AUCKLAND

1 It is not unusual for Auckland to be compared to Sidney or San Francisco. Visually they do have much in common. All three hillside cities are built around a beautiful harbour, each with its own bridge linking the northern and southern sides.______1_____, most Aucklanders would agree that it would be presumptuous to carry the comparison further for Auckland is Auckland, a city with a character much different from Sidney or San Francisco.

2 Built on seven hills (actually seven extinct volcanoes), Auckland is in area one of the largest cities in the world _____2_____its population is barely one million. In the early days of European settlement, Auckland was New Zealand’s capital, but this was transferred to the more centrally situated Wellington _____3_____the turn of the century, a fact which Aucklanders still consider unreasonable.

3 Thirty miles north of Auckland begin the beautiful small inlets and harbours of the Whangaparoa Peninsula. At Waiwera you will find hot springs just like fountains of hot water, the ideal spot in which to relax and ease the muscles after a long flight.

4. Between Auckland and Waiwera beaches abound, and fishing and boating appear to be everyone’s occupation. Within the environs of Auckland itself, however, are some excellent beaches, _____4_____at Takapuna on the northern side of the bridge and also at Orakei and St Heliers on the southern side. It is certainly worth a drive around the scenic route of the harbour. On the west coast at places like Piha there are black sand beaches where the Tasman Sea rolls in waves which are a surfer’s dream.