Did you know that Auckland's city centre used to be a beach? That's right, Fore Street (now Fort Street) was once the coastline until the city reclaimed land from the sea and built Quay Street in the late 1800s.

This transformed the waterfront into a bustling hub of trade and transport, with ships, trains and carts delivering goods to and from the warehouses, factories and offices of some of Auckland's most prominent businesses.

The city centre flourished in the 1870s and 1880s thanks to a boom in industry and commerce. It suffered a downturn during the Depression, but bounced back in the early 1900s when the Auckland Harbour Board upgraded the wharves and built the majestic Ferry Building on Quay Street.

The eastern part of the city was the heart of shipping and commerce and a lively and noisy place, with trains running along Quay Street alongside cars and pedestrians until the 1970s.

Today you can still see many of the historic buildings that give the area its distinctive charm. They contrast with the modern skyscrapers that tower over the western part of the city, which was redeveloped in the 1960s and 70s.

Join us on this tour to explore the fascinating history and architecture of Auckland's city centre.

This tour is based on/includes data from Auckland Council.