25 Best Things to Do in Auckland (Insider Tips from a Local) – New Zealand

Auckland is my hometown and a city often skipped by visitors to New Zealand. It doesn’t have the jaw-dropping scenery of the South Island. But it is a beautiful, multicultural city with many things to do in Auckland for all types of travelers.

People I talk to are always surprised at how multicultural Auckland is. Forty percent of the city’s population was born overseas, giving it the fourth-largest foreign-born population of any city in the world.

One of my favorite things about this fact is that there is great Asian food in Auckland. Whether you like Thai, Vietnamese, Indian, or Chinese – you will find great authentic Asian restaurants everywhere. Auckland also has a great coffee culture and many fantastic coffee shops with food to try.

The natural beauty surrounding Auckland is also underrated, in my opinion. The beautiful Waitakere Ranges are just 45 minutes from downtown Auckland. These rugged hills are covered in dense native bush and are an awesome place if you love hiking.

If beaches are more your thing, then there is a beach for every type. The rugged West Coast beaches have black sand and huge pounding waves, while the East Coast beaches have white sand and clear, calm blue water, perfect for relaxing.

Hopefully, this introduction has convinced you that Auckland is worth exploring. In this article, I will discuss the best things to do in Central Auckland, the North Shore, the best beaches, hikes, markets, and where to eat.

Table of contents: (Hide)

• Best Things to Do in Central Auckland
  • Join a Free Walking Tour
  • Explore the City’s Viaduct
  • Overlook Auckland from its Sky Tower
  • Dare the Harbour Bridge Bungy Jump and Bridge Walk
  • Check out the Auckland Domain Park
  • Book a Lord of the Rings Experience
  • Climb Mount Eden Volcano
  • Watch a Rugby Game at Eden Park
  • See sheep at Cornwall Park
• What to do on Aucklands North Shore
  • Stroll through Devonport
  • Climb North Head and Mount Victoria Volcano
• Surf, Relax and Swim at Auckland’s Best Beaches
  • Surf at Piha Beach
  • Slide down Sand Dunes at Bethells Beach
  • Swim at Tawharanui Beach
  • Picknick at Mission Bay
  • Relax at the North Shore City Beaches
• Explore Auckland’s Islands
  • Try wine on Waiheke Island
  • See lava flows on Rangitoto Island
  • Visit the Tiritiri Matangi Island Bird Reserve
• Go on the Best Hikes around Auckland
  • Mercer Bay Loop for Coastal Views
  • Check out the Hunua Falls
  • Hike the jaw-dropping Omanawanui Track
• Insider Tips for Day and Weekend Trips from Auckland
  • Go snorkeling on Goat Island
  • Be remote on Great Barrier Island
• Best Auckland Markets for Foodies
• Where to Eat in Auckland
• Conclusion

Best Things to Do in Central Auckland

Join a Free Walking Tour

One of the first things I recommend doing in Auckland is taking a free walking tour. No matter what city I am in, I usually like to start with a free walking tour. The tours are a great way to learn about the city’s history and get some tips on what to do.

Auckland is not a city with a long history like those in Europe. It was only founded in 1840, but its short history is still interesting and worth knowing.
I recommend taking a tour with Auckland Free Walking Tours. They do great tours of Auckland’s CBD (Central Business District) for around 2 hours with local guides.

As with all free walking tours, they operate on tips, and it is recommended that you tip 20 NZD (12 USD) per person.

Explore the City’s Viaduct

On a nice day, the best part of central Auckland to explore is the Viaduct. The Viaduct is a harbor next to the city center, which used to be an industrial center.
Over recent years, what used to be a fairly ugly part of the city has been transformed into a beautiful area that locals love to hang out in.

Today, the harbor is full of great cafes and restaurants and is lined with multi-million-dollar yachts. It is a lovely place to go for a walk, and in summer, quite a few events are going on.

Strolling down Auckland Harbour

During the summer months, I recommend checking out Silo Park. This is an area of old industrial silos that is used for events, music, and sometimes movie nights. Scheduled events can be found on the Silo Park website.

Overlook Auckland from its Sky Tower

The Sky Tower is Auckland’s tallest and most iconic building. No matter where you are in the city, you can usually see it rising into the sky.

At 328 meters (1076 feet), it is not huge by international standards but massive by New Zealand standards. It was the tallest tower in the Southern Hemisphere until the Autograph Tower in Jakarta was constructed in 2021.

The views from the top of the Sky Tower are beautiful and give a great panoramic view of the city. Tickets to the top cost 38 NZD (23 USD).

If you want to dine with a view, there is a restaurant at the top of the Sky Tower. The Orbit 360° has excellent food, and the restaurant slowly rotates so you can get a 360-degree view of Auckland while you dine.

Some of the best things to do in Auckland for adrenaline junkies are the Sky Walk and Sky Jump. You can either choose to walk around the outside of the tower or jump off it! I have not done the Sky Jump yet, but it is on my list of things to do in Auckland.

Dare the Harbour Bridge Bungy Jump and Bridge Walk

Another of the best things to do in Auckland for adrenaline junkies is to bungy jump off the Auckland Harbour Bridge. It may be a surprise to some but Auckland is the birthplace of bungy jumping.

Aucklander AJ Hackett is the man credited with popularising bungy jumping around the world. He made his first jump from Aucklands Greenhithe Bridge in 1986.
In the following years, he made many high-profile jumps, such as from the Eiffel Tower, to popularise bunjy jumping, and he spent time in jail.

AJ Hacket Bungy and Bridge Walk has an impeccable safety record, and it is a great place to do your first bungy jump. The 40-meter-high jump is enough to get the adrenaline pumping without being too terrifying.

If Bungy jumping is a bit too extreme for you, the Bridge Walk is a good option. During the bridge walk you will walk up the top of the Harbour Bridge for some of the best views of Auckland.

A Bungy Jump from the harbor bridge costs 210 NZD (130 USD), and the bridge walk is 155 NZD (95 USD).

The Auckland Museum

Check out the Auckland Domain Park

Auckland Domain is one of the largest parks in Auckland, right next to the city center. The park is located in the crater of a huge extinct volcano.
It is a popular place for locals to go for a walk or play sports. However, as a tourist, I find the main attraction to be the Auckland Museum.
The Auckland War Memorial Museum has many displays about New Zealand’s natural and cultural history. It is the best museum in Auckland, and if you are going to visit one museum, it should be here.

It is also a great place to get a taste of Maori Culture. Every day at 11 am and 1:30 pm, the museum has a Maori cultural performance.

During the cultural performance, you can see the world-famous haka, which is always high on tourist lists of things to see in New Zealand.

International visitors’ tickets to the Museum cost 32 NZD (20 USD). The Maori cultural performance costs 36 NZD (21 USD) and must be purchased separately from general admission.

Book a Lord of the Rings Experience

The Lord of the Rings movie franchise put New Zealand in the international spotlight. When I travel overseas, it is usually one of the first things people bring up when I say I am from New Zealand.

Most Lord of the Rings fans will head to Hobbiton, about 3 hours from Auckland. But you can also get a cool Lord of the Rings experience in Auckland.

Weta Workshop Unleashed is located next to the Sky Tower in downtown Auckland. A tour here is the best thing for Lord of the Rings fans to do in Auckland.
The tour will give you a behind-the-scenes look at all the special effects used to create the Lord of the Rings movies. Tickets to the Weta Workshop cost 55 NZD (34 USD), and the tour takes 1.5 hours.

Climb Mount Eden Volcano

A walk up Mount Eden is the best spot for the best natural view of Auckland, which is close to the city center. Mount Eden is an extinct volcano with fabulous city center views and surrounding suburbs.

It is no secret, and there are sure to be many other tourists up there. I highly recommend going up to Mount Eden for sunrise or sunset. It is a beautiful spot for either and a good time to escape the crowds during the day.

Watch a Rugby Game at Eden Park

In New Zealand, rugby is our national sport. It is a national passion, and we get excited when our national team, the All Blacks, plays.

Eden Park is the main rugby stadium in Auckland. If there is an All Blacks game while you are in Auckland, I highly recommend trying to get a ticket. It is the best thing to do in Auckland if you love sports.

The atmosphere is awesome, and you can see the famous haka. There is nothing like seeing the haka perform in front of a sold-out stadium.
For details about upcoming games, check out the Eden Park website.

See sheep at Cornwall Park

New Zealand is world-famous for having more sheep than people. Just 10 minutes from the city center, you can see some of our famous sheep at Cornwall Park.
Cornwall Park is my favorite park in Auckland. It is like a farm mixed with a city park. A lot of the park is farmed with cows and sheep. I loved the animals roaming around because it felt like you were escaping the city.

While you are in Cornwall Park, you can also climb One Tree Hill. This is another of Auckland’s Volcanic peaks located within the Park. It is a great place to walk up and get more views of the city.

What to do on Aucklands North Shore

Aucklands’ North Shore is just across the Harbour Bridge from downtown. It is full of beautiful city beaches and a great place to relax at a cafe or restaurant.

Stroll through Devonport

One of the best things to do in Auckland on a sunny day is to visit Devonport on Auckland’s North Shore.

Devonport is on the North Shore, directly across from the city center. It is a lovely seaside community with Victorian villas that has a small-town feel. There are lots of great restaurants and cafes here, and it is a peaceful place to go on a sunny day.

You can get to Devonport from downtown Auckland by ferry. The ferry leaves downtown Auckland every 30 minutes and takes 30 minutes to reach Devonport.

Climb North Head and Mount Victoria Volcano

While you are in Devenport, I highly recommend climbing more of Auckland’s volcanic peaks. The views from Mount Victoria and North Head are beautiful and give you a different perspective of the city.

North Head is also a historically interesting hill. It was an important military location at the entrance to Auckland’s Harbour.

During World War II, the threat of the Japanese invasion of New Zealand was high. So, large guns were placed in place to protect the city in case of an attack.

The guns are still on the hill, and you can explore tunnels built by the military as well. It is a very interesting place to explore and has spectacular views of the city and the harbor.

Surf, Relax and Swim at Auckland’s Best Beaches

Auckland is surrounded on all sides by water. If the weather is nice, one of the best things to do in Auckland is to visit one of its many beaches.
Within an hour’s drive, you can find all types of beautiful beaches: From rough, windy black sand to calm blue with white sand. There is a beach for everybody.

Surf at Piha Beach

Visiting Piha is one of my favorite things to do while I am in Auckland. Although Piha is just a 45-minute drive from downtown Auckland, you will feel like you are far away from civilization at this ruggedly beautiful beach.

On the drive to Piha, you will pass through the Waitakere Ranges. These mountains to the west of Auckland are covered in dense New Zealand bush. They are full of ferns and palm trees and almost have a tropical feel on a summer’s day.

Piha and the West Coast beaches are unique because they have black sand. The Black Sand comes from volcanoes further down the coast of New Zealand. So they are not your usual peaceful white sand beaches, but they are very beautiful in their own way.

Visiting Piha on a summer’s day is a favorite thing for locals in Auckland. Just be very careful when you are swimming at Piha. The beach is notorious for having very strong rips. So, only swim between the flags where lifeguards know it is safe.

Slide down Sand Dunes at Bethells Beach

Bethells Beach is another popular beach on Auckland’s rugged west coast. It is further up the coast from Piha and has some huge sand dunes to explore.
The sand dunes will once again make you feel like you are far away from the city. They are also black because Bethalls Beach is on the West Coast.

It is a unique landscape that I have never experienced anywhere else in the world. To reach the sand dunes, you will need to drive to the Lake Wainamu Car Park.

Then, follow the stream on foot until you reach the sand dunes.

After visiting the sand dunes, you should also visit Bethells Beach. It is a very rugged beach like Piha. So once again, make sure that you only swim if you are a strong swimmer and stay close to the lifeguards.

Swim at Tawharanui Beach

If you are looking for a calm, white, sandy beach with clear blue waters, Tawharanui is a great place to visit, just one hour north of Auckland. On a clear day, the waters are sparkling turquoise blue.

There are also many other beaches nearby, such as Omaha and Parkiri, with white sand and clear blue water.

Visiting this area is the best thing to do in Auckland on a calm, beautiful, sunny day, especially if you want to just relax and chill. The Tawharanui Regional Reserve is also great to visit because it is full of native birds. There is a fence around the reserve to protect birds from pests such as rats, so you will see plenty of pukekos and other native birds.

Kohimaramara Beach

Picknick at Mission Bay

Mission Bay is one of the most famous city beaches in Auckland. On a sunny day, one of the best things to do in Auckland is to have a picnic at Mission Bay.
The Bay is located on Tamaki Drive, an 8-kilometer-long (5-mile) road along Auckland’s waterfront. It is also a beautiful place to walk or bike.

Takapuna Beach

Relax at the North Shore City Beaches

If you do not want to leave the city but are still in beach mode, then the North Shore has the best beaches in the city. Some of my favorites are Cheltenham Beach and Takapuna Beach. Takapuna Beach, in particular, is a great place to grab some food from the town center and relax on the beach.

If you like burgers, I recommend trying out Burger Fuel. New Zealand’s most famous burger chain makes great burgers for a chain restaurant.

To fully explore all of the North Shore beaches you can also complete the North Shore Coastal Walk. It is a 6-7 hour walk that will take you past all of the city beaches on the North Shore.

Explore Auckland’s Islands

Auckland Harbour is filled with islands to visit. Jumping on a ferry and exploring an island is another of the best things to do in Auckland on a sunny day.

Try wine on Waiheke Island

Visiting Waiheke Island is one of the best things wine lovers can do in Auckland. The island is just one hour from downtown Auckland by ferry and is covered in vineyards and beautiful beaches.

It is a great place to sample some wines and enjoy some fantastic food. The easiest way to explore the island is by taking the hop-on-hop-off bus. The bus takes you to all the best beaches and vineyards on the island.

A combined ferry plus hop-on hop-off bus ticket costs 89 NZD (50 USD) and can be booked here.

View of Rangitoto from Auckland

See lava flows on Rangitoto Island

Rangitoto is the most recently active of Auckland’s volcanoes, and you can always see it sitting majestically in Waitemata Harbour as you drive around the city.
It last erupted about 600 years ago, and while on the island, you can see the lava flows between the bush.

Walking to the top gives you great views over Auckland City and the Harbour. A return ferry ticket to Rangitoto is 53 NZD (32 USD) and can be booked here.

Visit the Tiritiri Matangi Island Bird Reserve

The Tiritiri Matangi Island is a native bird reserve just north of Auckland. For over 30 years, the island has been turned into a sanctuary for native flora and fauna. The island is free of pests and packed full of native birds. The ferry from downtown Auckland takes 80 minutes and costs 95 NZD (60 USD). You can book your tickets here.

Go on the Best Hikes around Auckland

Auckland is not well known for its scenic hikes. Most visitors to New Zealand head straight to the South Island to go hiking. But a few spectacular hikes are some of the best things to do in Auckland.

The Mercer Bay Loop

Mercer Bay Loop for Coastal Views

The Mercer Bay Loop is an amazing coastal walk close to Piha Beach, so I recommend visiting as part of a trip to Piha. The walk only takes 45 minutes but packs a whole lot of scenery into a small area.

Along the trail, you will pass huge cliffs plunging straight into the pounding ocean below. I only recently visited the Mercer Bay Loop for the first time. I was missing out because it is one of the most spectacular places you can visit in Auckland.

Check out the Hunua Falls

Hunua Falls is located south of Auckland in the Hunua Ranges. The waterfall is beautiful, and it is a popular weekend destination for Aucklanders.
If you do not feel like hiking much, you can take a short walk from the car park to the falls. But if you would like a longer walk, there are many trails through the hills that you can explore.

Hike the jaw-dropping Omanawanui Track

The Omanawanui Track is another spectacular walk that many Aucklanders do not even know about. I recently took my mum here who is in her 70’s and she had never been on the track. Most of Auckland is missing out because the walk is amazing. The trail takes you along a ridgeline with huge cliffs descending right into the entrance to the Manukau Harbour.

There are a lot of stairs, so it is quite a workout. But the views are well worth it, and if you like hiking, you should come here while in Auckland.

Insider Tips for Day and Weekend Trips from Auckland

Go snorkeling on Goat Island

Goat Island is a marine reserve where you can go snorkeling and see lots of marine life. The marine reserve has been in place since 1975, allowing marine life to flourish in the area. You can rent snorkels and wetsuits at Goat Island. Just be warned that the water in New Zealand is quite chilly, so a wetsuit is a good idea.

Be remote on Great Barrier Island

Great Barrier Island is an amazing place to visit if you want to escape to nature. It is a large island but only has about 1000 residents. So it is full of beautiful deserted beaches and great hiking trails. It is a bit of a hidden gem, as not many tourists make their way to the Great Barrier. I used to spend summers on boat trips around the Great Barrier, and I hope to explore it more in the future.

If you like overnight hikes, I recommend staying the night in the Mt Heale Hut. It is a basic hiking hut run by the Department of Conservation (DOC). You will sleep in basic bunk beds with other hikers, but the views from the hut are spectacular and worth roughing it for.

The Island is a 4.5-hour ferry ride or 30-minute flight from Auckland. Flights start from around 140 NZD (83 USD), and the ferry costs 95 NZD (56 USD) each way.

Howick Village Market

Best Auckland Markets for Foodies

If you are a foodie, Auckland has a range of markets that are great for sampling food and getting amongst the locals. Here are my favorites:

• Clevedon Village Farmers Market takes place every Sunday from 8 am to 1 pm. It is located next to Clevedon, a small town in the countryside south of Auckland. If you have a car, it is a great place to listen to live music and eat food away from the city.
• Parnell Farmers Market is a market near downtown Auckland that is open every Saturday from 8 am to 1 pm It offers lots of good food and live music. Parnell Farmers Market is also conveniently located next to Auckland Domain, so you can combine it with a visit to the Museum.
• Howick Village Market is a small market that is open every Saturday from 8 am to 12:30 pm. Howick used to be a separate town from Auckland, but it still has a small-town feel. It is a good place to visit if you want to see suburban Auckland life.
• Otara Flea Market is an excellent choice if you want a unique market experience. Otara is in South Auckland, where there is a large Pacific Island community. So you will find lots of island food and fresh produce. There are also stores with lots of different ethnic cuisines. The market is every Saturday from 6 am to 12 pm.
• Pakuranga Night Market is another market that will give you a unique insight into the cultures of Auckland. It is located in the car park under a department store, which is a little strange, but you will feel like you have been transported to Asia. There are a wide range of stalls selling all kinds of Asian food. The market is on Saturday from 5 pm to 11 pm.

Where to Eat in Auckland

Because Auckland is multicultural, you can choose from nearly any type of cuisine you wish. I love Asian food, and there are countless authentic options in Auckland. Below are some great restaurants to try near the city center.

• Desa Corner is a fantastic Malaysian Restaurant on Aucklands K Road. Their Beef Rendang is some of the best I have ever tried.
• Spice Club Indian Eatery is a great place to grab a curry in downtown Auckland.
• Little Bird Kitchen is a vegan restaurant with tasty, large meals. It is in Ponsonby, which is well known for its fancy restaurants.
• Depot is an upscale chic restaurant that focuses on meals using local New Zealand ingredients.
• Japanese Dining You serves super tasty Japanese food at very reasonable prices.

There are loads more restaurants in Auckland—far too many to list here—so I recommend jumping on Google and searching for whatever cuisine you crave.

Where to Stay in Auckland

• Hotel Britomart is an excellent high-end hotel in the center of Auckland. It is also convenient for ferries and other transport. Rooms start at 200 USD.
• Hotel De Brett is a modern hotel located in downtown Auckland. It has great reviews and rooms starting at 170 USD.
• Verandahs Parkside is a great budget option, with rooms starting at 60 USD. It is just an 18-minute walk to downtown and is in Ponsonby, a great area for cafes and restaurants.
• Hauraki Corner Guesthouse is a private room for 63 USD a night on the North Shore. The North Shore is a great place to stay if you want to be at the beach away from the busy city center.

Conclusion

Now you know all the best things to do in Auckland, so enjoy!

Growing up in Auckland, I never appreciated everything that makes my hometown great. After visiting recently for three months with my girlfriend, I truly appreciated all the natural beauty and culture there.

I hope my list of all the best things to do in Auckland helps you enjoy your time there and convinces you not to skip Auckland.