Auckland Hop-On Hop-Off Buses

Auckland is a New Zealand city with many tourist destinations to visit: the iconic Sky Tower lookout point, the Mission Bay beach promenade, the zoo, Mount Eden, the Auckland War Memorial Museum, among others. Whether outdoors or indoors, you 're guaranteed to have fun.

Among the best things to do in Auckland is the scenic bus tour of the city during the day. You can do the full circuit to see the city from the first floor of the bus, listening to the history of each place as you go. In addition, you can hop on and off as many times as you wish at the assigned stops, so you can visit the attractions of your interest.

The Auckland sightseeing bus is the best option for a hassle-free tour of the city. Basically, you'll be taking a guided sightseeing tour, but with the freedom to get off at any stop you want to visit a certain destination and then hop back on another bus hours later. Plus, with the bus you have the option to save time and money because it also gives you access to combined tickets (tour + entry to two attractions).

This Auckland hop-on hop-off bus tour is a daytime, single-route or single-circuit tour, operated by the Auckland Explorer Bus Company. Entry to this experience is valid for 24 or 48 hours, depending on which option you select, and incorporates a series of commentary through headphones. You'll learn a little about the city's history and attractions as you pass by.

During the tour, you'll be able to take in a city and coastal panorama from the second deck of the bus. You will see the city streets, building facades, monuments, parks, hills and the crystal clear waters of the sea. You'll pass through the Newmarket district, the Auckland Art Gallery and other hidden corners of the city.

The Auckland Sightseeing Bus has a unique route. It is a circuit that will allow you to discover the city centre and the attractions found in the waterfront area. Along this scenic route, there are a number of stops where you can hop on and off at your convenience.

Some of them are:

• Stop 1 (23 Customs Street East): you'll find the first stop right in the centre of Auckland. From here you can access the cruise ships, Auckland Whale and Dolphin Safari, Britomart and Wynyard Quarter.
• Stop 2 (corner of Hobson Street and Victoria Street W): here you will visit the famous Sky Tower, the Wētā Workshop and the All Blacks Experience.
• Stop 3 (Wellesley Street East): check out the Art Gallery and Queen Street, Albert Park and Town Hall.
• Stop 4 (359 Broadway): if you stop here, you'll enjoy the city's shopping district, Newmarket.

Other highlights where you can stop are often:

• Stop 5 (South Entrance Auckland Domain): where one of Auckland' s best museums is located with important New Zealand historical and cultural displays.
• Stop 6 (Corner of St Stephens Ave and Parnell Rd, Parnell): this is a must if you are an enthusiast of sacred art and gothic architecture, as the Holy Trinity Cathedral is located here.
• Stop 7 (Parnell Village bus stop outside 279 Parnell Rd): in this area you will enjoy restaurants such as

Blue Elephant, Parnell 149 among others. You will also see a number of historic buildings.

• Stop 8 (Hapimana Street, Tamaki Dr, Orakei): get off the bus at this stop and head to Bastion Point Lookout and walk to Mission Bay Beach.
• Stop 9 (23 Tamaki Dr, Orakei): you will have the opportunity to stop at Ses Life Kelly Tarlton's to observe rays, penguins, sharks, among other marine animals.

In any case, you can check the map of the route beforehand. This way, you will know where you want to stop.

Among the best Auckland tours you'll find the Auckland sightseeing bus tour with free stops at the busiest destinations. It's a convenient circular route for exploring the city without the long walks.

Whether you want to take a scenic drive around the city, or a tour that allows you to stop and visit some attractions as you go, you get several advantages with this tour. Some of them are:

• You will learn how to find your way around the city, as you will know the streets and the exact location of the sights.
• You will be able to get on and off the bus as many times as you want during 24 or 48 hours, using the same ticket.
• You will learn part of the history of the city and discover some interesting facts about each of the attractions. All this, thanks to the commentary you'll hear on the bus.
• You will take amazing pictures from the first floor of the bus, capturing different panoramic views of the city.

Other benefits: Access to combined experiences

The Auckland Sightseeing Bus has a combined option with direct access to up to two attractions, saving you significant time and money. You will be able to visit certain attractions without having to pay any extra entrance fees or queue at the ticket office.

Combined options to select from include:

• Tour + one attraction: you can choose from Sky Tower, Wētā Workshop Unleashed, All Blacks Experience, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Kelly Tarlton's Sea Life or the Waiheke Island Paradise Explorer.
• Tour + two attractions: you can choose between Sky Tower and Sea Life Kelly Tarlton, Sky Tower and Auckland Museum, Sky Tower and All Blacks, Sky Tower and Wētā Workshop or Auckland Museum and Sea Life Kelly Tarlton.

The full non-stop day sightseeing bus tour usually lasts approximately 60 minutes. However, if you decide to stop at the various attractions to enjoy them, then the time of this tour could be extended to a full day.

Basically, the length of the Auckland sightseeing bus route is up to you. You can embark on the sightseeing tour and get a glimpse of the city from the comfort of the second bus, which is ideal if you're short on time during your stay.

You'll also have the opportunity to hop on and off at designated stops to visit attractions at your own pace to suit your tastes. For example, you can stop at Parnell Village (stop 7) and take advantage of the wide variety of restaurants concentrated there to embark on one of the best food tours in Auckland. Afterwards, you'll board another bus to continue the tour.

From the Auckland sightseeing bus you will enjoy a panoramic view of the city. You will travel through the main streets in the centre of Auckland and along the waterfront area. This way, you will have at your disposal an amazing contrast between the best urban and natural scenery.

You will be amazed by the iconic image of the Sky Tower and the emblematic gothic façade of the Holy Trinity Cathedral. You'll also pass through Parnell Village, with a panorama comprising sleek modern buildings, the Auckland Domain park trails and a distant view of the bay.

The circular route will give you a fairly unobstructed view of Waitematā Harbour as you pass Bastion Point and the majestic Mount Eden, located just around the volcanic peak of Maungawhau. This is especially so during your summer visit to Auckland, as when the sun's rays bathe these scenes in light, they create a magical atmosphere.

You'll also see the exterior of SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium, the Auckland Art Gallery, the Botanic Park, the Newmarket shopping district and more.

The Auckland Sightseeing Bus offers a choice of two passes: a 24-hour pass, which costs an average of €50, and a 48-hour pass, which starts from €60. You can choose the option that best suits your needs.

In addition, each pass comes with special reduced prices. In fact, you have the combined option, which allows you to add admission to some specific attractions.

24-hour pass

The Auckland Sightseeing Bus 24 Hour Pass is a great way to explore the city and its major attractions in a short time. The adult ticket costs around €50, while children's tickets are around €25. And if you' re travelling as a family (two adults and two children), the pass starts at €130.

48-hour pass

If you plan to spend 2-3 days in Auckland, then the 48-hour pass is the best option. You'll have more time to get on and off the bus at the places you want to go, so you'll get to see more attractions.

The price of the 48-hour pass for adults is around €60, while the children's pass is approximately €30. Meanwhile, a family ticket (two adults and two children) costs an average of €160.

Combined

With the Auckland Sightseeing Bus Combination option, you can take the circular tour of the city with free stops and also have entry to up to two attractions. You can select from three combos, which are incorporated into both the 24-hour and 48-hour passes.

The combinations available on these passes are certainly identical, but the prices vary from each other by an average of around £10 and £5. These are the options available to you:

• 24-hour explorer bus + Sky Tower: the cost is approximately €80 (adults) and €35 (children).
• 48-hour explorer bus + Sky Tower: the cost is approximately €90 (adult) and €40 (children).
• 24 hour explorer bus + Auckland Museum + Kelly Tarlton: the price starts at €110 (adults) and €60 (children).
• 48 hour explorer bus + Auckland Museum + Kelly Tarlton: the amount to be paid is around €120 (adults) and €65 (children).
• 24 hour explorer bus + Waiheke Island: the value of this tour and the entrance to the Auckland cruise on the majestic Waiheke Island is €120 (adults) and €60 (children).
• 48-hour explorer bus + Waiheke Island: the tour and boat ride to access the island costs an average of €130 (adults) and €65 (children).

The Auckland sightseeing bus is available daily from 9am until 5pm. This is a schedule that, while it may seem a little tight, is quite convenient as it accommodates the opening and closing times of the main attractions.

Each bus passes the allocated stops every 30 minutes, so you'll enjoy a regular service throughout the day. However, if you visit Auckland in July or during August, which are considered peak season, you will experience heavy traffic congestion. As such, the waiting time at bus stops may be a little longer.

It is therefore best to arrive at the first stop (Downtown Auckland) at 9am. This way you can make the most of your time and the tour route, getting on and off the bus at your leisure to visit the attractions you have included in your itinerary.

The last bus departs at 16:00 and the tour ends at 17:00. This is a convenient time if, for example, you need to connect at 18:00 or 19:00 with the Auckland Airport transfer service to return home, but first you want to take a scenic tour to say goodbye to the city.

Using the Auckland Sightseeing Bus is easy. All you need to do is select and purchase the pass that suits you best for the duration of your stay. You will then receive a physical or digital QR code, which you will need to scan when you board the bus. In this way, you will activate the pass, and from that moment on you will have 24 or 48 hours to enjoy the service.

Every time you get on the bus you must show the driver the code so that he/she can validate it. The same applies to the combined option. When you arrive at the attraction, you will have to scan the QR code directly at the ticket office without queuing or making any payment. But remember that this pass can only be used once to access the attractions featured on it.

For the 48-hour option, you can visit one attraction one day and the other the next day. However, for the bus tour, you can scan the code as many times as you wish throughout the day. This gives you the freedom to stop at the attractions or districts of your choice.

For example, you could get off at stop 4 (359 Broadway) and take advantage of this shopping district to do some shopping. Alternatively, connect with one of Auckland' s best beer tours and embark on a tour of the bars, breweries and restaurants that abound in this region. When you're done, hop back on the bus and stop at another destination.