Auckland’s Most Iconic Sightseeing Experience: Why the Double Decker Discovery Tour Is the City’s Premier Hop-On Hop-Off Alternative
Auckland is a city defined by its volcanic peaks, sparkling harbours, coastal roads, creative districts, and rich cultural history. With so much to see, choosing the right tour can make the difference between simply visiting Auckland—and truly experiencing it.
The Double Decker Discovery Tour by Vintage Views has quickly become Auckland’s favourite sightseeing experience, celebrated for its comfort, beauty, heritage charm, and unbeatable top-deck views.
Unlike traditional Hop-On Hop-Off buses, Vintage Views offers a curated, story-driven journey aboard a beautifully restored 1960s London Routemaster. This tour isn’t just transport—it’s a premium experience designed for visitors, families, cruise passengers, and Auckland locals who want a deeper, more iconic way to see the city.
Join us for an unforgettable scenic loop that brings Auckland’s history, landscapes, waterfront and neighbourhoods to life from the best seat in the city.
What Makes Vintage Views Different?
An Authentic 1960s London Routemaster Bus
The Vintage Views fleet is centred around one of the world’s most beloved and recognisable vehicles—the classic red Routemaster, an icon of 1960s London. Fully restored and operating in peak condition, it turns every tour into a special event.
This isn’t a themed bus. It isn’t a replica. It is the authentic experience, offering:
Photogenic charm and heritage beauty
Unmatched retro styling
A spacious, airy upper deck
A vehicle that becomes part of the sightseeing experience itself
Guests don’t just see Auckland—they feel like they’ve stepped into a vintage postcard.
Premium Sightseeing, Not Public Transport
Many Hop-On Hop-Off bus services operate more like city shuttles with commentary.
Vintage Views was built for a different purpose: to elevate sightseeing into a premium guided experience.
You won’t be rushing between stops. You won’t be standing in queues. You won’t be navigating complex loops.
Instead, you’ll be immersed in 90 minutes of carefully curated scenic touring—crafted to showcase Auckland’s most beautiful and significant locations.
Locally Owned & Family Operated
Vintage Views is proudly Auckland-based, founded and operated by locals who know the city intimately.
Our commentary, route design and guest interactions reflect genuine local knowledge, not scripted corporate narration.
Unbeatable Top-Deck Views
The Routemaster’s elevated open-top-style seating (fully enclosed for comfort) provides sweeping panoramas that ordinary coaches simply cannot match. Every seat offers a clear view, making it a dream experience for photographers, families and visitors seeing Auckland for the first time.
A Route Chosen for Beauty, Not Just Logistics
Hop-On Hop-Off services prioritise stops and efficiency.
Vintage Views prioritises scenic beauty, storytelling and connection.
The Double Decker Discovery route was designed to feature the city’s most iconic waterfronts, volcanic views, architecture and neighbourhoods—all experienced in one seamless loop.
Your Double Decker Discovery Journey
Climb aboard in Auckland’s CBD and relax as the city unfolds around you. This tour blends heritage, panoramic views and engaging storytelling in a way no other sightseeing experience can match.
CBD & Queen Street
Your journey begins on one of Auckland’s most historic and energetic streets. From the moment the Routemaster arrives, you’ll see heads turn—locals and visitors alike can’t resist photographing this beautiful piece of history.
Viaduct Harbour & Wynyard Quarter
Cruise through Auckland’s premier waterfront precinct with views of:
Luxury yachts
The Maritime Museum
Contemporary architecture
Harbourside restaurants and sculptures
From the upper deck, the Viaduct looks spectacular—an open-air amphitheatre of boats, boardwalks, and waterfront life.
Parnell: Historic Urban Charm
Continue through Parnell, Auckland’s oldest suburb and one of its most elegant.
See:
Century-old villas
Boutique shops
Historic churches
Lush tree-lined streets
Your commentary reveals the suburb’s colonial past, architectural evolution and significant role in Auckland’s social history.
Tamaki Drive & Mission Bay
One of the most scenic coastal roads in New Zealand, Tamaki Drive is the highlight of the tour.
From the top deck you’ll enjoy uninterrupted views of:
Rangitoto Island
Waitematā Harbour
Waterfront beaches
Sparkling blue bays
Kitesurfers, paddleboarders and local wildlife
Mission Bay, with its golden beach and lively promenade, delivers postcard-perfect scenery and some of the best photo opportunities of the entire tour.
Parnell Rise & Newmarket (Scenic Transit)
As the bus loops back toward the city, you’ll travel through the foothills of Auckland Domain, past art galleries, leafy avenues, and glimpses of the Auckland Museum’s grand architecture.
Ponsonby: Culture, Colour & Character
Next stop: Ponsonby—Auckland’s trendiest suburb, known for its blend of heritage villas and modern retail energy.
From the double decker you’ll see:
Painted Victorian terraces
Landmark cafés and restaurants
Creative boutiques and galleries
A lively community with a distinct personality
Ponsonby is the perfect contrast to the coastal calm of Mission Bay, showcasing Auckland’s cultural diversity and character.
Auckland Harbour Bridge Crossing
This is the moment that makes passengers gasp.
Crossing the Harbour Bridge on the top deck of a Vintage Views Routemaster is a feeling like no other—you rise above the road, surrounded by open views on all sides.
See:
Auckland CBD from a new angle
Sky Tower framed by the harbour
Westhaven Marina
Northern coastline
Sparkling blue water beneath you
No hop-on hop-off bus offers this experience at this height, with this level of visibility. It is, for many guests, the unforgettable highlight of the entire journey.
Who the Tour Is Perfect For
Cruise Ship Visitors
Short on time? This tour delivers Auckland’s essential highlights in one scenic, comfortable, fully guided loop.
No transfers. No waiting. No navigating.
Just premium sightseeing at its best.
Families
Children love riding on an authentic double decker; parents love how easy, safe and enjoyable the experience is.
Couples & Friends
A charming, memorable way to explore the city together.
Locals Exploring Their Own City
Rediscover Auckland from a perspective most residents never see—elevated, slow-paced and beautifully framed.
Photography & Social Media Creators
The tour serves non-stop photo opportunities. Every corner of Auckland looks incredible from the top deck.
Vintage Views vs Hop-On Hop-Off: What’s the Difference?
Both options allow you to see Auckland, but the experiences are completely different.
Hop-On Hop-Off
Works like a transport loop
Multiple stops
Functional
Larger crowds
Focused on efficiency
Standard modern tour buses
Vintage Views
Scenic guided experience
Premium heritage vehicle
Small-group feel
Carefully curated storytelling
Designed for beauty, not logistics
Elevated views and incredible photo angles
A tour that is itself a major attraction
If you want convenience and multiple stops, Hop-On Hop-Off is fine.
But if you want Auckland’s most iconic, beautiful and memorable sightseeing experience, Vintage Views stands alone.
A Note on Our Evening Experience: The Great British Pub Crawl
While our sightseeing focus is the Double Decker Discovery Tour, Vintage Views also offers Auckland’s most unique night out—the Great British Pub Crawl, a lively, guided journey through historic and classic pubs aboard the Routemaster.
It’s not the focus of this article, but it adds to the depth and range of experiences Vintage Views offers across Auckland.
Why Vintage Views Is Redefining Sightseeing in Auckland
The Double Decker Discovery Tour brings together everything modern travellers want:
Authentic local storytelling
Heritage charm
Sustainable sightseeing (reuse, preserve, elevate)
Comfort and ease
Photogenic beauty
A unique, limited-capacity experience
A family-owned connection to the city
A perspective that no other vehicle can provide
Auckland has many tours.
But only one offers the perfect blend of history, beauty, elevation, authenticity and charm.
This is sightseeing done properly—slow enough to appreciate, beautiful enough to remember, and iconic enough to become a highlight of your entire trip.
Come aboard, take your seat on the top deck, and discover Auckland the way it was meant to be seen.