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CUG 2020 Arriving In Auckland

Grand Millenium Auckland

Hotel Map: 71 Mayoral Dr, Auckland, New Zealand

Hotel Parking (subject to space availability)

  • Self-Parking – $25 for 24 hours
  • Valet Parking – $50 for 24 hours

Please contact grandmillennium.auckland@millenniumhotels.co.nz if you have any questions pertaining to hotel parking.

Traveling to New Zealand

Passport holders of some countries and territories do not have to apply for a visa before they travel to NZ but must hold an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority).   To verify whether or not you will need an NZeTA, and to apply, please visit the New Zealand immigration site.

If traveling to New Zealand requires a Visa Invitation Letter please contact the 2020 local arrangements committee at your earliest convenience, cug2020@cug.org.

Attendees should also consider any necessary travel authorizations and requirements such as High Threat Security Overseas Seminar Training (HTSOS) for US Government employees.

Transportation options to/from airport

There are numerous transportation options from the Auckland airport including:

Driving in New Zealand

New Zealand roads can be narrow, cover hilly terrain and vary from motorways to unsealed gravel roads.  Also note the following:

  • New Zealanders drive on the left-hand side of the road.
  • The roads are mostly two-way, with one lane in each direction, with few motorways.
  • Not all railway crossings have active warnings.
  • Seat belts are compulsory for everyone in the vehicle.
  • It is illegal to use a phone while driving.

For more information: https://www.nzta.govt.nz/safety/driving-safely/visiting-drivers/ .

Currency

Each US Dollar (USD) purchases about 1.57 New Zealand Dollars (NZ$). Nearly every establishment will accept a chip-enabled credit card as a form of payment. All major credit cards can be used in New Zealand, with Visa and MasterCard accepted most widely. ATMs are available widely.  Get an update on the current exchange rate.

Emergency information

Due to its location and environment, New Zealand faces many potential disasters. In some cases, such as a weather related or volcanic disaster, there may be time for a warning.  But an earthquake or a tsunami close to land could strike without warning. All disasters have the potential to cause disruption, damage property and take lives. This website will show you how to prepare: https://getready.govt.nz/emergency/earthquakes.

Quarantine restrictions/biosecurity

New Zealand has strict biosecurity requirements.  You cannot bring fresh fruit, meats, animal products and many other items into the country. For more information, see Biosecurity New Zealand .

Experience Auckland!!

Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city situated alongside three sparkling harbours and flanked by black sand beaches and native forest to the west, this multicultural hub offers the perfect mix of urban chic and outdoor excitement. Central Auckland is a vibrant mix of shopping, savour fine food, wine and entertainment.

Discover Art and Culture – Explore world-class exhibitions at one of the many art galleries or wander through a contemporary collection of New Zealand sculptures amid stunning landscapes as part of the Brick Bay Sculpture Trail. Take a guided walking tour of Rangitoto Island or explore the Maori history and traditions at Auckland Museum.

Adventure in the City – Try a Sky Jump from the iconic Sky Tower, or walk its edge – 192 metres above ground level! And if that’s not enough, head to the Auckland Harbour Bridge for New Zealand’s only Bridge Climb or bungy into the Waitemata Harbour. Epic!

Hauraki Gulf – Auckland city is perched on the edge of a sheltered harbour that’s dotted with emerald islands which you can journey to by ferry. Many of these islands are wildlife sanctuaries and feature beautiful walks. Waiheke is a must-see ‘island of wine’. The gulf waters itself are teeming with marine life and ideal for a cruise.

Great Barrier Island – A boating paradise, Great Barrier Island shelters Auckland’s harbour from the relentless swells of the Pacific Ocean. Covered in lush native forest, hike the Aotea Track, visit the rare wildlife of Glenfern Sanctuary or relax on Medlands Beach. Either Go Great Barrier Island Tours or Sundancer Tours offer great ways to see the island. Or if you’re feeling brave, why not try a kayak circumnavigation?

Waiheke Island – Waiheke Island is the ultimate island retreat, just a 35-minute ferry ride from downtown Auckland. Known as the ‘island of wine’ for its many wineries and vineyards, a wine tasting tour is a must. Enjoy a day trip and explore the beaches, restaurants and other activities on the island.

West Coast Beaches & Waterfalls – Less than an hour from Auckland City lie the wild west coast beaches, where the Tasman Sea meets long, vast stretches of black sand. Visit Muriwai Beach to see the impressive clifftops and gannet colonies or head to Piha, a popular surf beach, and Karekare, made famous as the backdrop for the filmThe Piano.

Further afield

New Zealand is full of things to do. The hardest thing for you, will be deciding what to do first. Every region will provide you with a unique experience. So stay a little longer to make sure you get to see more of 100% Pure New Zealand.

North Island

Visit a “Lord of the Rings” location – Hobbiton – About 10 kilometres southwest of Matamata, in the Waikato. Unlike other LOTR filming locations this is ‘as you remember it’ from the films.

Rotorua – Immerse yourself in Māori culture and exhilarating outdoor adventure in Rotorua. Built amidst a geothermal landscape of steaming geysers and bubbling mudpools, this tourist hotspot is home to many quintessential Kiwi experiences, from white water rafting and offroad 4WD to spine tingling Māori cultural performances.

Taupo – Taupō was created nearly two thousand years ago by a volcanic eruption so big it darkened the skies in Europe and China. Visit the Craters of the Moon and you’ll see evidence of the lake’s fiery birth in the geysers, steaming craters and boiling mud pools. At some of Taupō’s beaches, swimmers and paddlers can enjoy warm, geothermal water currents. Turangi also happens to provide a convenient base for exploring Tongariro National Park, and walking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing (New Zealand’s most popular day walk)

Napier – Enjoy a guided wine tour through the celebrated vineyards of Hawke’s Bay. The city of Napier is New Zealand’s Art Deco centre and has fantastic history, a picturesque shoreline, and just the right climate for delicious orchard fruits.

Wellington – Dine on fine food, craft beers and world class coffee in the harbour side city of Wellington. Dubbed the “coolest little capital in the world” by Lonely Planet, Wellington also offers top opportunities for wildlife spotting and cultural discovery at the renowned national museum, Te Papa

South Island

Nelson – Explore the long golden beaches, alpine lakes and enchanting forests of the Nelson region by kayak, car or bicycle. Home to three national parks, this region is a favourite holiday spot for New Zealanders and so beautiful you’ll never want to leave.

Marlborough Sounds – Discover the many coves of the beautiful Marlborough Sounds on a cruise, or cycle through vineyards on a wine-tasting tour. A visit to Marlborough is incomparable, glorious sunshine, delicious food, and luxurious resorts make this area a joy to visit.

Queenstown – Find inspiration amongst the unforgettable landscape of Queenstown. This four-season resort is known as the adventure capital of the world. It also offers plenty of opportunity for lakeside dining, boutique shopping and tours of the region’s rich gold mining history.

Milford Sound – Described by Rudyard Kipling as the ‘eighth wonder of the world’, Milford Sound was carved by glaciers during the ice ages. Breathtaking in any weather, the fiord’s cliffs rise vertically from the dark waters, mountain peaks scrape the sky and waterfalls cascade downwards from as high as 1000 metres. When it rains in Milford Sound, and it often does, those waterfalls multiply with magnificent effect.

Fox Glacier & Franz Josef Glacier – While glaciers around the world are retreating, the Fox and Franz Josef glaciers still flow almost to sea level. The temperate climate at this low altitude means these glaciers are among the most convenient to visit in the world.

Dunedin – Broaden your mind in Dunedin, home to grand old buildings and New Zealand’s oldest university. See penguins, sea lions and albatross on the nearby Otago Peninsula and experience one of the great scenic train journeys on the Taieri Gorge Railway.

For more information