Auckland gets a pasting
A Report by Emma Page in the Sunday Star Times says that an international travel guide has taken a crack at Auckland and Aucklanders, saying the city is far from world class and locals are renowned for their arrogance.
The Wallpaper City Guide, aimed at the design- conscious traveller, says the city has no iconic civic buildings and its hotels are overly air- conditioned, badly decorated and a “far cry from the sophisticated design options” across the Tasman.
But, says the guide, Auckland is becoming more akin to its “grander, more glamorous cousin, Sydney”.
It’s not all bad news – the compact city guide also highlights Auckland’s natural beauty, boutique shops, excellent coffee and restaurants. Auckland may be “young and isolated”, reads the introduction, “but its potential is huge”.
Kiwi tourism experts say just being selected for such a guide – the Wallpaper lifestyle magazine is read in more than 70 countries – is a sign that the nation’s biggest city is showing up on the international radar as an urban destination.
New Zealand Tourism Research Institute director Simon Milne says the criticisms draw attention to the way the city can develop and he sees the listing as positive.
“We are a city that is starting to find its identity and starting to grow.”
The guide chose rising fashion star Mala Brajkovic to give an insider’s view on the city. She recommends small boutique shops like World Beauty and out-of-the-way eateries like Japanese restaurant Nishiki.
Hotels that get the tick of approval are the Hilton with its seaviews and SkyCity Grand Hotel for its art filled lobby and Peter Gordon’s restaurant Dine – dubbed “one of the best dining experiences to be had in Auckland”. Boutique hotel Mollies also received specific mention for its design style.
Other hidden gems include Ponsonby cafe Agnes Curran, where nearly all of the furniture and decorations are for sale.
And while Auckland may not compare with the big boys of international travel, the tone taken in the guide is consistent with other city reviews. Sydney is described as “nothing if not a tart – gaudy, proud, gorgeous around the edges, but a little sleazy when you scratch below the surface”. While London is thrilling but also “violently fluid and fickle”.
The guide will be released next month along with nine other new city guides.
Report by The Mole and the Sunday Star Times
John Alwyn-Jones
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