10 of the Best Things to Do in Auckland with Older Visitors

We recently had my husband’s parents visiting us for a month here in Auckland. And as they’re both 80, we had to plan our outings and activities carefully, to suit their age. Just looking at those two oldies, though, you wouldn’t say they were 80 as they are both ageing extremely well. But despite that, it still meant that including any activity with long stretches of walking was not ideal. And because Auckland is a city with lots of great places to hike, walk and explore, I had to put my thinking cap on to come up with other more suitable activities to do with them while they were here.

Here is the list of Auckland activities I would recommend doing:

1. Visit the beautiful Auckland Botanic Gardens. That place is amazing at any time of year because they have many different little gardens making up the immense expanse of the Botanic Gardens. Being Spring, we got to see the beautiful cherry blossoms in bloom. And you do not have to fear the thought of too much walking there because you can hire wheelchairs and mobility scooters which make getting around the vast gardens less of a hardship.
2. Take the ferry to Waiheke Island for a day of exploring. And plan to have lunch or do a wine tasting at one of the many wine farms on the island. There are both taxis and buses to get around the island. Taking the ferry also means that the trip there and back allows them to enjoy getting out on the water.
3. Have tea at a restaurant in Cornwall Park, a huge grassy park near Auckland city. And take a short stroll to see the resident sheep.
4. Enjoy a delicious lunch at Puhoi Valley. The scenic drive up north to Puhoi will also be an outing in itself.
5. Go on a Whale and Dolphin Safari – enjoy some fresh air out on the water and get to see whales, dolphins and various seabirds in the Hauraki Gulf.
6. Go to a show at one of the many cultural venues in the city.
7. Visit the Auckland Museum to see their permanent and latest exhibitions.
8. Check out the Auckland Art Gallery. This gallery is a good size (not too big) so as not to overwhelm or tire ageing visitors which is perfect.
9. Have lunch in the Wynyard Quarter at the water. My favourite restaurants down there are Baduzzi (Italian, specialising in meatballs) and Jack Tar (a more casual affair).
10. Take a drive out to Auckland’s West Coast beaches of Piha and Muriwai for a different kind of scenery. Those wild, black sand beaches are beautiful and if your visitors love to view birds, there’s a gannet colony in Muriwai.

You may also want to read: Local road tripping is the new best thing

Bonus Tip

Also, be sure to visit the Heart of the City website to check out what is happening in Auckland city at the time of their visit. This website covers every interest – from art and ballet to sports events and car shows.

While the activities I have included here are not only for older people, I feel that their mellow nature makes them well-suited to the older age group. These activities celebrate nature and allow one to slow down and really enjoy life.

And while we didn’t get to do all of these activities this time (we’ve done a few of them on their previous visits), I think these are perfect for those who can no longer walk very long distances.

Pro Tip: Before planning an outing with your ageing or older visitors, check whether there are wheelchairs or mobility scooters available where you’re going and whether you have to book them prior to arrival. This forethought could be the difference between an enjoyable outing and one that might ruin the day.

What do you do with your ageing/older visitors in your hometown? Do you have any good tips to share?

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