Editorial: Like Lonely Planet, we love Auckland - we can't wait for it to reopen

A Google mapper takes in the view of Auckland city from Rangitoto Island. Photo / Google, File

EDITORIAL

So, Auckland is the number one city to visit in 2022, according to publishers of the Lonely Planet guide.

"Auckland doesn't necessarily realise what it has," the publisher's trade sale and marketing senior director Chris  Zeiher says.

Perhaps Zeiher also doesn't realise what Auckland has; Tāmaki Makaurau having been closed to tourists for 600 days and in hard lockdown for 70-something.

It's probably no coincidence the attractions Zeiher cites are a day at Piha, spotting takahē on Tiritiri Matangi, strolling the Auckland Domain and the Auckland Art Gallery, or taking in the city views from Rangitoto. A fly-in, fly-out day trip to these spots would be lovely, but three of the four are hardly "in" Auckland itself.

As for the view from Rangitoto, what city doesn't look better from 10km away? In Auckland's case, one wouldn't be able to see what has been done to Queen St since this pandemic began. An outdated Google Streetview of the area is no help, the main drag appears spruce and sprightly, with next to no orange cones.

Reality on the ground is different. Increasingly, shops are boarded up and the entrances which once welcomed customers with the cheery ring of a door chime are now occupied by homeless people.

Sure, the natural landscape of the wider region is largely unchanged but the best parks are closed to stem the march of Kauri dieback. Public amenities are also shut to discourage close contact spreading Covid.

The only entity keener to get out of Auckland than Aucklanders right now seems to be Covid-19, having made damaging trips to the Waikato and Canterbury recently.

However, it does appear some Kiwis stranded in Australia agree with the Lonely Planet ranking. These are the ones sailing across the Tasman Sea aboard small boats with seasick strangers in desperate bids for home, saying the notoriously perilous journey is easier than the country's fraught border system.

Yes, distance does make the heart grow fonder. After 10 weeks in lockdown, most Aucklanders would be happy to get some distance from their homes. Then they will see what Lonely Planet is on about. We love Auckland - we can't wait for it to reopen.