Located on New Zealand's North Island, Auckland has a population of around 1.5 million. The University of Auckland was established in 1883, and the metro area is rife with arts, culture, history, and gustatorial opportunities. 

Do you remember reading those choose your own adventure books, when you were growing up? I couldn't get enough of them, and would re-read them until they fell apart, finding new paths to a satisfying (or not) ending. I recently read and was inspired by a new travel guide to Auckland, New Zealand, by a friend and fellow travel writer, Rhonda Albom. Rhonda has written one of the best guidebooks I've ever read - and let me tell you why. This book? It's the SAME concept - but with travel!

Today Bob and I stepped ashore in Auckland, a city of 1,400,000 residents, the most populous city in New Zealand, and the country’s largest industrial and commercial center.