When traveling to an enchanting land where there are so many things to see and do, the time you spend getting to your destination should be as short as possible.
The journey from Manila, Philippines to Auckland, New Zealand used to take up to 24 hours via Sydney or Singapore. With Philippine Airlines’ newly launched service, which started on December 2, a trip to Auckland now takes just 10 hours, including a quick one-hour stopover in Cairns. A simple send-off ceremony in NAIA Terminal 2 led by Philippine Airlines chairman Lucio Tan marked the flag carrier’s first flight to New Zealand.
The four-times-weekly Manila-Cairns-Auckland route puts a once far-flung destination within reach and gives Filipino leisure travelers more time to explore New Zealand. In turn, adventurous New Zealand tourists (“throw on a backpack and they’ll go anywhere,” said New Zealand Transport Minister Simon Bridges) can look forward to easier access to the Philippines’ 7,107 islands via PAL’s domestic flights from Manila.
“We will hopefully allow three peoples – Filipinos, Australians, and New Zealanders – to discover each other’s rich culture, traditions, history, and tourist attractions,” said PAL president Jaime Bautista, who led the inaugural flight delegation of PAL officials, representatives of the Department of Tourism, and Philippine media.
Bautista also had in mind the 44,000 Filipinos now living in New Zealand when they planned the new route. Filipinos visiting their friends and relatives in New Zealand currently make up the majority of travelers from Manila to Auckland.
About 13,500 Filipinos traveled to New Zealand last year, but they had to take a very long, “tricky” route, according to Adrian Littlewood, CEO of Auckland Airport. The trips often involved changing airlines and waiting in airports in Australia for up to six hours. He predicts that Philippine Airlines’ convenient new flight will “easily double” arrivals from both countries.
The 156-seater Airbus 320 arrived in Auckland at 4:30 p.m., Dec. 3. The delegation received a warm welcome at the Auckland Airport with a Maori cultural presentation and the hongi, a traditional Maori greeting done by pressing noses and foreheads together and sharing the ha (breath of life). Littlewood and Bautista exchanged gifts and expressed optimism about the airline’s new flights building a bridge between Filipinos and New Zealanders. “This new route will hopefully promote a healthy exchange,” said Bautista. “Not just of tourists and commerce but also each other’s dreams and aspirations towards peaceful coexistence.”
Day Tripping: What to See In and Around Auckland
Finding public transportation in Auckland can be a challenge, so careful planning is essential for time-pressed travelers. Fortunately, the natural beauty of New Zealand’s landscape makes up for the distance between its most popular tourist spots. You’ll see scenic views of pastoral farmland, windswept beaches, and patches of forest that will turn any journey by bus, ferry, or train into a soothing and even uplifting experience.
Walk Around Auckland City Centre
Though New Zealand’s natural wonders are so spread out that few tourists opt to stay in downtown Auckland for the entire duration of their visit, NZ’s largest city is a vibrant place worth devoting a day or two to exploring on foot. No need to worry if you’re navigation-challenged – it’s hard to get lost because you’ll see the country’s tallest man-made structure, the 328-meter Sky Tower, from almost any place in the city. (Yes, you can bungee jump from the top of the tower, as Beyonce did when she was on tour in New Zealand in 2013.)
If the only thing adventurous about you is your palate, you can walk around the Viaduct and eat fresh seafood at one of the waterfront restaurants. At night, the area turns into a rowdy bar scene perfect for people watching. Aspiring sailors can try the thrilling and at turns terrifying America’s Cup Sailing Experience in Waitemata Harbour and help steer an authentic sailboat built for the America’s Cup race toward the Auckland Harbour Bridge (bungee jumping is also popular here). Coffee aficionados will enjoy searching the multitude of independent third-wave cafes for the best flat white, an espresso-based beverage that either originated in or was perfected in New Zealand, depending on whom you ask. For nature and culture, stroll through Albert Park and the nearby Auckland Art Gallery. Shop big brands on Queen Street or look for boutiques with wares by local designers on the parallel High Street. The urban renewal project Britomart on Quay Street has brunch places, bars, and trendy shops, including a standalone store by New Zealand designer Karen Walker. Tip for walking around downtown: wear shoes with some traction – a few streets are very steep.
Discover New Zealand’s History and Culture at the Auckland War Memorial Museum
This is the only venue in Auckland that offers daily Maori cultural performances. The engaging presentations and relaxed Q&A sessions (you can approach performers individually to ask them questions about their culture) give museumgoers a deeper understanding of the tribal traditions of the Maori, a people whose territories have never been conquered by other nations. In addition to a moving war memorial, the museum also offers three floors of interactive exhibits about New Zealand’s history, geography, ethnography, and culture.
Wander through the West Coast
Auckland’s “wild” West Coast black-sand beaches and mountain ranges are less than an hour away from the City Centre, but their rugged beauty honed by a series of volcanic eruptions over 22 million years transports you to an almost otherworldly place. The view of the Waitakere Ranges from the lookout points of the Arataki Visitor Centre is so breathtaking that there’s a giant scenic picture frame in the car park put up by the Auckland Council to designate the spot as one of the city’s most visually pleasing locations. The tour group shared some laughs over the isolated beach named Karekare (made famous in the film The Piano) and spent an hour walking through the black sands of the chilly Piha beach.
Wine and dine in Waiheke Island
Waiheke Island is just a 35-minute high-speed ferry ride from the downtown Auckland Ferry Building. With its wineries, olive trees, rolling hills, and ocean views, the picturesque 35-square-mile island is so inspiring that many artists have settled there permanently. The thriving artists’ community produces a sculpture walk in February every other year and also makes the numerous galleries worth a walkthrough.
Visit the Stonyridge Winery for a tour and tasting of Bordeaux-style wines that includes a glass of Larose, a blend that has stunned some of the top French winemakers by besting their bottles in blind tastings. By the time you’re watching the 9:00 p.m. summer sunset from the last ferry back to Auckland, it will be easy to see why Waiheke Island made Lonely Planet’s list of Top 10 Destinations for 2016.
Cheese Treats in Puhoi Valley
The growth of the New Zealand dairy industry has outpaced that of its much-referenced sheep population. One of the best places to try this “white gold” is the Puhoi Valley Café and Cheese store, where you’ll find cakes made of wheels of cheese, a generous sampling platter, luxe cheese trays for purchase, and premium ice cream that recently scooped six medals at the New Zealand Ice Cream Awards, including gold for the chai latte flavor. Products are made on premise, and the sign near the walk-in refrigerators full of resting cheese says it all about the seriousness of this operation: “Do not enter, as you will disturb the cheese and wake them up.”
Slow Living with the Locals at the Matakana Village Farmers’ Market
Matakana is a small former lumber town about an hour’s drive north of downtown Auckland with the unique distinction of being New Zealand’s first internationally accredited Cittaslow (Italian for “slow town”). “Slow towns” as defined by the Cittaslow international organization aim to create a community that values quality of life and sustainability by protecting the environment, preserving cultural traditions, and actively supporting local produce and products.
The Farmers’ Market is an initiative introduced to support Matakana’s bid to become the country’s first registered Cittaslow. Every Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m,, Aucklanders flock to the small village to experience a slice of the slow life. Vendors set up stalls selling organic chocolate, baked goods, olive oils, wine, Manuka honey, homemade mince pies, locally grown fruits and vegetables, fresh oysters, handcrafted coffee, and handmade goods. Live music performances by local musicians add to the cheerful and charming atmosphere.
Philippine Airlines flies to Cairns and Auckland four times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday). Book through a travel agent or call the PAL reservations hotline at (02) 855-8888. Visit philippineairlines.com for more information.