It's the only city in the world established on an active volcano bed, and there are over 50 volcanoes in the city - that hasn't deterred Auckland from finding repeated mentions in annual lists of the world's best cities. The thriving metropolis features the biggest multicultural spread seen anywhere in New Zealand.First-time visitors will unanimously agree to its label as the "City of Sails" - the city's location, close to the river Wanganui that flows through it, as well as its coastal location, makes it an ideal tropical getaway. You can launch a trek through dense forested paths, saunter down the sands of a nearby beach - all within 30 minutes of reaching the downtown city. While there are several ways to unwind in the laid-back Auckland lifestyle, a trip to New Zealand is not complete without visiting the Auckland Art Gallery, the biggest and the most important art gallery in the country.

Along with being able to see in person the paintings by European masters that form art curriculum the world over, you will also see works by contemporary New Zealand artists - a great way to get vivid perspectives of the city, all under one roof. One of the major highlights for the people intrigued by heritage is the Museum of Transport and Technology - or MOTAT, for short. A major tourist attraction, the Museum houses both technology that borders on relics (steam pumps, for example), as well as more recent aircraft - from bombers, to World War era planes, the MOTAT aviation collection is formidable in both scale and variety. MOTAT is the biggest museum of its kind housing other important historical collections, including railway engines, trams (many of which are actually still operational!), and other public transport vehicles. MOTAT is run almost entirely by volunteers and they regularly engage visitors with a variety of programmes and exhibitions. For bibliophiles, there is also the in-house Walsh library, which dates back as far as MOTAT itself.

These are undoubtedly the elements of a comfortable trip with the family and it's best to explore the city's various attractions at leisure, instead of being rushed for time and constantly being at the ready for the impending public transport timings. Instead, it's essential to organize a car rental; Auckland is ideally explored with ample time and comfortable transportation so that the best can be made out of this small, but exciting city. From ensuring that you can transport your kids and family in comfort from the hotel to the various venues, to being free of public transport timetables, booking a car rental facility will not only save you time, but give you time to make more memories.