Click on the pictures to get a larger sized one!


Auckland, the City of Sails, is the largest city of New Zealand. Over 1 Million people live in the city and
its surroundings, which is almost one third of the total population of the country (3,5 million).
Skyscraper wise Auckland isn't the most prolific high-rise city. But despite this, Auckland still has some
very beautiful architectural buildings. Like in San Francisco and Seattle, some of the streets are very steep
and that is why Auckland's skyline doesn't quite do justice to the actual heights of the individual buildings.
Above left: skyline view from one of the many beaches.
Above right: skyline view from Mount Eden (196m/643f), one of New Zealand's (extinct) volcano's.


Above: Auckland's and New Zealand's tallest building, Vero Centre
(the building was named Royal & SunAlliance Centre when the pictures were taken in March of 2001).
The building is beautifully lit up at night (see second picture). Completed in 2000,
the building is 167m/548f (170/558f to tip of spiral) tall and has 38 stories.


Above: three pics of Auckland's 2nd tallest building,
The ANZ Centre (formerly known as the Coopers & Lybrand Tower).
Height: 143m/469f, stories: 35, completed: 1991.
It was the city's and New Zealand's tallest building from 1991 - 1999.


Above: Auckland's 3rd tallest building, the Metropolis Apartments
(155m/509f (including spire), 39 stories, 1999).


Above left: ASB Bank Centre (116m/381f, 31 stories, 1991).
Above middle: Auckland's 4th tallest building, Quay West hotel (117m/384f, 32 stories, 1997).
Above right: BNZ Tower, 106m/348f, 28 stories, 1986,
Auckland's tallest from 1986-1990).


Above middle left and middle left: IAG House (104m/341f, 29 stories, 1988).
The building was known as NZI House when the pictures were taken (March 2001).
Above middle: Quay Tower (87m/285f, 22 stories, 1980),
Auckland's tallest from 1980-1986.
Above middle right: West Plaza (74m/243f, 18 stories, 1974),
Auckland's tallest from 1974-1980).
Above right: CityLife Auckland (90m/295f, 26 stories, 1997), seen from Sky Tower.


Above: the Phillips Fox Tower (92m/301f, 22 stories, 1987)
and Arthur Andersen Tower (87m/265f 17 stories, 1988).
The reflection in the Phillips Fox tower is that of the Sky Tower.


Above: Auckland's (and New Zealand's) tallest structure, the Sky Tower.
The tower is 328m/1076f tall and was completed in 1997 as a tourist attraction.
Inside the tower's accompanying building is Auckland's casino, a hotel, some bars, shops and restaurants,
and the Sky City Theatre. The tower has four observation decks, including an outdoor one (200m).
There is also the orbit restaurant, Sky Tower's revolving restaurant, which makes a full revolution every 60 minutes.
For its construction 15,000 cubic metres of concrete, 2,000 tonnes of reinforcing steel
and 660 tonnes of structural steel were used. The Sky Tower weighs 20,000 tonnes!
The tower is beautifully lit up at night. And to be honest, the pictures you see here,
don't do quite justice to that magical silvery night sight...


Above left: in the background Civic Building, Auckland's first skyscraper
and tallest building from 1966-1974 (71m/233f, 20 stories, 1966).
Above right: Muriwai Beach, West-Auckland,
Motutara Island with a gannet colony on top, with the Tasman Sea in the background.


Thanks to Chris K. for driving me around!


Auckland's tallest skyscrapers:
1. VERO CENTRE 167m/548f, 38 stories, 2000
2. METROPOLIS APARTMENTS 155m/509f, 39 stories, 1991
3. ANZ CENTRE 143m/469f, 42 stories, 1999
4. PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS TOWER 130m/427f, 29 stories, 2002
5. LUMLEY CENTRE 125m/410f, 29 stories, 2005
6. QUAY WEST HOTEL 117m/384f, 32 stories, 1997
7. ASB BANK CENTRE 116m/381f, 31 stories, 1991
8. CROWNE PLAZA 110m/361f, 29 stories, 1990
9. BNZ TOWER 106m/348fm, 28 stories, 1986
10. IAG HOUSE 104m/341f, 29 stories, 1988