54 Things You Have to Do in Auckland

One thing I hate is when people think Auckland is a terrible place that should be avoided. As a local, I think there are so many beautiful, amazing, and tasty things to do around the city!

A couple of notes:

There are soooo many places and fun things to do around Auckland there’s no way I can list them all! These are just some of the favorites. Plus I’m sure there’s loads out there I haven’t don’t yet - let me know if I missed anything on my lists!

A lot of these cafes and restaurants have really amazing veggie/vegan options because that’s mostly how I eat.

The way I have this organized is by regions because my favorite thing is to make a morning or day of it by pairing a few things together.

Last, share this with a friend who lives in Auckland and see if they’ve been to all of these amazing places!

Let’s jump right in!

West Auckland / Waitakere Range

The Waitakere Range is a huge area with an incredible amount of places to explore! We’ve only scratched the surface, but here are some of my very favorites.

• Deco Eatery // Stripe Cafe // Zig Zag Track

  • If you’re heading out in the direction of Piha, something we really love doing is stopping in Titirangi and eating at either one of these amazing cafes! Deco Eatery serves delicious Turkish brunch foods and they have a Hokey Pokey coffee that we are complete suckers for! Stripe Cafe is right around the corner and another great place for amazing brunch eats. And honestly, you could make a whole morning of it and eat at one of these cafes and do one of the many bush walks just steps from either of the cafes! Zig Zag Track is a perfect one to do.

• Piha and ice cream / Kitekite Falls

  • Piha Beach has to be one of our very favorites. It’s a west coast beach, which means it’s not a very good one for swimming (unless the lifeguards and flags are out, which we got lucky with once!). There is so much beauty in the raw and wild black sand beach with its soaring cliffs and crashing waves that it makes me glad I went every single time we go. There are a couple really easy walks you can do right on Piha - Lion’s Rock is a short hike that gives you beautiful views of the whole beach, and the Tasman Lookout is a great place to watch some of the most stunning sunsets you’ll ever see! Make sure if you’re there for a fun summer day to get some of the ice cream from the ice cream cart there. It’s amazing!

  • We almost always pair Kitekite Falls with a trip out to Piha. It’s only a couple minutes away and it is a fantastic bush walk that leads you to a stunning waterfall. One of my favorite features of this hike is that it takes you to both the bottom AND the top of the falls, and both are equally beautiful!

• White’s Beach

  • If you want a whole separate day hike, a great option is to start at Northern Piha and take the tracks to White’s Beach. This will lead you through some absolutely beautiful nature with incredible views of the coast! White’s Beach is a very secluded and private beach. The most important note I have about this hike is that you have to watch the tides before you start - if it’s high tide parts of the track will be inaccessible.

• Mercer Bay Loop Track

  • Mercer Bay Loop Track is another beautiful walk that leads you along some scenic and stunning views of the west coast. It’s a great way to spend a sunny morning!

• Karekare Beach and Falls

  • Karekare Beach is another beauty - the black sand and rugged coastline make it into something surreal. In fact, movies have been filmed here! Don’t forget to do the Karekare falls, just a few minutes walk from the carpark!

• Whatipu Beach

  • A bit further down the coast is Whatipu Beach - another one of my favorites! This is a great one if you like going to more secluded, quieter beaches. It has some of the prettiest views and it’s a lovely way to spend a day!

• Bethels Beach / Te Henga / Sand Dunes

  • A bit further away and you need to take a different road to get to this area, but it is definitely worth it! Bethels Beach is another gorgeous black sand beach with cool tunnels you can explore a bit of during low tide. Te Henga Walkway is right off of Bethels Beach and gives some of the prettiest coastal views. The other direction from the carpark are the sand dunes which are fun enough on their own to run up and down and all around, but if you follow along the path it leads you to a cute little lake that you can go for a swim in.

• Gannet Colonies in Muriwai

  • This is an activity I would recommend doing once. It’s pretty cool to go and see all the gannets and watch them do their thing, but it is a bit stinky - so be prepared for that!

South Auckland

Next region is South Auckland. I’ll be the first to admit I feel like I haven’t done enough exploration this way - but here are some of my favorites.

• Hill House Cafe // Auckland Botanic Gardens

  • A fun morning out idea is to stop by the Hill House Cafe for some of the most delicious pastries you could hope for, and then a few minutes down the road is the free Auckland Botanic Gardens! Soak up the sunshine and walk around some beautifully cultivated plants. A perfect combo!

• Ambury Farm

  • A great morning activity if you have young children is to visit Ambury Farm. It’s free and a wonderful place to go for a wander and enjoy some sunshine and cute farm animals! You can even go and pet the sheep and watch the cows get milked if you’re lucky!

• Manakau Steamers

  • On Sundays, another fun idea with small kids is to go and ride the little trains. It’s fairly cheap and pretty relaxing to sit and enjoy the ride. Bring a picnic to make a whole morning of it!

• Hanua Bushwalks and Falls

  • Another area that has loads to offer are the Hanua Ranges. There are endless bush walks and loads of waterfalls to enjoy.

• Farmhouse Cafe

  • It’s a little pricy, but really delicious and it has a fun farm vibe. Plus it doesn’t hurt that you can watch water buffalo as you sit in the comfort of their really cute cafe, eating your incredible toastie.

East Auckland

Next region has a lot that I’m sure I’m missing, but here’s what I’ve uncovered!

• Karaka Bay Beach

  • A great option for a more secluded beach! You have to hike down a bit to get to it, but it’s a beautiful place to settle down and enjoy a day at the beach.

• St Helier’s // Mission Bay Walk

  • Running along the whole coast is a walkway that you can enjoy the sounds and benefits of being next to the ocean without having to play in it. It’s another great option to get outside, enjoy the sunshine, and get a bit of exercise!

• Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium

  • I really enjoyed our visit here, but probably wouldn’t go back again only because of how pricy it is. If you’re able to get the year pass, I definitely think it would be worth it! It was such a fun place to go with our toddler and I really loved seeing all the sea animals there.

• Orakei Basin

  • Another perfect option to get out and enjoy a bit of nature and exercise. The walkway goes in a loop around a lake and it’s a lovely way to spend a sunny morning.

• Bastion Point

  • This is a fun, elevated park that gives you some cool views of the water and city. The beautifully manicured flower gardens and monuments make it a pleasant place to go for an afternoon picnic or a great place to meet up with some friends.

Central Auckland

This is how I’m categorizing all the suburbs around the CBD but aren’t in the CBD.

• Auckland Museum // Winter Gardens // The Domain

  • A wonderful place to go for bad weather and good! If it’s a yucky, rainy day you can go to the museum (free for Aucklanders!) and learn lots while getting a little bit of movement in. If the weather is nice you can also enjoy the whole area surrounding the museum, called the Domain. It’s a beautifully maintained green space with fun native bush tracks and duck ponds. Also be sure to check out the Winter Gardens for some really beautiful and fun flowers and plants!

• Western Springs

  • Another beautifully maintained green space that is a lovely place to go if you want to feel like you’ve gotten out of the city without having to actually get out of the city is Western Springs. It’s a great place to pick a path and have a wander through lots of nature. The park surrounds a large lake in the center that homes many ducks, black swans, geese, and eels!

• Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT)

  • This museum is housed right next to Western Springs and is a fun place to spend the morning with kids! It covers a wide range of topics from phones and computers to motors and planes.

• Auckland Zoo

  • I’ve never actually been here but my son has! And he really loved the rocks and water puddles. I’m adding this on the list because a lot of our friends really value this as a great place to go - especially with kids.

• Cornwall Park

  • In case you haven’t noticed, New Zealand does a fantastic job of keeping up their parks! This is another truly amazing green space parks that has something to offer for everyone. The path goes in a loop, which makes it popular with bikers, runners, and those that want a nice place to go with their kids. There are always some sheep and cows happily grazing in the paddocks, and the giant, old trees that inhabit most of the park make this a peaceful and great place to go for a visit.

• Maungas/Volcanos

  • There are lots of little Maungas around and you can choose any of them for a nice way to get in a walk and get some pretty great views. If I had to pick one as my favorite, I’d have to recommend Mt Eden.

• Paradise Indian Food

  • Paradise offers some truly delicious Indian food. We’re always happy when we go and sit down and enjoy a curry here. They’re so popular that they’ve actually had to open a separate Takeaway building!

• Pudu Malaysian

  • Recently opened on Dominion Road, this is another restaurant I highly recommend! I have never had anything less than incredible here!

• Ralph’s

  • Ralph’s serves pretty much just burgers, chicken wings, and fries - which should show that they’ve perfected their craft! But the real reason I added them to the list is I have NEVER been able to confidently say that a place does their veggie burger better than their beef one. And this comes from our meat eating friends!

• La Voie Française

  • A little shop on Dominion that doesn’t even offer seating serves some of the best pastries I’ve ever found! Be warned - during the weekend the line tends to wrap around the building! I go there far too often, and have to recommend both their almond and apricot croissants.

• Tart Bakery

  • This all vegan cafe has some incredible pies and sandwiches, but more importantly they have the BEST doughnut I’ve come across in Auckland! Anytime we’re near a Tart Bakery I make it a point to stop by and enjoy one.

• Duck Island Ice Cream

  • Duck Island might be my favorite ice cream in New Zealand, and there’s something extra amazing about going to the actual storefront and getting a couple scoops in a cone. I highly recommend finding one of their locations and treating yourself!

CBD (Central Business District)

We’re not very big city people, but I’ve come up with our favorite things to do when visiting. Another note is to check online and see what’s going on - there are always concerts and events popping up all the time!

• Walk Around

  • My favorite thing to do in any city is to simply walk the streets and take in the atmosphere, the smells, the bustle, the people, the shop fronts. I think this is the best way to absorb a city’s vibe. And best part - it’s free!

• K Road

  • This road has a bit of a reputation for itself! Enjoy a stroll along and try some of the yummy food or pop into some of the amazing vintage stores there.

• Walk Around the Harbor

  • I always love a good walk down to the harbor to take in the ocean and the grand yachts parked all along the wharf. It’s a surprisingly peaceful place to be.

• Commercial Bay

  • A must-do if you’re in the CBD! There are so many incredible places to eat here - I’ve never been disappointed with any of the food I’ve gotten!

• Nahm

  • One of my very favorite restaurants in all of Auckland, Nahm is a wonderful place to go to if you like Thai food. Can’t recommend it enough!

North Shore

A lot of Aucklanders consider the North Shore to be soooo far but it’s not! And it’s definitely a place worth going to for many reason.

• Every North Shore Beach for Swimming

  • Everyone loves Takapuna because the town surrounding has more shops and food options and the beach itself is really pretty with all the shells, but go a bit more north and you’ll find yourself at Brown’s Bay and Long Bay beaches. I prefer these beaches for the days I plan on setting up camp and lounging by the water all day - they tend to be a little less busy and the sand is softer and nicer to play with. Plus, there’s a really good place to stop for pies along the way called Euro Patisserie!

• Birkenhead Domain

  • Another great green space to get a quick dose of nature, this domain is nestled into the North Shore and the second you step into the native bush you feel so calm and restored.

• Mahi Kitchen

  • I’m going to be bold and say that Mahi Kitchen is my actual number one choice for favorite restaurant I’ve discovered in all of Auckland. It’s a little hole-in-the-wall kitchen in Beach Haven, completely run by a very lovely couple that will start to recognize you once you go a few times and throw in extras for you. We will go way out of our way to drive up here and get it, but it’s always worth it! If you go, my top favorite dish is the Paneer Malabari - absolutely transformational!

• North Head // Mt Victoria // Devonport

  • Devonport itself is a fun area that has a cute downtown with lots to offer - art studios, good food, great playgrounds along the waterfront. But I love the two maungas there - North Head and Mt Victoria. Both offer awesome views of the water and the city, but North Head has some really fun World War II tunnels weaving all around and through the actual hill. It’s a great way to spend a morning!

Further North

If you’re wanting to be adventurous and spend a whole day exploring up north, there is so much to offer!

• Tawharanui Regional Park

  • An absolute stunner of a park - there’s a great long coastal walk that bring you to stunning views and when you’re done with that you can set yourself up at the gorgeous beaches they have and spend a whole day luxuriating in the sand, sun, and ocean water.

• Tiritiri Matangi

  • This is for the very adventurous! you have to take a ferry over, and the time we went we actually stayed the night in a cabin. Tiritiri Matangi is a bird sanctuary that give you the chance to see some rare and exotic birds. When you go, you get the strange experience of being on a whole island with yourself and about 30 other people max! Make sure to bring your swimsuit and take a swim at any one of the many beautiful beaches along the whole coast.

• Wenderholm Regional Park

  • Another incredible regional park that has it all - a gorgeous beach, some fun paths to walk, and a fun old homestead you can check out.

• Matakana Market

  • Many people love to make the drive all the way up to Matakana on Saturdays to enjoy the very cute and vibe-y market up there! Be prepared to be assaulted by delicious food stalls and hand-crafted goods as you sit along the lazy river that runs through the town.

That’s it! Those are all of my favorite places to eat and things to do around Auckland! I hope there’s at least a few things you haven’t discovered yet and that you give them a go! Because every single place on this list is very loved by me.

xBecca