Wynyard Quarter

Wynyard Quarter is the western end of Auckland's downtown waterfront, a former industrial area that has been turned into one of the city's most pleasant places to walk, eat and spend a summer evening. The land was reclaimed by the Auckland Harbour Board, and Wynyard Wharf was completed in 1930. It was used first for the timber trade and later for bulk petrochemical storage, which earned it the nickname the Tank Farm.

Redevelopment began in 2010, and the area opened to the public in August 2011, just ahead of the Rugby World Cup. Jellicoe Street was rebuilt as a pedestrian-friendly boulevard, and North Wharf became a line of restaurants and bars facing the water. A walking and cycling bridge, Wynyard Crossing, links the quarter to Viaduct Harbour.

Silo Park is the focal point. Old industrial silos have been kept and turned into an events space, hosting festivals and, in summer, Silo Cinema, when films are projected onto the silos. Nearby Karanga Plaza is where children play and paddle at the water's edge, and the marina is full of local and visiting yachts. The ASB Waterfront Theatre stages theatre and dance.

Food is a big part of a visit. The Auckland Fish Market sells fresh seafood, and the waterfront has a long list of places to eat and drink, from Baduzzi, Homeland and Williams Eatery to the Wynyard Pavilion, Lobster and Tap and the gelato shop Gelatiamo. Bars such as the Captain's Bar and The Good Luck Coconut are popular in the evenings. The Auckland Dockline Tram runs a 1.5-kilometre circular route with commentary.

Wynyard Quarter is easy to reach on foot from the city centre: take a bus, train or ferry downtown and walk west along the waterfront, crossing the bridge from Viaduct Harbour. If driving, the first hour is free at the Jellicoe Street car park. Sustainable Coastlines runs its education centre on Madden Street, and the Daldy Street Community Garden occasionally hosts workshops.

The quarter suits almost everyone: families for the water play and open spaces, couples for waterfront dinners and groups for summer events. Visit in the late afternoon, walk the waterfront from the ferry terminal through Viaduct Harbour, and stay for dinner as the lights come on across the harbour. It combines easily with the New Zealand Maritime Museum on the way.