flavours and cafés.

The entrance to Elliott Stables can be found on: Elliott Street, Auckland Central. http://elliottstables.co.nz/

Smith and Caughey's

One of New Zealand’s oldest and best loved department stores, Smith & Caughey’s offers a huge selection of the world’s best brands. With international fashion labels such as Missoni, Armani and Hugo Boss and beauty brands such as Yves Saint Laurent and Chanel as well as a huge selection of children’s wear, jewellery, luggage, giftware and homeware shopping at Smith and Caughey’s is a pure indulgence.

You can find Smith and Caughey's at: 261 Queen Street, Auckland Central. http://www.smithandcaughey.co.nz/Default.aspx

Viaduct Harbour

With over 20 bars and restaurants to choose from in one waterfront destination, Viaduct Harbour is a superb place to dine or relax and watch the world go by. Open from breakfast till late the precinct has well located parking facilities for your car or boat and is hosts regular events to add the vibrant environment that Viaduct Harbour is renowned for.

You can find the entrance to the Viaduct Precinct on: The Corner of Quay and Hobson Street's. http://www.viaduct.co.nz/

Canterbury Arcade

Connecting Queen and High St, this arcade houses local brand Skylark and long time resident Pat Menzies Shoes amongst others.

You can find the entrance to Canterbury Arcade at: 47 High Street, Auckland Central.

High St

Some of Auckland city's best fashion is tucked away in and around High Street. From NZ's top designers such as Karen Walker, Zambesi and Workshop, to shoes galore from Briarwood and Ashley Ardrey, to quirky cafe's and bars, High Street is a high-end fashionistas dream come true.

You can access High Street from: Vulcan Lane off Queen Street, Auckland Central.

Queen St

Queen St is Auckland's main strip with stores ranging from little boutiques and cafes to BIG brand such as Louis Vuitton & Gucci not to mention the famous Smith & Caughey’s department store.

Lorne St

Lorne St has become known as the arts and culture precinct in the BIG little city. It has become home to many galleries and Asian fusion restaurants.

You can access Lorne Street from: Victoria Street East.

Queens Arcade

Queens Arcade is well known to generations of Aucklanders and visitors, many of whom after many years will find their favourite store still trading and now sharing the heritage property with more recently established businesses creating tomorrow’s history today.

You can find the entrance to Queens Arcade on: The Corner of Queen and Customs Street, Auckland Central. http://www.queensarcade.co.nz/

Strand Arcade

The Strand Arcade at 233 - 237 Queen St dates back to 1910. Today the arcade consists of a number of boutique shops at street level, and the East Asian food court downstairs.

You can find the entrance to The Strand Arcade at: 223-227 Queen Street, Auckland Central