Outside of Auckland
There was a ton to do in the city, and I certainly wished I had had more time, but the rest of the North Island beckoned, as did my historical research.
The public transportation and bus networks in the cities in the North and on the North Island where I spent most of my time were terrific.
You need to book ahead for long coach journeys and ferry trips, but this is easy to do on line or by phone, and I highly recommend one of the passes they offer to help stretch your budget.
These passes are great because you can always add on to them if your plans change, and often they will include tours, or even the Interislander ferry from the North Island to the South and back again as part of the available facilities.
Paihia and Russell
If you want to get out of the city, you can head north to various smaller towns where sun and surf are an essential part of life, like Paihia. This quaint if touristy town is about 3 hours north of Auckland, and is one of the gateways to the north. It is small but well provided town full of history, from which a great number of tours leave so you can explore this glorious region, known as the Bay of Islands.

A small ferry will take you over from Paihia to Russell, for fantastic photos if nothing else.