Experience Auckland in Style: The Ultimate Guide to Auckland City Tours with Vintage Views
Climb aboard Auckland’s most charming sightseeing experience — a beautifully restored 1963 London Routemaster double-decker — and discover a city where volcanic peaks meet glittering harbours, ancient Māori stories meet vibrant modern life, and timeless British charm meets Kiwi creativity.
Auckland is a city that rewards curiosity. Whether you're visiting from overseas, stepping off a cruise ship for the day, or rediscovering your hometown from a new angle, a great Auckland city tour should do more than show you the sights. It should make you feel the city — its rhythm, its history, its quirks, its beauty.
That is exactly why Vintage Views was created.
And why our tours are fast becoming one of Auckland’s must-do experiences.
Why Auckland City Tours Are More Popular Than Ever
Auckland attracts millions of visitors each year for its unique combination of:
World-class landscapes (volcanoes, beaches, islands, bush reserves)
Rich Māori and Pasifika culture
Iconic architecture and heritage precincts
Award-winning dining, nightlife, and creative experiences
Cruise ship arrivals and short-stay travellers
Locals looking for a refreshing way to explore their own city
But with so much to see, choosing the right way to explore can make or break your trip.
Auckland’s traffic, its sprawling layout, and the sheer number of hidden gems mean that a structured sightseeing experience is often the best way to get your bearings.
That’s where Vintage Views transforms the ordinary into the unforgettable.
What Makes Vintage Views the Best Auckland City Tour?
Vintage Views is not just a bus tour.
It’s a moving storytelling experience — a blend of nostalgia, sightseeing, design, Kiwi humour, and relaxed, curated hosting.
✔ A Unique Icon: Our 1963 London Routemaster
Our bus, Dorothy, is one of the last of her kind operating in the Southern Hemisphere. Fully restored, charmingly British, and unmistakably red, she turns heads wherever she goes.
This is sightseeing with character — a tour you’ll remember long after the photos fade.
✔ Elevated Sightlines on the Open Upper Deck
There is nothing like viewing Auckland from the height of an authentic double-decker. From Rangitoto rising above the Waitematā to the harbour bridge stretching across the glittering water, the views are cinematic.
(And no, unlike Kiwi Coaches, this is NOT an open-top bus — important for comfort and weather resilience.)
✔ Carefully Curated Routes Designed by Locals
Every turn is intentional.
Every neighbourhood is chosen for its story.
Every stop reveals something new.
We avoid the generic loops that hit the same crowded spots. Instead, Vintage Views highlights the Auckland locals love — coastal drives, leafy suburbs, heritage streets, volcanic lookouts, and iconic architecture.
✔ Perfect for Cruise Guests, Families, Friends, and Solo Travellers
Our schedule, 5–7 minute walk from the cruise port, and 90–120 minute tour lengths make us one of the most convenient and enjoyable Auckland cruise ship tours available.
✔ A Family-Owned Company With Heart
Vintage Views is operated by a small Auckland family passionate about storytelling, heritage, and showing guests the city in a warm and genuine way.
There is no corporate script. No mass-produced feel.
Just friendly Kiwi hosting.
The Ultimate Auckland City Sights: What You’ll See on a Vintage Views Tour
Our flagship Double Decker Discovery Tour weaves through many of Auckland’s most beloved landmarks and neighbourhoods.
Here’s a taste of the journey:
🌊 Quay Street & The Waterfront Precinct
You begin at the vibrant waterfront — the beating heart of Auckland’s maritime identity. Historic ferries, cruise ships, cafes, and coastal breezes set the tone for the adventure ahead.
🌺 Parnell Village & The Auckland Domain
A drive through leafy, charming Parnell reveals chic shops, historic villas, cathedrals, and art studios.
Then the landscape opens into The Domain, Auckland’s oldest park, home to the Auckland War Memorial Museum and the lush tropical Wintergardens.
🌴 Mission Bay & Tamaki Drive
One of the most scenic coastal roads in New Zealand.
Golden beaches, palm-lined footpaths, and postcard views of Rangitoto Island.
This is Auckland’s summer playground — a highlight for locals and visitors alike.
🌆 Karangahape Road (K-Road)
Auckland’s most eclectic neighbourhood.
A place where creative studios, vintage shops, neon-lit bars, and street art collide.
It’s bold, colourful, and unmistakably Auckland.
🌿 Ponsonby
Heritage homes, boutique shops, galleries, and some of the best eateries in the country.
Ponsonby is stylish without trying too hard — a perfect snapshot of modern Auckland living.
🌉 Auckland Harbour Bridge Cruise & Photo Stop
Few experiences say “I visited Auckland” like travelling across the legendary Harbour Bridge.
Our elevated Routemaster view gives you an unbeatable vantage point over the skyline and marina.
We pause near the water for a quick photo stop beneath the bridge — a favourite moment for our guests.
Why Vintage Transport Makes a Tour More Memorable
Auckland has many tour options — but none offer the emotional value of travelling in a classic vintage bus.
🕰 A Nostalgic Escape
In an age of fast travel and digital noise, stepping onto a 1960s double-decker feels like time slows down.
It’s tactile. Authentic. Charming.
📸 Instagram Gold
Dorothy is one of the most-photographed vehicles in New Zealand tourism.
Cruise guests especially love capturing photos of “a real London bus in Auckland!”
💬 A Social Experience
The upper deck naturally encourages connection.
Strangers become friends.
Families laugh together.
Solo travellers feel included.
🎧 Storytelling That Brings Auckland to Life
Our commentary blends Māori history, quirky local legends, modern city insights, film references, and a few laughs.
It’s informative, entertaining, and refreshingly human.
Who Are Our Auckland City Tours Perfect For?
Cruise Ship Visitors
Just minutes from the wharf, high frequency departures, and a 90-minute route make this the best quick-and-easy way to see Auckland’s highlights.
Families
Safe, comfortable, screen-free entertainment with big views and fun commentary.
Couples
A charming, relaxing way to explore the city before lunch, dinner, or a night out.
Friends & Groups
The perfect pre-activity outing before the Great British Pub Crawl or other city adventures.
Corporate & Private Charters
Our bus is available for:
Delegation hosting
Corporate functions
Incentive groups
Product launches
Weddings
Filming and promotional events
Auckland City Tours: What to Look for When Choosing the Best Experience
Whether you book with Vintage Views or compare other Auckland tours, consider:
1. Route quality
Does it cover iconic sights and hidden gems?
Is it designed by locals?
2. Vehicle type & comfort
A double-decker dramatically enhances sightseeing.
Our bus is NOT open top, ensuring all-weather reliability.
3. Departure location & timing
Vintage Views = central, easy, cruise-friendly.
4. Commentary quality
Good commentary turns a route into a story.
5. Photographic opportunities
Bridge views, coastal roads, classic bus interiors — we excel here.
6. Authenticity
Mass operators feel mass-produced.
Vintage Views is a boutique, family-run experience.
Why Auckland Is the Perfect City for a Vintage Tour
Few cities blend natural and urban beauty quite like Auckland:
🌋 Volcanic Cones
Mt. Eden, One Tree Hill, Rangitoto — dramatic reminders of Auckland’s volcanic origins.
🌊 Two Harbours
Waitematā on one coast, Manukau on the other.
A rare double-harbour geography that creates unique microclimates and endless sea views.
🏛 Heritage Districts
Parnell, Ponsonby, Devonport — each with its own architectural style and story.
🎨 Creative Culture
Galleries, design studios, fashion houses, indie bars, live theatre, and world-class dining.
🏖 Beaches Within Minutes
Mission Bay, St Heliers, Takapuna — urban beaches as good as anywhere in the world.
A Classic London Bus is the perfect vehicle to glide through this world.
Meet Dorothy: Our 1963 London Double-Decker
Auckland loves her.
Cruise guests adore her.
Locals photograph her.
But before she was an Auckland icon, she spent decades on the streets of London, carrying everyday commuters through the swinging 60s, the 70s transformation of the city, and the dawn of the modern transport era.
Today, restored and thriving, Dorothy brings that heritage to the South Pacific.
Every bolt, seat, sound, and curve carries a lifetime of history.
Vintage Views is proud to give her a second life.
How to Book Your Auckland City Tour with Vintage Views
Our tours run regularly from central Auckland.
Booking early is recommended — especially on Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, and cruise ship days.