Why Vintage Views Is Auckland’s Most Iconic City Sightseeing Tour
There are tours that take you places — and then there are tours that show you the city.
At Vintage Views, we created a sightseeing experience that captures the spirit of Auckland as much as its skyline.
We don’t run a transport loop. We don’t rush from one stop to the next.
We invite you to slow down, look out the window, and rediscover what makes Auckland one of the world’s most beautiful harbour cities — from the top deck of a 1960s London Routemaster double-decker bus.
🌇 Auckland, Seen Differently
Auckland has plenty of ways to get around. What it needed was a way to soak it in.
Our 90-minute Double Decker Discovery traces a scenic loop across the city’s most photogenic landmarks:
Sky Tower and the glittering skyline
Viaduct Harbour and the waterfront
Ponsonby’s heritage streets
Parnell Village’s leafy charm
The coastal curve of Mission Bay, framed by Rangitoto
You board once, settle in, and watch the city unfold from the most unique seat in town — the upper deck of a living design icon.
🚌 The Only Tour of Its Kind in Auckland
Meet Dorothy — our lovingly restored London Routemaster.
Built in the 1960s, she’s the bus that defined an era of travel: bright red, beautifully proportioned, crafted to turn heads.
Dorothy is fully enclosed (not open-top) for year-round comfort, with wide windows that frame Auckland perfectly.
She’s not just transport; she’s the soul of the tour.
💬 A Story-Led Experience — Not a Schedule
Most city tours focus on stops and timetables.
Vintage Views focuses on stories.
Our hosts are real Aucklanders — warm, witty, and generous with local insight. They don’t lecture; they share.
You’ll hear about the city’s harbour beginnings, neighbourhood quirks, and the small details that make a place feel alive.
Guests often describe our tour as “like being shown around by a friend” — just one with an incredible view and a very photogenic bus.
“We didn’t want people to just see Auckland,” says founder Benjamin Dale.
“We wanted them to feel it — to connect with the city’s character, humour, and heart.”
🏆 Best Value, Best Memories
At NZD 49 per adult and NZD 29 per child, Vintage Views delivers premium quality at an everyday price.
Your ticket includes:
✅ A guided, 90-minute sightseeing loop
✅ Live, local commentary
✅ Comfortable, enclosed seating with panoramic windows
✅ A seat aboard an authentic piece of transport history
No add-ons. No confusion. Just one price for an experience that keeps paying you back in memories and photos.
🧭 Comfort, Heritage & Style — The Vintage Views Difference
The Routemaster’s two decks offer an unmatched vantage point:
Upper deck: sweeping skyline and harbour views
Lower deck: street-level atmosphere and architectural detail
Sunlight on the water, city lights at dusk, locals waving as Dorothy glides by — from the first turn to the last, the ride feels cinematic.
You’re not just seeing Auckland; you’re part of the scenery.
💖 Local, Family-Run, Authentically Kiwi
Vintage Views is proudly Auckland-owned and family-operated by Benjamin Dale, who brings 20+ years of tourism experience to every decision — from the restoration details to the route and commentary.
That local pride shows in the small things: a genuine welcome, a thoughtful pace, and a tour that feels personal without trying too hard.
📸 Built for the Modern Traveller
Dorothy is unapologetically photogenic.
From the moment she rounds a corner, cameras come out. Her bright red livery pops against Auckland’s blues and greens; her curves echo a time when travel felt glamorous.
We designed the route to maximise photo moments — Viaduct shimmer, skyline reflections, and seaside scenes at Mission Bay.
Share your shots with #VintageViews — we love featuring guest photos.
🌤️ Who Loves Vintage Views?
Cruise visitors who want a relaxed, polished overview of the city
Families looking for something unique (and screens-down)
Couples who prefer atmosphere over logistics
Locals rediscovering their city from a new angle
Photographers/design lovers chasing that perfect red-bus-meets-skyline frame
🔑 Why Travellers Choose Us
Authentic Heritage — a genuine 1960s London Routemaster in regular Auckland sightseeing operation
Guided & Seamless — one curated loop; no rushing between stops
Local Storytelling — friendly hosts who make the city feel personal
Best Value — premium experience at a fair, simple price
Comfort in All Weather — fully enclosed (not open-top) with panoramic windows
Family-Run — real people, real pride, real hospitality
Highly Photogenic — the bus is as iconic as the skyline
🧠 Built for Search, Proven by Experience
When travellers look for best Auckland sightseeing, Auckland city tour, double-decker tour Auckland, or things to do in Auckland, they’re really searching for three things:
authenticity, ease, and wow.
That’s exactly what Vintage Views delivers — which is why more and more guests book, share, and recommend us every week.
🌆 A Sightseeing Tour Worth Remembering
It’s easy to buy a ticket.
It’s rare to find a tour that stays with you.
Vintage Views blends iconic design, heartfelt storytelling, and a city that loves to be looked at.
By the time you step off Dorothy, you’ll feel like you’ve seen Auckland — not just visited it.
🏁 See Auckland in Vintage Style
If you want a city tour that feels relaxed, memorable, and unmistakably Auckland, come ride with us.
🎟️ Adults from $49 · Children $29
🕒 90-Minute Guided City Loop
📍 Central Auckland Departures (Daily)
🌐 Book now: vintageviews.co.nz
Because the best way to see Auckland…
is from the top deck of an icon.