Christopher Lai

While Auckland might be a wonderful city to explore, the gateway to it that is the airport could only be described as a huge disappointment. Despite the friendly staff like all lovely Kiwis, the infrastructure simply wasn't up to standards. With endless long queues through quarantine inspections, cramped baggage conveyer belts to the weird lack of restrooms, the experience was absolutely terrible. For departing passengers, things are even worse. Checkin counters in AKL open at a mere three hours before departure, even for business class passengers. For those who arrive early, this means a lengthy wait at the concourse. With the only two lifts that reach level 2 (where the shops are located ) "banning" luggage trollies, travellers have very limited space to relax. Hopefully they will fix these issues with the incoming upgrades and offer travellers a better gateway to the beautiful country that is Mew Zealand.

A spacious, wonderful park with various wildlife to interact with. These include ducks, swans and pūkeko birds. Seeing the cygnets (baby swans) up close was the lovely highlight of my visit There are meadows, lakes and also paths suitable for a jog around some nice scenery. However, some parts of the park are under renovation and access can be tricky due to the confusing directions and soggy landform after rainfalls. Also, the lack of public restrooms around the area can be an issue for family picnics or longer visits.