Sky Tower

The Sky Tower is the tallest freestanding structure in the Southern Hemisphere at 328 meters and Auckland's unmistakable landmark. Since its opening in 1997, it has dominated the skyline and is visible from almost everywhere in the city. The tower was built in just 2 years and 9 months and weighs 21,000 tons — it is designed to withstand earthquakes of magnitude 8.0 and wind speeds of over 200 km/h.

The observation deck at 220 meters offers a 360-degree panoramic view over the city, the Hauraki Gulf, the volcanic cones, and on clear days up to the Coromandel Ranges — a field of view of up to 82 kilometers. The glass floor on the Observation Deck is not for the faint-hearted — you look 186 meters straight down to the street. At night, the view transforms into a sea of lights that stretches to the horizon.

For adrenaline junkies, there is the SkyWalk (a 192-meter-high circumnavigation of the outer platform on a 1.2-meter-wide ledge without a railing, only with a safety harness — hands-free, wind in your face, Auckland at your feet) and the SkyJump — an 85 km/h jump from the platform, which is not a bungy but a controlled fall on a wire. The SkyJump lasts 11 seconds, which feels like an eternity. Both experiences include photos and video — you pay for the jump, not the memory.

In the revolving restaurant Orbit 360 at 190 meters, the room rotates once around its axis in exactly 60 minutes — perfect for dinner at sunset. The cuisine is solid New Zealand: Canterbury lamb with rosemary jus (42 NZD), Bluff oysters (when in season, 28 NZD), Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc by the glass. Prices are upscale (main course 38–55 NZD), but the view is included in the price, and the reservation includes free access to the observation deck.

At the base of the Sky Tower stretches the SkyCity Entertainment Precinct with Auckland's only casino, several restaurants, and the Federal Street Dining Precinct — one of the city's best restaurant miles. Here you will find The Sugar Club (Peter Gordon's upscale cuisine with panoramic views), Depot Eatery (see restaurant section), and Cassia (Indian-New Zealand fusion, main course 28–42 NZD).