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About Auckland

Imagine an urban environment where everyone lives within half an hour of beautiful beaches, hiking trails and a dozen enchanted holiday islands. Add a sunny climate, a background rhythm of Polynesian culture and a passion for outstanding food, wine and shopping - you're beginning to get the picture of Auckland. Auckland's blend of islands, Polynesian culture, glistening harbours and modern city environment creates an unbelievable lifestyle ranked amongst the best in the world. Discover why Auckland is one of the best places in the world to live - and visit. Auckland is consistently voted one of the world's best lifestyle cities in international surveys. The cosmopolitan city centre is complemented by great escapes no more than half an hour from downtown.

www.aucklandnz.com

An extensive network of regional parks covers some 37,000 hectares. There are farm parks, parks with archaeological sites and historic homesteads, marine reserves and botanic gardens. One of the best ways to appreciate the City of Sails is from on the water. Regular ferries service the islands of the Hauraki Gulf, while charter boats are available in every incarnation, from classic yachts to speed launches. Windsurfing is popular in the bays around the harbour, and so is kayaking, with regular guided expeditions to the far reaches of the Waitemata.

The hiking trails in the Waitakere and Hunua Ranges, to the west and south of the city centre respectively, take you deep into cool, peaceful rainforest. The Woodhill and Riverhead plantation forests attract mountainbikers and motocross riders. The Hauraki Gulf is also home to pods of dolphins and whales, which can be viewed on regular boat trips on the Dolphin & Whale Safari. Sea life can also be seen from underwater, through transparent tunnels built in an underground aquarium at Kelly Tarlton's Antarctic Encounter and Underwater World. Auckland has more than 30 golf courses, including public ones at Takapuna and Chamberlain Park in Western Springs. At Gulf Harbour on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula, you can play on a cliff top course designed by Robert Trent Jones II, considered by many to be the world's finest designer of classic golf courses. Formosa, another of Auckland's legendary courses, has spectacular views of Rangitoto. Designed by Bob Charles, Formosa is the longest course in New Zealand - over 6,650 metres off the pro tees.

Arriving In Auckland

The conference venue is the Aotea Centre and preferred accommodation provider, Rendezvous Auckland Hotel, is situated 21 km northeast of Auckland Airport. A taxi fare is approximately NZ$50, and the Airbus Shuttle runs a scheduled service every 20 minutes between the airport and Downtown Auckland. The shuttle costs around $15 per person and calls at many of the major hotels along the way, including Rendezvous Auckland Hotel