Below you will find information on the conference venue, some ‘insider’ information on some of the best current eateries in Tāmaki Makaurau, and some advice on the best hiking and tramping in Aotearoa New Zealand.

The conference venue

The ISIH 2024 conference will be held in the Sir Paul Reeves (WG) Building at the heart of AUT’s campus in the centre of Auckland.

The Sir Paul Reeves Building (listed as the WG building on campus maps) is one of AUT’s flagship learning spaces, with ample lecture, workshop, and breakout space available to us.

You can see an interactive campus map here.

Because the conference runs two weeks before the start of the academic year, the campus will be quiet, meaning we will have lots of room to spread out.

You can see some images of the award-winning Sir Paul Reeves Building here and here, which will give you a sense of the space we will be working in.

Getting around Auckland

You can find some helpful guides here:

Good food and drink Auckland

Auckland is blessed with some fantastic cafes, small eateries, and fancy restaurants.

If you’d like a local’s take on the best places to go, this Facebook page is fantastic: https://www.facebook.com/groups/LazySusan or https://www.lazysusan.nz/

Some ‘insider’ suggestions for eating out in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland (prices for food only)

Famous:

  • $
    • Uncle Man’s
      • 277 Karangahape Road, Grafton
      • ~ $20 pp.
      • Malaysian
    • Pasta & Cuore
      • 409 Mount Eden Road, Mount Eden
      • ~ $30 pp.
      • Italian
    • Sen
      • 26 Normanby Road, Mount Eden
      • ~ $40 pp.
      • Vietnamese
  • $$
    • Amano
      • 66-68 Tyler St, Britomart
      • ~ $70-80 pp.
      • Italian
    • Gemmayze St
      • St. Kevin’s Arcade, Karangahape Road, Grafton
      • $90 pp. for Jeeb menu
      • Lebanese
    • Federal Delicatessen
      • 86 Federal St, Auckland CBD
      • ~ $60 pp.
      • American
  • $$$
    • Lilian
      • 472 Richmond Road, Grey Lynn
      • ~ $100 pp. or $80 pp. for set menu
      • New Zealand
    • Ahi
      • Commercial Bay, Auckland CBD
      • ~ $150 pp.
      • New Zealand
    • Alma
      • 130 Quay St, Auckland CBD
      • ~ $100 pp.
      • Spanish
    • Paris Butter
      • 166 Jervois Road, Herne Bay
      • $130 for 3 course set menu, plus snacks and bread; $195 for 6 course.
      • New Zealand

Hidden gems:

  • $$
    • Tokki
      • 87 Kitchener Road, Milford
      • $80 pp. for house menu
      • Korean
    • Sake Bar Icco
      • 601 New North Road, Morningside
      • ~ $50-60 pp.
      • Japanese
    • Tempero
      • 352 Karangahape Road, Grafton
      • ~ $70-80 pp.
      • Pan-Latin
    • That’s Amore
      • 2M/1 Courthouse Lane, Auckland CBD
      • ~ $20-25 pp.
      • Pizza
  • $$$
    • Ada
      • 454 Great North Road, Grey Lynn
      • ~ $100 pp.
      • New Zealand
    • Candela
      • 155 Karangahape Road, Grafton
      • ~ $100 pp.
      • Spanish
    • Lillius
      • 19 Khyber Pass Rd, Grafton
      • $145 pp. for 4 course set menu; $200 pp. for 6 course.
      • New Zealand

Tramping/hiking in New Zealand

Here is some ‘inside’ information for those of you looking to do some tramping/hiking in NZ while you are here. This info comes from one of the staff in the Uni who is an avid tramper.

If you wanted to highlight some good day walks, probably the most popular are the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, Roys Peak, Isthmus Peak, or there’s sections of the Abel Tasman, Kepler Track, Queen Charlotte Track that can be done as day trips. With the Abel Tasman and Queen Charlotte you can water taxi in and out and pick the bits you want to do.

Most of the Great Walks would be booked out, but you can do guided walks on the Milford and Routeburn Tracks that might still have space. Ultimate Hikes are the guiding company that take those. There are also a plethora of other multi-day tracks with huts that don’t require booking.  I could suggest a few popular ones but it really depends what people are after (mountains, flat, beaches, sandflies) and their experience and preferred duration. The Department of Conservation is the best website to go to, particularly if you can narrow down the area you want to go to. They have lots of info on the tracks, access to them, and current conditions.   

Hiking in Aotearoa is a little different from other places so I always find talking to locals is the best way to go. Both Queen Charlotte and Abel Tasman are pretty and largely flat – Abel Tasman has more sandy beaches but Queen Charlotte has awesome kayaking and is less busy. The accommodation on QC is also fancy lodges, so it suits the more up-market trampers. Anything around Milford Sound is beautiful but there are generally hills involved, sandflies, and you’re more likely to get wet (although it makes the waterfalls lovely).

For some more info see https://planmywalk.nz/home