The heartbeat of Auckland's waterfront. Pull up a chair at Soul Bar for a long harbour-view lunch, or perch at Sardine bar for pre-show cocktails with the marina as your backdrop. When the weather is right, there's no better place to be in the city.

Where the city meets the sea - and where Auckland does retail and dining best. The multi-level precinct is home to some of the country's finest fashion, with international labels and sharp local designers under one roof. After dark, head to Ahi for a tasting menu that puts indigenous ingredients at the centre of fine dining.

Forty minutes by Fullers ferry from the downtown terminal, and a world away. Waiheke is world-renowned for a reason - Cable Bay, Stonyridge, and Man O' War all produce wines that hold their own internationally. Book ahead at Poderi Crisci for lunch in the vines, or keep it loose with a cheese board at The Shed. Either way, go early and stay late.

Set within the Auckland Domain, the museum is the essential first stop for understanding the culture you've landed in. The Toi Māori gallery is extraordinary - allow at least an hour, and walk through the Domain on the way out.

The country's foremost art institution, and a building worth seeing in its own right. The contemporary wing integrates native timber and glass in a way that feels genuinely of this place. Check the programme ahead of your visit - temporary exhibitions frequently draw international attention.

The precinct that defines Auckland's design identity. Britomart is where heritage buildings house New Zealand's most considered retail - look to Zambesi for boundary-pushing local fashion, and Kiri Nathan for contemporary Māori design. Smaller delights are discovered at Wonder Journal, a quiet celebration of craft and curiosity from local visionary Yoko Shimoyama.

The Sky Tower observation deck is worth doing once - the views at dusk are exceptional. But the precinct's real draw is Federal Street, where Gusto at the Grand and Kazuya (New Zealand's only hatted Japanese restaurant) sit within a short walk of each other. Reserve ahead.

Auckland's youngest volcano, visible from almost everywhere in the city, and utterly different up close. The Fullers ferry from the downtown terminal takes 25 minutes. The summit track is manageable in two hours return and rewards with one of the most striking harbour panoramas in the Pacific. Pack your hiking shoes for this one.

Auckland's most culturally switched-on neighbourhood, and a must. Spend a morning moving through the boutiques and galleries along Ponsonby Road - stop into Scotties for local and international wears, The Shelter for up-and-coming NZ designer talent, or Bronwyn Footwear for it-girl styles du jour. For the best all-day eats in the city, join the queue at Blue on Franklin. Come evening, the strip rivals anything in Sydney for energy.

Auckland's most serious shopping destination. Westfield Newmarket anchors the precinct with over 230 stores across a beautifully designed multi-level space, and it's the surrounding streets also reward the explorer - independent boutiques, cult beauty brands, and the kind of low-key lunch spot you want to find yourself. Walk the length of Broadway and let it unfold.