The Viaduct harbour is definitely worth checking out, and is pretty much unavoidable anyway. Located at the foot of the central city it is a far more pleasant area to visit than it was a few years back. The area underwent a major revamp when New Zealand won The America's Cup yachting race, and has now become a compound of plazas and promenades, luxury apartments, marinas, night clubs and bars. At any time of year you can enjoy the many restaurants that now infest the area - but don’t be surprised to be paying moderate to high prices. The harbour area is a great place to stroll around and dream, taking in the sea air and having a gander at some of those million dollar super yachts and beautiful sailing boats. The Maritime Museum is in the area, and if you've got some time on your hands its a place where you can get excited about some of New Zealand’s maritime history. There are plenty of top class restaurants and bars in the area that provide a delectable array of cuisine and beverages. The whole viaduct basin is a pleasant and interesting location to be in, with fascinating modern architecture, delightful sculptures and enchanting art work strewn across the area, just waiting to be stumbled upon. If you are up for something besides just walking around, shopping and eating, how about trying the thrilling experience of sailing a racing boat? Make sure you have your sea legs though as the harbour can get pretty windy at times. Still, its an exhilarating feeling being on board with a trained crew, grinding the mainsail, directing from the helm, the wind, the salt, the great harbour views........arrr....definitely good fun! If you are up for something a bit more passive but just as fun you can plan a trip to a bunch of great locations or just go for an excursion around the beautiful harbour. The viaduct is the major transport hub for fairies, water taxis, charter cruises and fishing expeditions so make sure you check out some of the links for great ideas of what to get up to. When the weekend draws nigh and the sun has laid rest, the viaduct becomes a beehive of activity. Crammed with night clubs and bars, this area is a magnet for those seeking a wild night out. The dress standard in the viaduct is high, so make sure you pull out some good threads when heading this way. From Irish pubs to exclusive clubs, from minus 5 degree bars to wildfire cafe's, there's pretty much everything down here. This place gets jam packed on Friday and Saturday nights and is a great place to have a fun night out! Put it on your list. | | | |