Auckland Harbour Bridge

for a bridge it’s ok… i think i say that because it doesn’t have as much character compared to other famous bridges like the golden gate in san francisco or tower bridge in london… and i know that i’m not reviewing those others but it really didn’t impress me that much… maybe if it was in a better setting with better landscape it would impress me but to me it just looks like an ordinary bridge… that said it is one of auckland’s attractions… so if you are in town then check it out… would i go back? only if i had to…

I can see the Harbour Bridge from our house in Te Atatu and it always makes me conscious that I am now living in the Southern Hemisphere, miles from home. It’s not as glamorous as its counterpart in Sydney but driving across it is a pretty special experience and is a must if you are visiting Auckland. The driver might lose out but the rest of the passangers will be treated to a superb, panoramic view of Auckland. You can see Rangitoto and all the other sights surrounded by deep blue water and it’s moments like this that remind you where you are and give you perspective on it all. And of course, it connects you to all the good spots that the North Shore has to offer.

One of my favourite things to do is to take a drive over the harbour bridge. There’s something spectacular about feeling the wind in your hair and taking in the glorious view of the city and the harbour. Just make sure you’re not the one driving haha!
You get almost a 360 view of the city. All the way to the Waitakeres, the North Shore, Rangitoto, the city and the beautiful Westhaven Marina. It’s a great way to show tourist friends the city in one big go. This is especially helpful if they’re on in the city for a night or a few hours.
If you do have sightseers in the car, make sure you take the outer lanes as they will have a better view out their window and won’t have to fight with the passing cars. We have such a beautiful city and this is a great way to totally show it off.

One of my favourite places to drive and park at in the city is Westhaven, just under the cityside of the Harbour Bridge. It’s a perfectly tranquil spot to sit and contemplate how Auckland isn’t actually that bad when you find the pretty spots.
A few months after I discovered this place, I used it as a location for a magazine I was working on at the time. It was a motoring themed issue and we had a classic car club come down during «the magic hour» and pose with their gorgeous vehicles and gorgeous smiles amongst gorgeous evening light. Bliss! Out of all the covers I’ve ever art directed, this was in my top five. Great lighting, great Harbour Bridge backdrop. Awesome.

Whoever it was that said ‘the journey is often more important than the destination itself’, deserves a chocolate biccie or something cause they hit the nail on the head with that one!
The Auckland Harbour Bridge is the waypoint that connects the North Shore to Auckland City itself. While most Aucklander’s are too busy swearing at the cars piled up in front of them in the midst of end of the workday traffic that tends to culminate over this way, I like to take a minute and really appreciate the beauty of my surroundings. You can really see everything from the heights of the bridge, and that bright sea breeze is not to be scoffed at either.
Being from a significantly smaller city, I still haven’t gotten used to the view of Auckland city as you speed over the bridge in the dark, coming over from the North Shore. All those bright, glittering city lights always call to me over the water.
If you’re not into as much navel gazing as I, and you’re more into adventurous stuff, you can even jump off the Bridge or walk over the ramparts at the top (safely assisted of course), if you are so inclined.
Cool Aye!

While perhaps not quite so famous as our neighbor Sydney’s harbour bridge, Auckland’s bridge certainly does stand out on the cityscape as well as giving Aucklanders convenient access to the best side of the bridge.
You can now walk across the top of the harbour bridge on special guided tours, and also now legally and safely jump off it with the Auckland Harbour bungee. I have not been brave (or silly) enough to try, but it is fun floating underneath in a boat and yellng words of encouragement to the jumpers.