Mangalore to Auckland Flights

  About Mangalore

Nestled amid the lap of the Western Ghats on one side and the Arabian Sea on the other, is this quaint paradisiacal city, Mangalore. It is the chief port city of the state of Karnataka and an important contributor to the economy as well as cultural heritage.

Best time to visit Mangalore

Mangalore's charming weather continues to stay between September and April, making it the best months to visit the coastal city. The humidity is minimal, and the temperature barely crosses beyond 30 degree Celsius, making it ideal for travellers. Summers do get too hot to handle as the humidity in the air soars. The monsoon is also quite unfavourable owing to the excessive rainfall that the city experiences. Perhaps skip the months July and August too. It is noted that the flight tickets to Mangalore drop during the off-season, which makes it convenient for travellers to visit the city.

Places to visit in Mangalore

Panambur Beach

The coastal city of Mangalore has a plethora of beaches to check out. However, the one that manages to stand out is the Panambur beach. In a popularity race among all the beaches in Mangalore, Panambur certainly takes the cake. Annually, the beach organises an International Kite Festival which witnesses a throng of participants and audience. There are other competitions like boat race, sculpture making contests and more.

Kudroli Gokarnath Temple

The Gokarnath Temple, also known as the Gokarnatheshwara Temple, has been built to honour Lord Shiva. With Dravidian-style architecture and gorgeous golden Gopurams, the temple's beauty is worth mentioning. Devotees often come here to seek blessings of Lord Shiva, who is known for his kind heart. By evening, the temple lights up the premise with yellow lights, adding to the aesthetic beauty of the structure.

Bejai Museum

A trip to explore a city is incomplete without a visit to the museum. At the Bejai Museum, you will be amazed by the collection of artefacts, weapons, coins and basically historical paintings and sculptures that depict the history of the city. The museum came into existence in 1955 and was founded by Col. VR Mirajkar. The city's museum is certainly an interesting trip that you should take up.

St. Aloysius Chapel

One of the main tourist attractions in Mangalore is the stunning white St Aloysius Chapel. People of faith visit the church to seek blessings while some who are marvelled by the pristine architecture take a tour of the church complex. Either way, the best part about the church is the setting and ambience. St Aloysius faces the sea, which brings forth a scenic backdrop. There are some lovely paintings within the church too that have been painted by Antonio Moscheni, an Italian artist.

Ullal Beach

While the Panambur beach's fame could attract far too many tourists, the Ullal beach would be able to give you the peace and tranquillity you've been looking for. The exquisite coast of the beach lined with palm trees is a scenic bliss that would stay in your memory. Although the beach is a few kilometres away from the main city, the calm and quiet ambience certainly makes all the travelling worth it.

Kadri Manjunatha Temple

The city does have a handful of temples and religious institutions. The Kadri Manjunatha Temple is more than ten centuries old and has been constructed in a classic Vijaynagari style. It's intriguing to note that there is some Buddhist-influenced architecture too that can be found in the temple premise.

Sultan Batthery

You will come across this suggestion to visit Sultan Batthery when you visit Mangalore. It is one of the most fascinating locations and has an interesting story too. The watchtower was constructed by Mysore prince Tipu Sultan to keep an eye on the ships that would possibly arrive to invade the city.

Things to do in Mangalore

Surfing

Mangalore has some enthusiastic water sports organisers who conduct activities like snorkelling, surfing and more. They are certainly making the most of their coasts by indulging in water activities. You can also do the same.

Indulge in Konkani-Mangalorean cuisine

Mangalore's food scene is simply top-notch. The variety of cuisine or the dishes from their own Konkani-Mangalorean roots is beyond amazing. You will be thrilled by the tastes and flavours the food has to offer. From Gajali's lip-smacking seafood to gadbad ice cream, the streets of Mangalore city are waiting for you to splurge on their cuisine!

Spindrift

Mangalore's very own brewery, Spindrift is one such place that you would totally enjoy if quaint setting with mindful music is your scene. It is the city's first brewery and enjoys an excellent reputation for amazing drinks and great food. Spindrift would easily be considered one of the best places in the city to unwind and relax.

A day at the Pilikula Nisargadhama

Pilikula Nisargadhama is a melange of educational entertainment which works for kids and adults. The vast complex has a zoo, an amusement park, a massive golf course, a heritage village and even a planetarium! You can use an entire day to explore the park and enjoy what they have to offer.

Food and Restaurants in Mangalore

As a coastal city, the staple food of Mangalore is undoubtedly seafood. However, as a city with multitudes of religious amalgam, the Mangalorean cuisine is also quite intriguing with the spice being the centre of attention. You can indulge in the lip-smacking Konkani-styled fish thali followed by the famous Gadbad ice cream during your trip to Mangalore. Mangalorean and Konkani seafood isn't the only thing that will keep you busy. There are some famous joints which also emulate the famous Goan dishes such as vindaloo, pork and more. Plus, eventually, as a South Indian city, there is bound to be the classic idli, vada, sambar cuisine that many adore.

To get the best of Konkani Mangalorean food, head straight to the New Taj Mahal Cafe, Machali Restaurant, Mangala Restaurant and Gajalee. Sagar Ratna is a famous chain of restaurants that you can find in the city. Indulge in some delicious Udupi cuisine with ragi dosas and neer dosas while sipping a glass of kaapi. Speaking of which, you should definitely visit Hotel Karthik for the exceptional filter kaapi with tuppa dosa. It would be a crime to leave the city without tasting the popular Gadbad ice cream at Pabba's Ice Cream Shop.

How to reach Mangalore (Transportation)

By Air

Mangalore International Airport is perched upon a hilltop and is 15 km away from the city centre. The airport witnesses numerous flights coming in and out from within India and overseas. Flights for Mangalore are aplenty, and it is the second busiest airport in Karnataka. Flight connectivity from Mangalore to cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Coimbatore and Hubli are impeccable. Various domestic airlines such as Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo and SpiceJet have dedicated flights to Mangalore that fly daily. The domestic and international routes of Mangalore does witness air traffic as flights are coming in from within India as well as abroad.

Mangalore along with Lengpui and Kozhikode are the only three airports in India that have tabletop runways. For travellers, this would be quite the visual spectacle to see the flight land on a mountain plateau. The old terminal of Mangalore is used for direct international flights to Madinah in Saudi Arabia and is mainly reserved for pilgrims who undertake to go to Hajj. There are international routes from Mangalore connecting flights to Dubai as well. The flight connectivity from Mangalore to Middle Eastern countries as well as domestic cities is exemplary and hence, makes it one of the busiest airports. There are bus shuttle services from the airport to the main city. You can also take taxi cab services to reach the main city.

By Rail

The city also has a dedicated main railway station called the Mangalore Junction Railway Station. The railway is brilliantly connected with various cities such as Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Karwar, Delhi, Pune and more. There are express trains as well as mails. Due to the heavy demand that Mangalore-bound trains have, it is best to book tickets to the city in advance. You can also book a hotel ahead of your visit to Mangalore. Since the railway station is located within the city, transit around the main area of Mangalore is convenient. You can simply get a rickshaw or bus to take you around the city.

By Road

There are direct buses from various cities such as Mumbai, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Kochi, Ooty, Coimbatore, to name a few, that travel to Mangalore. Most of them are private-owned buses with AC and Non-AC Volvo options for the passenger to pick. You can even opt for sleeper or seater buses depending on which one is comfortable for you. The travelling time to Mangalore by bus is slightly high as it is in a corner. However, as long as you opt for a ride that falls in your schedule, you can reach without any hassle. Plus, the bus halts at various junctions within the city, so it is very convenient to the passenger.

  About Auckland

New Zealand's most populous city, Auckland, is known to be one of the best cities to visit for a cheap winter vacation. Auckland is a cosmopolitan city that houses multitudes of races and cultures. Not to mention how it is also the abode to the largest Polynesian population in the globe. The city was once a British colony and hence, continues to have some Victorian influence in their lifestyle as well as architecture. The city is known to be one of the most overpriced cities in the world. Yet, thanks to the humble crowd and beautiful landscapes, it easily becomes one of the best places to settle in. The city is vibrant with music and food festivals that take place in spring and autumn, respectively.

Booking flight tickets to Auckland well in advance would be favourable for you. Since the city will be an expensive rendezvous, by striking good flight deals to Auckland, you will be able to enjoy the city's spirit. Not to mention, booking hotels in Auckland much before the date of arrival is also essential. That way, you might be able to get some cheap deals on accommodation as well.

Best time to visit Auckland

The start of autumn in Auckland are pleasant with the temperatures ranging between 10 degree Celsius to 22 degree Celsius which makes it ideal for tourists to engage in outdoor activities. It is easily the best time to indulge in adventure sports such as zip-lining, hiking and exploring the city's green expanses. The months from March to May, which is basically the autumn season, witnesses the most charming weather. Aside from indulging in outdoor activities, travellers mostly root for various festivals that are held around the city. The months are ideal for budget-travellers. In fact, booking a hotel in Auckland during this season is also quite affordable. Patrons of art and culture festivals would have the time of their life during their visit to Auckland in autumn, courtesy all the festive vibe of the place.

September to November is also known to be ideal for a trip to Auckland. These months experience spring season with the cold winters melting away to welcome the summers. Spring is basically the onset of summer and touted to be one of the best seasons for Auckland. Interestingly, since it prepares the city for summers, the weather is charming and the vibe friendly. Although the temperatures are normally on the lower side of the thermometer, you will still enjoy the cold breeze and the occasional showers. During spring, the locals unite to ring in a food festival where there are dozens of delicious dishes that are Auckland-special.

Not only will you experience astounding flavours mixing together but will also enjoy the festive mood that takes over. Flights to Auckland during this time see a tremendous spike as it is the best time to travel. In fact, months from September to February are ideal for travellers who arrive from tropical cities. The summers would also feel like winter. Booking hotel rooms in Auckland during the spring or even summer season would be quite pricey. Unless you have some good saved up miles or savings in general, travelling here during peak season would burn a hole in your pocket.

Summers are perfect in Auckland as the sun is bright while the atmosphere is cool. People traversing from countries with hot climates would find the summers amiable and cool enough. However, summers also bring a plethora of adventure junkies and abundant tourists. No wonder the accommodation prices in Auckland during these months spike up. But if you manage to place in advance, you might be able to snag some cheap flight deals to Auckland and on hotel room prices.

Places to visit in Auckland

One of the biggest attractions in New Zealand has got to be the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. It is a natural wonder located a little away from Auckland but hosts illuminating glowworms that rest easy on the cave ceiling of Waitomo. The exquisite blue lights that they illuminate is scintillating. You can use either a kayak in the cave, or you can book a boat ride to visit the caves. The Auckland Zoo is located approximately 6 km away from the main city. The huge animal sanctuary is sprawled across a vast expanse of green lands which is known to host the largest population of exotic as well as native animals in all of New Zealand.

Many people are not well aware of the history and culture of New Zealand. Having been down under, the country is still a fresh new chapter that needs to be explored for many enthusiasts. With a view to educating tourists about the Maori people and their illustrious history, the city maintains an Auckland War Memorial Museum. The museum sheds light on the militia history of the country as well as venerates the martyrs. Auckland's fame majorly comes from two tourist attractions, the Hobbiton movie set and Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Although the movie set is located about 177 km away from the main city, the set is a must-visit for all The Lord Of the Rings and The Hobbit movie franchise fans. The lush green spread is too beautiful for words, as is the movie-set experience. Another top attraction of Auckland is the famed Mount Eden, known for its dormant volcano.

Things to do in Auckland

Much like the famous Central Park in New York, the Cornwall Park of Auckland holds the same stature in the country. The park literally sits on a volcanic cone with extensive greenery and dense forests. As you walk around the park, you will find relics of the Maori fort and even the remains of the park's donor, Sir John Logan Campbell. The Waitakere Ranges Regional Park beckons travel and adventure junkies who simply want to unwind by taking up some fun activity. The regional park is sprawled across 40,000 acres of beaches and forests, making it quite an attractive site. The place also accommodates bird-watching, hiking, strolling, biking and taking a swim in the water. Just a day here would put you in a comfortable space. Be it the foodie in you or the adventure seeker, Waiheke island is the ideal spot for you if the water is what you seek.

Devonport is an important harbour in the suburbs of Auckland. The port offers a stunning view of the city and is perfect for photography. You can carry your cameras with you and start clicking away postcard-worthy memories. Aside from all the photography, you can also take a stroll around the harbour and relish the lovely colonial architecture as well as amazing wine and dine options. When in Auckland, you should definitely indulge in some wine tasting and tours of the vineyard. The idea of meeting new people during the wine tour while you sip on exquisite wine sure sounds like a good plan, right? Plus, the vast expanses of the vineyard would undoubtedly intrigue you.

Food and restaurants in Auckland

Auckland's cuisine is all about fresh kiwi and appetising seafood. Some of the signature dishes include hokey pokey, Pavlova, bluff oysters, green-lipped mussels and the all-time favourite, fish and chips. To get the best of these dishes though, here are some restaurants that you should check out during your trip to Auckland. One Tree Grill restaurant and Kazuya Restaurant appeal to a few travellers who are all about experimenting. Whereas the other famous kitchens include Ela Cuisine, Azabu, Best Ugly Bagels, The Sugar Club, Depot Eatery and Oster Bar.

How to reach Auckland

By Air

Auckland Airport is one of the busiest airports in New Zealand. The airport has domestic as well as international flights flying to and from Auckland. Dedicated international flights to Auckland are not present from India yet. You will have to take multitudes of connecting flights to reach the city in New Zealand. There are international routes connecting Auckland to India via cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai. Airlines such as Thai Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines are known to have frequent flights to Auckland from India. However, they are not directly connected so you will probably have to change flights from Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, depending on which airlines or international route to Auckland you pick.

Singapore Airlines' flights to Auckland from Mumbai are recognised as the fastest route as it takes roughly 16 hours to reach. Meanwhile, cities such as Delhi and Chennai see slight differences in the flight duration. Flight connectivity to Auckland is quite decent from India and favourable to travellers as there are options of airlines to choose from. Flight tickets to Auckland vary depending on the city you choose to travel from.

By Water

Travelling across continents and covering oceans in the process is not a viable option to reach Auckland from India. The international route to Auckland from India via water would take approximately 30 to 35 days. Unless you're going on an expedition where you boycott flying and opt to use cheaper and time-consuming modes of transport, cruises work for you. Even then, the connectivity to Auckland from India is not available via sea. Flights to Auckland from India are your best bet. Plus, depending on the season you choose or how you make use of your miles, you might be able to acquire great flight deals to Auckland. Perhaps even cheap and affordable tickets to Auckland? Travelling by air is comparatively safer and quicker, so look no further.

  About Mangalore Airport

Mangalore International Airport serves as the second international airport in the state of Karnataka, aside from the Kempegowda International Airport of Bangalore. It is the second busiest airport in the state and serves to the coastal city of Mangalore in Karnataka. The Mangalore International Airport serves to domestic destinations as well as major Middle Eastern cities. The airport opened back in 1951 and was named as Bajpe Aerodrome. The former Prime Minister of Jawaharlal Nehru arrived at the Mangalore International Airport on a Douglas DC-3 aircraft. Located about 13 km away from the city centre of Mangalore, it is perched up a hilltop near Bajpe. The airport one of the three airports in India with a tabletop runway. Besides Mangalore, Calicut International Airport and Lengpui Airport are the only ones who have a tabletop runway. In 2012, the airport received its international stature after successful operations of Air India Express to and from Dubai. The Mangalore International Airport is known to charter flights for the Hajj pilgrims as well. The connectivity has been enhanced with flight services to major Middle Eastern cities, including Jeddah, Riyadh and more.

About Mangalore Airport Terminals

Mangalore International Airport has two runways and a single passenger terminal. However, for flights reserved for Hajj pilgrimage, the old terminal has been reserved. The terminal has recorded to be one of the biggest in the would accommodate about 34 million passengers in a year. The terminal has a ground level for arrivals as well as a first-level dedicated to departures. The terminal has the capacity to operate 26 domestic flights and about 52 international flights every week. An air traffic control tower has also been installed at the Mangalore International Airport. The first runway is made up of concrete. The second one is about 8,038 ft long and has acquired a taxiway that is parallel to the new runway. A route to connect the new terminal from the city has also been brought forth. This actually reduces the distance between the city centre and the airport by close to 8 km. An automated air traffic management system has also been incorporated at the airport that replaces the older inefficient system. The new system helps in providing flight safety, has direction finders and has perfect air-ground-data link alerts. This has been acquired to reduce the possibility of accidents on the runway.

About airport authority

Mangalore International Airport is owned and operated by the Airports Authority of India as well as Adani Group. Initially, the airport was owned and operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). However, much later, the project bid was acknowledged and won by Adani Group. Several projects to increase the passenger volume and construction of new passenger terminal have been in the works. The two parties are also working on the expansion of the Mangalore International Airport to enable safer means of landing and passenger accommodation. The airport does have a bad reputation for being one of the most unsafe airports in the country. This is due to multiple accidents that have happened at the runway. This includes the infamous 2010 accident of Air India Express Flight 812, Boeing 737-800. The flight en route Dubai-Mangalore succumbed to a runway mishap which resulted in the death of about 158 people with only eight survivors. The accident resulted in the delay of expansion plans as newer proposals were asked to be submitted to avoid more possible casualties. From various expansion plans by the two bodies, runway lengthening has also been worked upon.

Facilities at the Mangalore Airport

WiFi: Mangalore airport has good WiFi connectivity. The main idea behind providing the service is to make sure that the people are able to receive good network and continue with their work commitments from the airport. Often many business professionals use the time at the airport after check-in to work on some emails and other work that require connectivity. Hence, the demand for a WiFi has led to the airport ensuring good network. While you can enjoy free WiFi for 30 minutes, you will have to pay for services exceeding the time limit.

ATMs and currency exchange: Mangalore airport sees a lot of tourists and travellers returning from the Middle East. They are basically families and professionals who have been working in the Middle Eastern countries. Due to this, it is necessary to have a foreign exchange counter at the airport. The currency exchange services can be availed at the arrivals and departures. The airport also has ATM kiosks to help people withdraw money so they can travel within the city. You can find the ATM kiosks outside the airport and are majorly operated by Karnataka Bank.

Information desk: Having an information desk is of utmost importance at an airport. The Mangalore airport also has dedicated information desks located at various junctions. The desk caters to all the questions regarding the airport facilities such as flights, schedules, boarding gates and more. You can also learn about the necessary places within the airport, including the medical centre and the smoking zone. A tourist counter is also available at the Mangalore airport. You will find tour guides to help you peruse through your options on what to do in the city.

Restaurants and cafes: There are a handful of restaurants and cafes that are available at the airport. You might not find a lot of prominent joints, but the few famous ones such as McDonald's and Domino's are available at the airport. The airport also has small joints for snacks and coffeehouses.

Child care facilities: The airport has child care facilities too. The room is specifically built to give mothers and infants privacy for feeding and diaper changing. The room is kept clean and sanitized to avoid the child from contracting any bad disease. Not to mention the room is also made to be comfortable for the mother. There are diapers and other baby products also available at the child care room, in case the parent runs out of them.

Prayer rooms: A devoted prayer room is also available at the Mangalore airport. The space is reserved for travellers to engage in religious practices. It is a shared space and does not have specific rooms depending on the faith.

Smoking zone: The airport also has a smoking zone reserved. There are enclosed rooms and lounges where you can smoke. You are not allowed to smoke anywhere else in the airport terminal but the smoking lounges. They are available at all the terminals in the airport.

Luggage: In terms of luggage, quite a few services are available. From lost luggage counters to baggage wrapping counters, these facilities are available at the Mangalore airport. You can ask for a baggage wrap before the check-in. There is a separate counter that you should approach to wrap your luggage with plastic. The main reason why people opt to do this is to ensure that the baggage is safe from mishandling, theft and other concerns. The airport also has trolleys available for you to take your luggage around.

Postal services: There are postal services available at the airport. You can avail the services to post documents and important letters.

Medical services: The airport has medical aid and services also. All airports must have medical services as part of their facilities to deal with medical emergencies.

Top airlines flying from the Mangalore Airport

Mangalore Airport has both domestic and international terminals. However, they do not have the international airlines flying from the city. However, they do have domestic airlines that cater to international destinations. Domestic cities such as Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hubli, Hyderabad, Chennai, Delhi and Coimbatore are connected with the Mangalore Airport. The airport witnesses domestic airlines such as Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo and SpiceJet. Interestingly, some of the domestic airlines such as Air India Express and SpiceJet, have international cities connected. Mangalore airport does see decent passenger traffic. A majority of their flights are reserved for international trips to cities such as Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Bahrain. The Middle Eastern countries see a lot of demand from Mangalore as many opt for cities in those countries for professional opportunities.

How to reach Mangalore Airport

Mangalore International Airport is known to be the second busiest airport after Bangalore Airport in Karnataka. The airport is about 13 km from the city centre of Mangalore. The tabletop runway is very popular in the country as it is one of the few to have the specific-styled structure. The best way to reach Mangalore airport is by booking a taxi ride. There are prepaid taxis and fare taxis available near the airport and in the city as well. There are prepaid taxi booths and counters available at both the terminals. You can make your cab bookings at the airport itself. The cabs will directly drop you outside the airport and vice versa. There are bus services also that traverse from the city to the airport. The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has regular bus services from the airport and the Central Railway Station, making connectivity extremely convenient. There are no direct railway connectivity or stations close to the station. Hence, after the prepaid taxi, the bus is the second-best option to choose to reach Mangalore International Airport.