A major highlight of one of the most beautiful countries on the planet: Auckland makes for the perfect accessible getaway. Of course, it has its fair share of hills (this is New Zealand, after all!). But despite this, there are plenty of great experiences for those of us who use a mobility scooter.
The natural world is never far away wherever you go in New Zealand. And Auckland is no different, even though it is one of the country’s major cities. There is a strong maritime tradition here too, and the city is known as ‘The City of Sails’.
Here’s our take on some of the best accessible things to do in Auckland, New Zealand.
Get the lie of the land from the Sky Tower
It is one of the most
famous, popular and accessible attractions in the city. The Sky Tower can get busy, but it is well worth
visiting. There is an accessible lift to the top, and the views are simply breath-taking.
It’s an excellent way to get a lie of the land, and we’d suggest you do it
early on in your visit. It’s 192 metres high and is popular with base jumpers
who leap from the top on a wire. While that might not be your thing, it is a
spectacular place to start your getaway. The Sky Café is also an excellent spot
for a bite to eat while you take in the 360º views.
Go sailing on Auckland harbour
Auckland is one of those cities that really makes sense from the water. They love their boats here, and you can take a wonderful boat tour of the harbour. The team at Fullers do an excellent accessible tour that lasts around an hour and a half. To book, get in touch with them here.
Looking for something a little more hands-on? Then we also recommend that you try sailing. Even if you have never sailed before, the City of Sails is the perfect place to learn. Our pick of the best place to learn is Sailability. They have dedicated their business to making sailing more accessible. And they have a wide range of classes for people of all abilities. You’ll need to book ahead, so get in touch here.
Get moving at MOTAT
If you’re travelling with family, then Auckland’s Museum of Transport and Technology is great fun. The first thing to say is that the majority of the museum is fully accessible, including the spectacular aviation exhibition. If that wasn’t enough incentive, it’s also free to those of us with mobility needs.
It’s a remarkable place, full of displays that tell the story of how Kiwis have approached the challenges of transport in their remarkable country. If you love planes, then the aviation collection is second to none. But with over 300,000 exhibits here, there’s more than enough to keep you entertained.
Explore Parnell Village
Auckland is a great city for foodies, and one of the highlights is the wonderful La Cigale French market. It’s actually not just French produce here but has a cosmopolitan European vibe that is a lot of fun. It’s a street market, and so is accessible, but with the usual caveats around kerbs.
The market is in the Parnell Village area, which itself is a great place to explore. So, once you’ve picked up some top quality French produce from La Cigale, we’d recommend you reward yourself. Take a gentle tour through the Parnell Rose Gardens, followed by a coffee and something sweet at the Chocolate Boutique. It’s the perfect Auckland day.
Did you know?
One in three people living in Auckland own a boat. Plus, there are 50 (extinct) volcanoes in the city!
Getting to Auckland
There’s no getting around it: Auckland is a long haul from the UK. And of course, this presents its own challenges for those of us with limited mobility. But Auckland is well worth the 23 hour flight. And there is so much to explore in the rest of New Zealand that it has to be on everyone’s bucket list.
There are regular flights from the London airports, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Glasgow. And while they all feature stopovers, it is always worth double checking how long each transfer lasts – they can be anything from a few hours to a day. Once again, just make sure you let the airline know of your personal mobility requirements when you book your flight.
In Auckland airport, you’ll find an excellent special assistance service to help you through the terminal. The most convenient way to then get into the city is to use their accessible shuttle service. You will need to book it at least a couple of days before you arrive however. Just give them a call on +64 9625 5599.
Public transport in Auckland is also generally accessible. Almost all the buses have ramps, and some are even so-called ‘kneeling buses’. Trains are also accessible: just use the middle carriage of any three car train or the second and fifth carriage of six car trains. There is an excellent overview on the city’s official transport site, here.
Travelling with scooters
The great news for those of you travelling abroad is that Quingo Scooters are all approved for air travel by IATA so you won’t have any problems taking them on the plane. That said, it is always well worth getting in touch directly with any train, bus and airlines you want to use just to double check their rules on scooters before you go. For more handy tips on travelling with your scooter by air, take a look at our page here.
Share your accessible getaways abroad with us
Do you have any accessible getaways abroad recommendations? In Europe or perhaps further afield? If you do, we’d love to hear from you, so drop us a line and we’ll feature them.
About Quingo Scooters
The Quingo Scooter range features six models to suit your needs and budget. New models are now available from just £22/week on our new contract hire scheme which includes all servicing and maintenance, Insurance, Roadside Recovery, Call Outs and Consumables including Batteries and Tyres. For more information on this or the latest Quingo Scooter range, please visit our website. Alternatively, if you have any Service questions you can always contact us or call customer services on 01582 430 900.
Keep up to date with the latest mobility scooter advice, tips and interesting places to visit on the Quingo Scooter Users Blog. Connect with Quingo and keep up to date with all our latest news on Facebook and Twitter.
All Quingo Personal Mobility Vehicles are provided by Forever Active, the UK’s exclusive distributor. Forever Active is a trading name of Advantage Marketing Corporation Limited (AMC). AMC Limited is an appointed representative of First Senior Insurance Services Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. First Senior Insurance Services FSA Register number is 30847
