Auckland, Auckland, Auckland.
As the biggest city in New Zealand Auckland gets a lot of hate for lots of reasons. Some legit, some not. Personally, Auckland grows on me each visit.
Unlike some large cities, there are lots of things to do in Auckland from a tourist perspective.
Auckland is not boring!
The following is a list of Auckland activities that’ll help make your visit memorable. And yes, I, Jub have done everything mentioned in this list unless I mention otherwise.
15 FUN THINGS TO DO IN AUCKLAND
1. TAKE A FREE WALKING TOUR
If you’re in Europe people always recommend joining a free walking tour when you arrive somewhere new. That’s why I’ve put the Auckland free walking tour at #1 on the list.
Sure Auckland, nor NZ, has a history like Europe, but there’s still plenty to learn about NZ on the tour. For example, why did Abel Tasman not go on shore when he first found the land that’s now known as New Zealand?
You’ll visit some regularly sites that you might have walked past on your Auckland adventures, but you definitely wouldn’t know the story behind what you’re walking past (e.g. the red light district). And the guides are always good for cool food and drink recommendations.
RELATED POST: INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT NEW ZEALAND
2. GO BEHIND THE SCENES AT CHELSEA SUGAR FACTORY
Everyones a sugar addict these days. But that’s not why you should visit.
Chelsea is an iconic brand found in pantries nationwide and on tours of the factory you learn the process behind the Chelsea products lining NZ supermarket shelves from start to finish.
The tour is targetted towards kids, but a friend and I went on the tour and thoroughly enjoyed learning everything sugar. You even get to see the massive mounds of raw sugar that have arrived by ship. They look like massive sand dunes. I wish I could have taken a real estate sign and slid down them.
The guide was super fun, and while you can’t take any photos on the tour, you’ll be a lot more knowledgeable than when you still started.
p.s. you get to sample some syrups.
READ THE FULL BLOG POST: A CHELSEA SUGAR FACTORY TOUR REVIEW
3. TAKE A TOUR OF EDEN PARK
Ideally you’ll watch a game of rugby or cricket at Eden Park. But there aren’t that many games on throughout the year so consider taking a tour of Eden Park. This is going to be of interest to sports fans primarily as you learn about the history of Eden Park and memorable sporting moments from guides who have spent a lot of their life involved in various aspects of the stadium.
For non-sports fans, you’ll be kept interested in the ways sport has influenced New Zealand and the technology used in the stadium. And of course, if the guide tells a good story, they’ll hook anyone.
READ THE FULL POST: AN EDEN PARK TOUR REVIEW
4. ENJOY A FANCY ICE CREAM
Giapo is an ice cream shop that’s featured on most of the lists of things to do in Auckland. The reason is due to the unique ice creams they create, and well they are unique, and that’s why I’m including it.
Oh, and they’re super delicious with pretty cool flavours (see the menu)!
The colossal squid cone is pretty iconic if you’ve visited Te Papa. It’s certainly not the easiest design to eat, but wow it’s certainly Instagram worthy. They have multiple vegan options too.
If you’re an ice cream super fan, the behind the scenes experience might be for you (I haven’t done this).
5. LEARN AT AUCKLAND MUSEUM
Auckland Museum is in Auckland Domain, and while it’s no Te Papa, it’s impressive. There are three floors of exhibits, some permanent, some temporary.
I really enjoyed the temporary wildlife photography exhibit (I visited in June 2020), and the permanent exhibition all about the Auckland volcanoes is amazing. Make sure to go into the volcano house 🙂
6. EXPLORE RANGITOTO ISLAND
With its distinct shape, there’s plenty of opportunities views of Rangitoto Island from the mainland. But why not explore the island itself?
Auckland is built on volcanoes essentially, but Rangitoto, being the youngest of them all is unique and a different experience to others. The summit walk takes you up to 259 metres above sea level, so it’s not too hard to get the epic views. But most of all, the walk will take you past black volcanic rock that looks so raw!
The ferry isn’t super cheap, but once you’re on the island you’re left to your own devices making for a great day trip for independent travellers.
7. WALK FROM ONE SIDE OF NZ TO THE OTHER
That heading isn’t clickbait 🙂
The Coast to Coast walkway is another fun walk in Auckland, but this time you’re sticking to the mainland. It’s called the Coast to Coast as you literally walk from one side of NZ to the other, but thanks to the geography that only takes a few hours.
This walk also takes you via some of the best places to visit in Auckland including:
- Albert Park
- Mount Eden
- Cornwall Park
- Auckland University
And it finishes in Onehunga which is a place most tourists won’t usually go. It’s a chance to experience suburban life.
8. VISIT BARISTACATS CAFE
Hi, I’m Jub and I like cats.
That sums me up really. But in seriousness, BaristaCats Cafe is one of the best cat cafes I’ve been too.
I was skeptical of the location with the noise of Queen Street nearby but the cats have plenty of space. Most of the cats are long term residents and are at the cafe as they’ve got disabilities meaning they’re not always the best candidates for adoption.
I visited mid-morning on a week day and was stoked how playful they were as a group. A few of the most memorable friends I made were Lady Mary who is deaf, Molly who leaps like a dolphin, and Bryan who hasn’t got any eyes but knows his way around the cafe like a boss.
You’ll need to book tickets before you go on their website. Book Meow!
9. PLAY MINI GOLF AND DRINK BEERSIES AT HOLEY MOLEY
Holey moley this was fun. Pun intended.
Holey Moley is a bar but also features three 9-hole mini-putt courses that you’re allowed to take your beverages on. Win!
The beer selection is solid, and the food is great too (polenta friends!) so if you’re in Auckland celebrating a fun occasion, pop this place down as a spot to hang out for a couple of hours. It’s seriously fun!
Did you notice the hobbit hole in the photo above?
p.s. there’s a karaoke room for hire too.
10. GO UP THE SKYTOWER
It’s quite the cheesy activity to go up to the viewing platform in the tallest building in the country, but it’s always fun to see what you can spot and gives you an idea of where things are. You can get some good discounts on BookMe too.
I haven’t done this yet, but the SkyJump bungy might be your preferred way of getting down 🙂
And of course, there’s the casino at the bottom of the SkyTower.
11. EXPLORE DEVONPORT
If the ferry to Rangitoto is a little outside of your budget, consider jumping on the shorter journey to Devonport for a ferry adventure.
When you get off the ferry you’re in the town centre where you can grab a bite to eat before walking two a couple of historic sites, Mount Victoria and North Head. There’s a bunch more things to do in Devonport too.
If you’d like to take a long way home, you can walk some of the North Shore Coastal Walk from Milford to Devonport (only suitable at low tide) and then walk to a bus stop when you’re ready to get back to your accommodation.
12. HEAD OUT WEST TO PIHA
Auckland’s black sand beaches are pretty damn awesome, with Piha the signature beach of them all.
Once you’re at Piha, in West Auckland, you’ll feel a million miles away from the CBD thanks to the Waitakere Ranges between you. The black sand beach is massive, and Lion Rock (see photo above), which you can climb, splits the beach into two.
Spend a day out here if you can’t make it to Raglan which had a similar vibe in my experience.
You can swim at the beach, but the tides are known to be dangerous in the area so please please please swim between the flags so the lifeguards can make sure everyone is safe. And take a walk up to Kitekite Falls 🙂
13. SPEND TIME AT THE BEACHES
Yes, Piha is a beach, but there’s plenty of more accessible beaches close to the city. Four that follow one after the other are Okahu, Mission Bay, Kohimarama, and St. Heliers. The most popular one would have to be Mission Bay which has the most cafes and restaurants backing onto it.
But if it’s a super nice day, walk along the waterfront to them and enjoy the changing views. You can stop at any beach that takes your charm. From the CBD to St Heliers Beach (the furthest away) is approximately 10km which is doable for most of you.
And after a few drinks at one of the bars at Mission Bay (De Fontain is great), you can catch a bus back into the city.
14. HANG OUT AT WYNARD QUARTER
If you’re looking for a way to spend an hour or two, consider walking to Wynard Quarter via the Viaduct where you can have a perve a the fancy yachts on the way.
Most people visit Wynard Quarter for a bite to eat and drink, but it’s a crafty area with Silo Park at the centre of it. There’s the awesome staircase to climb (the photo from above is from there) and in the summer there’s a host of events including the outdoor cinema.
15. ENJOY A SPA AND SAUNA (COST FRIENDLY)
If you’re looking for a way to relax in the city, without spending a fortune, the Tepid Baths are a great way to spend a couple of hours.
After a running event a couple of friends and I were looking for a spa/sauna/steamroom in Auckland, and were surprised it was only $8.10 for these ones right by the waterfront. How good! The building is very unassuming, but once you’re inside, it’s good as gold.
I can see this being a stop off point on my visits to Auckland in the future. You can find out more information an lastest pricing on the website.
I hope that gives you a little bit of inspiration for those of you that are wondering what to do in Auckland 🙂
If you’ve got any recommendations for my next visit, pop them in the comments below or email me jub@churnewzealand.com
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This list is bound to give you some inspiration for you next NZ adventure.
Karangahake Gorge Walks
Karangahake is about a 90 minute drive from Auckland and has some of the most gorgeous walks. Tunnels, rivers, panoramic views, old railways etc.
Kawau Island Activities
If you’re heading north of Auckland, consider catching the ferry to Kawau Island for a day. You might even see a wallaby. Yes, a wallaby.
Hey, it’s Jub here. I’m the guy behind Chur New Zealand, helping you have the best time hiking, trekking, walking…whatever you want to call it…in NZ. I’m based in Queenstown and am always out and about exploring trails, old & new. If you have any questions, reach out.