How to Get Around in Auckland

Victoria Street from Kitchener Road.

When I was still choosing where to study in New Zealand, I took into consideration the terrain because I had planned to commute by bike. I read somewhere that Wellington was very hilly (and windy!), so even if I got accepted to the public policy program of Victoria University, I chose to study in Auckland instead. I assumed that the latter was flat and conducive to cycling. Well, as you can see in the above photo, Auckland CBD is NOT flat. It is hilly as well--at least within the vicinity of the University of Auckland-City Campus! 

You see, Auckland Uni sits on a hill alongside Albert Park, so any commute to or from the campus would require an uphill battle. If, for example, you'd like to go to Queen street, then you walk (or bike) down this street (Victoria Street). Want to get back to campus? Then you have to walk (or bike) back up. Going to Britomart? Same thing. Parnell? The same! Newmarket? Worse, you climb further up the street! I tried commuting by bike for a month and it just wasn't worth it. It was easier to walk.

Which brings me to the topic for this post, "How to get around in Auckland." The short answer is: WALK. Campus is near the central business district. It's just a 10 minute walk to Queen Street (750m). While Britomart is 15 minutes away (1 km). Malapit lang ang campus sa kainan, sinehan at supermarket. Walking is free, and you get to exercise.

Now if you have to go out of the CBD, then that's a different story. Here are your commuting alternatives:

BUS

If you wish to go to places a bit far to walk to (say, 3 to 5 kms away) like Ponsonby or Cornwall Park, then you could ride the bus. They're efficient and convenient. But let me caution you if you are used to bus travel in Manila. Buses here in Auckland drop and pick-up passengers only at designated bus stops. Which means hindi uubra yung pagpara kung saan saan. Magagalit yung tsuper. Trust me. It happened to me quite a few times. Also, buses here run on schedule. Sometimes every 10 minutes (during peak hours). Sometimes as long as 30 minutes or even up to an hour. You can get a printed timetable of your bus at Britomart. Bus stops also have their own timetables posted so you'd know when the next bus will arrive. The fares are kinda expensive here. NZ$1.90 (PhP65.00) for the Inner Link bus to go to Ponsonby. And NZ$3.40 (PhP115.00) for the Outer Link bus to go to Balmoral or Mount Eden. You pay in cash or HOP Card (pictured below).

Above is the HOP Card for buses. Below is the AT Card for trains and ferries.

I suggest you get a HOP card because you can apply for tertiary student discount. They're available at Britomart. The HOP card works like any public transport card, which you can load money into.

TRAIN

Train approaching the Sylvia Park Station

If you are travelling further out (more than 5kms away from the CBD) like Onehunga or Sylvia Park, then you can ride the train. The main train station is at Britomart, which is a 15 minute walk from campus. The trains here are like our LRT and MRT trains, only slower. They're supposed to be efficient and on time, but I find them to run a bit late. Also, recently (2013) they've been suspending train services during the weekends, which is a turn-off. Fares range between NZ$1.90 (PhP65.00) for a single trip to Newmarket (Stage 1) and NZ$4.50 (PhP$150) for a single trip to Onehunga (Stage 3). You can purchase train tickets at the station paying in cash or EFPOS, or use an AT Card. Like the one for buses, I recommend getting an AT Card because you can avail of the tertiary student discount. The NZ$1.90 fare becomes NZ$1.17, while the NZ$4.50 is reduced to NZ$2.92. Hey, a discount is a discount! 

For added convenience, Auckland Transport (AT) developed a journey planner App! Just type where you are and where you want to go, and the app will tell you what bus stop or train station to go to, the number of the bus or train, how long it will take, and calculate your fare. It's a great app! I wish we had one for Metro Manila.

AT Public Transport app. Downloadable at the App Store.

The only problem of the train system here in Auckland (aside from being a bit tardy) is its limited coverage. Konti pa lang kasi ang stations. For instance, there's no train service to the North Shore.

FERRY

Ferry Terminal at Devonport.

If you'd like to visit the North Shore, Devonport to be specific, which is across the harbour, then you can ride the ferry. Ferries here are clean and reliable. Plus they offer a great view of the CBD from the sea. A single trip to Devonport costs NZ$6.00 (PhP200.00)--round-trip would be NZ$11.00 (PhP370.00). You can purchase tickets at the ferry terminal paying in cash or EFPOS, or use an AT Card. Like all forms of public transportation here, the ferries run on schedule. For more information on bus, train and ferry services, visit www.maxx.co.nz.

TAXI
They have taxis over here but they are very expensive. So unless the bus or train are not available, then avoid taking the taxi. Flag down is NZ$3.00 (PhP100.00), but then every kilometer is NZ$2.60 (PhP90.00)! A ride to Cornwall Park (just 5 kms from campus) can cost you NZ$20.00! Let the taxi be your last resort.

BIKE

Photo does not show yung paghingal ko to get to the top of Mt Victoria.

If you love cycling and you are a strong cyclist, then go ahead and ride your bike! Lots of people do that here. Although there are no dedicated bike lanes on the streets, most intersections have bike boxes in front of the line. You can go on multi-modal commutes as both trains and ferries allow bikes on board.

There are numerous places to park and lock your bike around the city.

Again, Auckland CBD is not flat. If you have weak legs like me, then it might be challenging for you to bike. But if you enjoy cycling up to Tagaytay, then Auckland will be a walk in the park.

CAR

Here I am driving a rental.

Finally, you can drive a car. Second-hand cars come very cheap here. You can buy one for as low as NZ$1,000.00 (PhP34,000.00). And, according to my friend, it's very easy to transfer car ownership here in New Zealand. But let me warn you, driving here can be a bit tricky for Filipinos. They follow the British traffic system here, so they drive on the left side of the road. Familiarize yourself with their traffic rules, like who goes first at a roundabout (rotunda) before attempting to drive as Kiwis are known to have short tempers behind the wheel.

That's it. I wish this post was helpful. Ingat sa biyahe!

Where to Eat in Auckland Part 1 (International Fast Food)

My wife packed a simple cookbook for me so I can prepare my own dishes here in New Zealand. I haven't opened it since I got here.

If you're like me who doesn't really cook, you can only take so much spam, corned beef, sandwiches, cereal and oatmeal. If you want to stay sane, sometimes you have to eat out. As a postgrad student with a limited budget, that means eating at cheap places. 

Let's start with international comfort food--meals from chains we are familiar with.

Mcdonalds. There's one on Queen Street. A deluxe cheeseburger meal costs NZ$5.00 (PhP170.00). The burger and the fries tastes the same, just like in the Philippines and practically everywhere.

Burger King. There's also one on Queen Street (you'll notice most of the fast food joints can be found on Queen St.). A Whopper Jr steal meal is NZ$5.00 (PhP170.00). Not my favorite. The burger doesn't taste nice.

Wendys. You guessed it, there's a Wendy's on Queen Street. A cheeseburger meal is also NZ$5.00 (PhP 170.00). What I like about this meal is that it comes with a Frosty (albeit in a small cup, but still!). I think for NZ$5, this meal is bang for the buck!

Carl's Jr. Also on Queen St., at the Metro/Civic Theatre do be exact. When I'm hungry for a mean burger I go to Carl's Jr. A Western Bacon Cheeseburger will set you back around NZ$11.00 (PhP 370.00) but it's worth it. The burger is filling and the soda is refillable.

Pizza Hut. Let's move to pizza. The closes Pizza Hut I know in the CBD is on Kingston St., between Hobson and Federal Sts, but the one I go to is at Quay Street, next to the gas station fronting the bay. They have regular sized pizzas for only NZ$4.90 (PhP 160.00)! The options are very basic though: Cheese, Hawaiian, Veg Delight, Mushroom & Cheese, Ham & Cheese, Beef & Onion, Pepperoni and Classic Italian. You can choose between Classic, Thin 'n Crispy, and Deep Pan. 

Dominos. An alternative can be Dominos. They have one on Elliot St. They also have value pizzas priced at NZ$5.00 (PhP170.00). There's Cheese, Ham & Cheese, Pepperoni, Hawaiian, Beef & Onion, and Veg Trio.

KFC. Don't worry, they have KFC here. Apparently, many Pacific Islanders like KFC too. The branch I go to is on Quay St., right next to the Pizza Hut. They have NZ$5.00 (PhP170.00) Lunch meals. Five bucks can get you 2-piece chicken, coleslaw (or mashed potatoes) and a soda. By now you'd notice budget meals for fast food chains are set at NZ$5.00. That's the cheapest.

Subway. Finally, if you like to eat healthy, there's Subway. Subway has the most branches around the CBD. There's one on Beach Road, another in Britomart, Queen St., and Symonds St. A classic 6' tuna sub costs NZ$6.00 (PhP200.00). Add a drink, it'll cost NZ$7.00 (PhP235.00). I used to frequent Subway until I started making my own sandwiches for way cheaper.

If you've never been to New Zealand, and was afraid you'd leave your favorite fast food comfort food in the Philippines, don't despair. Most of them are here.

Next time, I'll list the fast food restaurants local to New Zealand like Burger Fuel.

Washing and Drying in NZ

Back home, we're used to having labanderas wash our clothes (at least that was my case). But here in Auckland, labor is very expensive, so we have to wash our own laundry. Enter our best friends: the washing machine and dryer.

My building has a laundry room with 5 washing machines and 5 dryers. It's enough, I guess. They are all commercial-grade machines with very basic settings (no low, medium or high settings, sorry). For those of you unfamiliar with these workhorses, let me show you how to use them. Those who are already experts, well, you can skip this blog post.

First of, you have to buy laundry detergent at the supermarket. Make sure to get one according to the machine you are using. The machine we have is "Top-Load," so I bought Surf brand Top-Load laundry detergent. If your machine's lid is in the front, then that's a "Front-Load" washer.

A regular load usually needs just one (1) cup of detergent. If it's a large load, like full to the brim, then that needs 1 1/2 cup. Do not put too much detergent as the soap might not come off. Also, pour the detergent into the washing machine BEFORE you load the clothes.

Like I previously mentioned, dorms and apartment buildings usually use commercial-grade machines, so the settings are limited. If you have delicates (i.e. underwear, socks, etc.) I suggest you put them inside mesh bags to protect them. These laundry bags are available at the supermarket for NZ$5.00. TIP: they're cheaper at Japanese discount stores (NZ$3.00).

After putting in the detergent, you can now load your dirty clothes. I usually load the big items, like pants and towels, first.

Next, you turn the cycle selector to the desired settings. The rule I follow is this: colored clothes = COLD SPECIAL; plain whites = HOT NORMAL or WARM PERMANENT PRESS (I prefer the latter). Since this particular load is a large one, I select the * counterpart (energy saving cycle), which is for large loads.

Unfortunately, the machines in my building are not free to use. They cost NZ$3.00 per wash. I place 3 NZ$1.00 coins in the coin slots and push to start. Don't forget to close the lid!

Just in case you don't trust my laundry skills, here are the manufacturer's instructions.

One cycle usually lasts 30 minutes. After washing, transfer your clothes to the dryer. Check your clothes' label for care instructions. If it says, "DO NOT TUMBLE DRY," "LINE DRY" or "HANG TO DRY," then do not place them in the dryer! 

Remove your delicates from the laundry bag and place them inside the dryer. Laundry bags should not be used in the dryer.

After loading your clothes, close the door and turn the fabric selector to the desired settings. My machine has "Normal," "Permanent Press," "Delicate," and "No Heat" settings. I usually use PERM PRESS because that's like the medium in this machine. Not too hot, and not too wet.

Like the washer, I put 3 NZ$1.00 coins in the slot and push to start. It takes the dryer approximately 1 hour to dry your clothes. When all is done, please do not forget to remove the lint from the dryer vent. Be mindful naman of the next user. Inis na inis ako pag 'di ginagawa ito ng naunang gumamit.

Back at my flat, I hang the clothes marked "DO NOT TUMBLE DRY" on my clothes airer (Filipino: sampayan). I got mine at The Warehouse for NZ$13.00.

And that's that! Congratulations! You've cleaned your first batch of clothes here in New Zealand!

Where to Stay in Auckland

One of the first things you have to do when you get to Auckland is to look for a place to stay. If you were able to reserve with Accommodation Solutions before hand, then you're fine. But it's pretty hard to get in. All five of us Filipino scholars who enrolled at the University of Auckland failed to secure a room in the university's residence halls and apartments with Accommodation Solutions. Go figure.

If you don't have a place to stay when you get to Auckland, don't worry. The UoA international student advisor (as of 2013), Brian Lythe, will take care of you. He will book you for a temporary stay at Grafton Hall. Usually, for two weeks. Use this timeframe to secure your permanent accommodation.

Let's start with what the university provides for international post-grad students. First on the list is Grafton Hall.

Grafton Hall

I stayed in Grafton Hall for one week. It's your typical dorm building in the Philippines. Probably like Cervini in Ateneo or Ipil in UP Diliman, except Grafton is co-ed. There are twin-share or single room options. Single is always more expensive. Like any other dorm, toilets and showers are shared. The only thing different here in New Zealand is even the bathrooms are co-ed. Being Filipino I showered everyday. And it was so awkward for me to share the bathroom with females. The whole time I was there, wala akong nakasabay na lalake. Weird.

My single room in Grafton Hall.

Anyway, we're drifting out of topic. What sets Grafton apart from other dorms is it's fully catered. Which means there's a cafeteria which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. This kind of package comes with a high price tag though. A single room will cost you NZ$684 every 2 weeks (ganun sila mag-bill dito, every 2 weeks. They call it "fortnightly.") However, if you're like me, who find it easier to compute by the week, Grafton will set you back NZ$342/week.

NZ$342/week is pretty steep. It'll take a big chunk from your stipend. So unless you get a part-time job or bring some extra cash over to NZ, it's pretty hard to stay in Grafton. Another thing, this dorm is located south of the city campus. It's a bit of a walk to Arts, Business, Law and Engineering (give or take 15 minutes). Having said that, Grafton Hall is close to the med school. So if you're taking medicine or any of the allied sciences, then Grafton would be a good option for you.

Like any kind of accommodation, there are other miscellaneous fees. The security deposit is usually NZ$650, while the administration fee is NZ$100. There's also a residential services fee, but the price varies from dorm to dorm.

Now don't worry, you'll receive an establishment allowance precisely to defray these expenses.

Next on the list is International House. It is similar to Grafton as it is a fully-catered hall of residence. The good thing about this dorm is that it's closer to City Campus--only a few minutes from the Faculty of Engineering. A single room costs NZ$340/week. A bit cheaper than Grafton, but still expensive.

Then there's Parnell Student Village. This is more of a shared apartment than a dorm. It only houses 91 residents compared to over 200 in Grafton. Each apartment has 5 bedrooms. There are common kitchen and dining areas. One week is NZ$220. It's way cheap compared to Grafton, but only because it's not catered AND it's the farthest away from City Campus. It's in Parnell! You have to take public transport or ride a bike to get to your class. But, if you dig museums, cafes, upscale restaurants and shopping, then Parnell is for you.

Park Road Student Flats is another apartment-style accommodation. It is located near Grafton Hall. This is what I reserved months before the start of the sem. I wanted to stay here because each room had its own bathroom. I prefer to have my own bathroom. Weekly rent cost a reasonable NZ$240. Unfortunately, I did not get in the short list. As the apartment can only accommodate 29 students, competition for a room is fierce. 

The Royal is for postgrad students who bring their families with them. An apartment has its own kitchen, dining room, living room and bathroom. There are only 6 apartments and a one bedroom unit is NZ$288/week. It is located near Park Road Student Flats and Grafton Hall.

University Hall Apartments is a cross between Grafton Hall and Parnell Student Village. Like Grafton, it's a high-rise. But like Parnell Student Village, each floor houses an apartment shared by 5 students. Each person has his own room, and then there are shared facilities like a kitchen, a dining area and a bathroom. University Hall Apartments is located exactly behind the Faculty of Engineering, near International House. One week there costs NZ$220.

An new option for 2014 is Carlaw Park Student Village. It is the newest and biggest student accommodation of the University of Auckland. It will be home to 433 students, who can choose between two-, three- or four-bedroom apartments. It is located at the foot of Auckland Domain, and quite a walk to City Campus. No room rate yet as of this article's writing.

Unilodge

Last among UoA Student Accommodations is Unilodge, where I eventually ended up. There are two reasons why I chose to stay here. First, it is the closest to City Campus. It is 3 minutes from Law or Arts and 5 minutes from Kate Edger Information Commons. It's so convenient. Second, each studio has its own bathroom (have I mentioned that that's important to me?). They offer a deluxe studio which has its own kitchen, but is way too expensive for me. A single room was NZ$254/week, but management recently raised it. When you come it will set you back NZ$280/week.

My room with a view of Parnell and Auckland Domain.

My room came with a TV, a microwave, a mini-ref and a bathroom.

Now if none of these interest you, don't worry. There are other options. There are apartments, not under the university's supervision, that cater to college and postgrad students. One is Scholar Apartments. It is located in Mount Street, very near AUT and a five-minute walk to Kate Edger Information Commons. Scholar is also near Queen Street, particularly the Civic Centre, where the cinemas are. The building has 3-, 2-, and 1-bedroom apartments. Some of the Filipino scholars stayed here. When I inquired a studio unit was NZ$240/week. 

Another alternative is Empire Apartments. It is located in Whitaker Place, next to International House. The apartment offers 3-bedroom and studio units. Another Filipino scholar stays here with Malaysian roommates. I don't have the rates to this apartment, but I hear it is affordable (less than NZ$200/week).

Now, those are the good, clean and affordable private apartment buildings. If you can't secure a place in any of those I mentioned, there are still other options, but be warned. They are cheap alright, but not well kept. They are Princeton Apartments along Symonds Street, and Railway Campus Apartments near Beach Road. A room can go as low as NZ$130/week, which is a good deal, but don't expect much on the looks department.

But don't take my word for it. This blog post is just a primer, to introduce you to some of the accommodation options available when you get here. If you are unable to secure a room with the university, then walk around town on your first week. Visit Scholar, Empire, Princeton, Columbia, Railway, and check out the rooms yourself. If it looks fine to you and the price is right, then take it. If not, walk some more. You're bound to find something.

So, good luck. I hope this was helpful.