Our one regret in our month long Pacific Underatures was the mere two days we allotted to New Zealand. Auckland, dubbed the “city of sails,” because of the proliferation of white sailing vessels in its bewitching harbour, is clean, modern, sophisticated and one of the few places on earth I would think of living, if there were no New York.

The Kiwis, as New Zealanders refer to themselves, are even more friendly than the Aussies and, tongue in cheek, refer to Sydney as Auckland on steroids.

In N.Z., prices are about 40% below those in the States and the “Kiwi,” New Zealand’s $, is at a 20 year low. So New Zealand offer fine value.

While there is a Sheraton in Auckland, which has been beautifully renovated, we chose the Hyatt Regency and were thrilled with  everything.The Hyatt Regency features spectacular views of Auckland Harbor, the city and parks and is next  to downtown centers of business, shopping and entertainment, with easy  access to recreational facilities, harbor and island cruises, beaches,  swimming, surfing and sailing. It is 15 miles to Auckland International airport.

Its rooms offer panoramic views over Auckland harbor or city and parks opening windows in addition to individually controlled air conditioning and central heating. Regency suites, which we experienced, featured Private bath/shower, Radio, Color TV with multiple satellite TV channels and in-house video as well as International direct dial telephone. All rooms have Internet access with infra-red keyboard. Tea and coffee making facilities, minibar and refrigerator, voice mail message recording system and  in-room safes (in most suites) completed the picture.

There are non-smoking rooms and rooms for disabled guests available on  request. Electricity is 220/240 V 50 cycles AC. The  Regency Club lounge on the 12th floor served complimentary evening drinks and canapés and continental breakfast, which included wonderful coffee, and an abundant and excellent buffet. There was a deluxe range of bathroom amenities and fruit bowl in all rooms. (The in-room safes, as is the custom these days, offers no insurance). They are gratis, but savvy  consumers should always inquire if  there is a charge (which can be substantial) to use it.

Besides the obligatory city tour, harbourside strolls and excursions to neighboring islands, New Zealand offers a vast array of touring possibilities, using Auckland as a base.

When it comes to food, Auckland is no slouch and offers expectedly wonderful Asian restaurants as well as trendy, hip spots that recall San Francisco or L.A. and at least one world class candidate. A dependable smattering might include: Cin Cin on the Quay (Auckland Ferry Building, 99 Quay St., 09/307-6966) where the colorful atmosphere, spectacular menu and marvelous wine list are unbeatable. The menu embraces ethnic specialties  and Cin Cin was Auckland's first California-style brasserie. While the California aspect has evolved, Cin Cin is still one of the city's best. Look for innovative pizzas (try tandoori chicken with avocado-mango chutney and red onion) and stylish entrées like paddle-crab pot stickers (think wontons) with cucumber salad and Thai curry sauce, or down-home dishes such as spit-roasted lamb racks with pigs' feet and coffee-barbecue sauce. The wine list includes  several vintages of local vinous icons like Kumeu River Chardonnay or Stonyridge Larose, a powerful cabernet-based blend from Waiheke Island. If you're in town on the weekend, book an outside table overlooking the harbor for the good-value breakfast.

For something exotic, The Java Room (7/ 317 Parnell Road, Auckland, Telephone : 09 3661606 Mobile 0252018018) has become synonymous with  quality food, served professionally. Seating 40 guests inside, 12 persons on a charming patio or 24 persons on the airy verandah,  Java Room is located in the trendy suburb of Parnell (worth an afternoon stroll in itself), Owner, Hooi Hing, is dedicated to producing a class act. Although Java Room is  fully licensed, as in Australia, one may  BYOW (wine that is). Hooi is a graduate from an established hotel and catering school from Switzerland "Les Roches." Upon completion, he has managed restaurants in five star hotel like the Shangri-La in Hong Kong and The Sheraton Hotel and Towers in Auckland.

The Java Room Cuisine centers on the range of fragrant, aromatic and exotic dining experiences that South-east Asia brings to you. From Bali to Bangkok and from India to Indochina, you will find dishes that are cooked passionately and presented superbly. All seafood preparations (especially local oysters in exotic sauces and shellfish) are recommended. Best of all, put yourself in the capable hands of Mr. Hooi and you won’t be disappointed. But by no means miss the chili prawn, wok fried with ginger, spring onion and tomato sauce;  crisp whole snapper, glazed with sweet chili and topped with fresh coriander and the succulent orange duck curry, finished with Grand Marnier.

Swiss born Dietmar comes from a family of restaurateurs so it is not  surprising that from the age of 14 he has been involved in preparing and  cooking the highest quality food. Dietmar left school at 16 to work for the Savoy Hotel, London where he reached the position of Chef Saucier  before transferring to the  Connaught Hotel where he worked under Michel Bourdin. He was twice named Chef of the Year in New Zealand. After leaving New Zealand, Dietmar joined Regent International Hotels in Hong Kong and then was transferred to  the Regent Of Bangkok as Executive Sous Chef Working in Asia enabled him to develop a greater understanding and love of herbs and spices. Staying with Regent Hotels Dietmar was appointed Executive Chef at The Regent Of Melbourne, Australia in 1983. When the opportunity arose to take over the top floor of the  Chifley Tower (see our Sydney review),

Dietmar decided that it was the time to go out on his own and in April 1993 formed The Really Useful Restaurant  Group Ltd . Later that year the group opened its first restaurant,  Forty One, which since then has won no less that 22 Best Restaurant Awards. In December 1998, Dietmar added a new restaurant in Auckland, to his  portfolio. Five City Road (5 City Road, phone: 64/ 9 309 9273; fax: 64/ 9 309 6319/ email: fivecity@attglobal.net).

The restaurant is an elegant fine  dining establishment that is already acknowledged as the market leader on the Auckland dining  scene. It is located on fashionable City Road and set in a beautifully restored, turn of the  century, ivy covered building, elegantly combining colonial                                                   charm with some of Auckland's  finest dining. The minimalist decor and personalized service distinguish Five City Road as the standard against which all other Auckland dining establishments must be judged.

A six course Degustation ($100 solo, $150 with wines (Kiwi); $50 & $75 U.S.) it might include milles feuilles of Waikanae crabmeat with wasabi oil; a warm salad of Chinese roast duck with sea scallops & Vietnamese dressing; salmon fillet baked with a shallot crust, crumbed asparagus & chive beurre blanc; medallions of beef with braised spinach and oxtails & foie gras velouté; Neudorf aged ewes milk cheese & desserts, a variation on a theme. The accompanying wine-pairing is exquisite and the encyclopedic list offers examples of New Zealand’s wine treasures.

With additional time, one might explore the enchanting “Bay of Islands,” quaint, old-world Wellington or soak up some of the world’s most beautiful scenery, ranging from tropical islands to snow-capped peaks. So whether snorkling, skiing or the pursuit of gastronomic joys is your quest, New Zealand has it all!

The Hyatt Regency, Corner of Princes St &  Waterloo Quadrant  P.O. Box 3938  Auckland  New Zealand  Telephone: +64 9 355 1234, (800) 233-1234, E-mail: auckland@hyatt.co.nz, <http://www.hyatt.com>, the above restaurants & New Zealand as a destination rate A+ on my Travel Report Card.

I'm J. Walman & my reviews are available & have been seen on the Internet <http://punchin.com/punchin>, The Culinary Gourmet of New York <http://culinarygourmet.com>, Broadway-On-the-Net <http://punchin.com/punchin/broadway.html>, Dinner’s On Us <http://www.dinnersonus.com> Or Click here to see the review on the worldwide web <http://punchin.com/punchin/wevd/nz.html>.

J. Walman’s reviews have been seen in Fodor’s & Mobil Guide Books, Chocolatier, Troika & Metropolitan Millionaire Magazines, The National Forward, Women’s wear Daily, The NY Post, The NY Times and other newspapers & magazines throughout the world, syndicated via the Punch In International Network. Send your e-mail address for a complimentary subscription. This review  may be reprinted free of charge, so long as source & byline credit are included.