15 BEST Things to do in Auckland, NZ

If you’re looking for some fun and exciting things to do in Auckland, you’ve come to the right place!

There is no shortage of things to do in New Zealand’s largest city. You can look for wildlife, visit iconic movie sets, catch a ferry to a stunning wine-growing island, or try out some of the hundreds of amazing bars and restaurants.

So, if you’re fortunate enough to be planning a visit to ‘the city of sails,’ I want you to know all the best things to do so that you can make the most of your time there. I’ve put together the list below to help you plan and make sure you have an amazing experience in Auckland!

Auckland At A Glance

Auckland is a pretty straightforward city to figure out. But there are a few essential tips that will make your first visit easier!

Getting around: Auckland is a pretty spread-out city, but you can get around easily using buses, trains, and ferries. Pay using your phone, card, or grab an AT HOP card. I also like to walk around as much as possible!

When to visit: December to February is the best time to visit weather-wise, as these are Auckland’s summer months. I also love spring and fall, as there are fewer tourists and the weather is still pretty good. 

Rent a car for further distances: If you’re venturing beyond the CBD (which you totally should), renting a car is one of the easiest options. I use Snap Rental, and it’s one of the best rental car experiences I’ve ever had!

How I’d Spend Three Days in Auckland

🏙️Day 1: Auckland City Sites & Food Tour
Kick off your Auckland adventure with a guided city tour, followed by an afternoon of local flavors on a walking food tour. Wrap up your day with a waterfront dinner.

🏡Day 2: Visit Hobbiton
Trade the city for the countryside on a full-day tour to the Hobbiton Movie Set and the magical Waitomo Glowworm Caves, two of New Zealand’s most iconic experiences in one unforgettable trip.

🐋Day 3: Dolphin & Whale Cruise or Piha Beach
Choose your perfect finale: cruise the Hauraki Gulf in search of dolphins and whales, or explore the lush forests and wild coastline of the Waitākere Ranges on a half-day trip. Round out the day with art, beautiful gardens, and a laid-back dinner.

The BEST Things to do in Auckland 

1. Go Dolphin and Whale Watching

One of the coolest things I’ve done in Auckland was joining a dolphin and whale-watching tour to the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park. This is a protected marine reserve made up of over 50 islands and full of wildlife!

I went on this highly-rated half-day tour and was lucky enough to see whales, dolphins, penguins, and various seabirds! It was neat to watch the gannets diving into the water at high speeds in search of food. It was such a memorable experience, and I managed to take some amazing photos. 

I bet you didn’t know that six different species of whales call the marine park home, including the native Bryde’s whale and the Humpback whale. This makes it one of the best places in the world to go whale watching all year round!

This tour departs from the Viaduct Harbour and is on board a luxury catamaran. Your guide will point out all the sea life along the way, and if you’re lucky, you’ll get to see all the marine life that I did. I loved this experience, and I’m not the only one (just check out the hundreds of 5-star reviews here!)

2. Go Wine Tasting on Waiheke Island

If wine and beautiful beaches are your thing, make sure you visit Waiheke Island. This gorgeous island is home to over 30 boutique wineries and is my favorite day trip from Auckland.

It’s easy to get to Waiheke from Auckland CBD, with ferries leaving several times a day from the central Auckland Ferry Terminal. It’s a short journey, taking around 30 to 40 minutes.

Once you’re on Waiheke Island, I highly recommend doing this premium 6-hour wine tour. It visits the best wineries on the island and provides safe transportation so you can enjoy as many wine samples as you’d like!

All 3 of the wineries we visited had spectacular views of the coastline. I also loved that the tour had a maximum of 10 people, so it never felt crowded and I could ask all the questions I wanted. This tour includes all wine-tasting fees; you will just need to get to and from the island on your own.

Related Read: If you’d like to spend a night on the island, check out Where to Stay on Waiheke Island for my top hotels!

3. Wander the Botanic Gardens

If you travel as I do and can only stand being in a city for so long, you’ll love a few hours at the Auckland Botanic Gardens. This area is massive, covering 65 hectares, including 10 hectares of native forest. It opened in 1982, and so it is a relatively new garden by botanic gardens standards.

There are a lot of unique flora and fauna here, such as the African Plants Garden, Camellia Garden, Conifer Garden, and an Edible Garden – where, yep, you guessed it, you can learn how to grow vegetables and herbs in your own garden at home. If you’re traveling with kids, they will love the Wiri Rambler train that takes you around the gardens!

You’ll find several walking trails that weave through the gardens, like the Permanent Sculpture Trail, where you will discover the numerous artworks and sculptures dotted throughout the gardens. The Puhinui Stream Forest Trail is my favorite trail here; it links with Totara Park and is a great way to see native plants up close. This loop trail is 4 km and will take most people about 2 hours to complete.

It’s one of the best free things to do in Auckland and attracts close to one million visitors a year. So yeah, it was an easy addition to this list! The gardens are open daily from 8 am to 4:30 pm, and I’d give yourself about 2-3 hours to thoroughly explore it.

4. Day trip to Hobbiton and the Waitomo Caves

Two of New Zealand’s most epic “must-do” activities are located just a couple of hours outside of Auckland. I’m talking about Hobbiton and Waitomo Glowworm Caves, and this fantastic full-day tour combines both activities into one fun day trip!

The day begins with a tour of the Hobbiton Set, better known as ‘The Shire’ to fans. Here, you’ll learn the secrets behind the creation of this quirky, colorful set, and take in incredible views of the Kaimai Ranges as you walk around. Visit the Hobbit Holes, the Mill, and even grab a drink at the Green Dragon Inn. Lord of the Rings fans will know exactly what I mean! 

Next, you’ll have a delicious lunch before heading to the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Here, you will get on a boat and glide through the caves surrounded by thousands of glowworms. It is truly a spectacular sight! I also learned a lot about the Māori culture from our guide, who was a descendant of the Māori chief who originally discovered the caves.

This is a full day of can’t-miss excitement. Be sure to book it in advance because it often sells out!

Related Read: For more great tour options from Auckland to Hobbiton, check out my post about my favorite ones here!

5. Visit the famous Piha Beach

Piha Beach is one of the best beaches in New Zealand, and it’s also one of the prettiest, with its black sand in contrast to the bright blue water!

It’s about a 45-minute drive from Auckland and makes for a great day trip. When I went, I did this 5-hour afternoon guided tour to Piha Beach and had the best time! It includes a guided walk of the beach and the surrounding Waitakere Ranges rainforest, where your knowledgeable guide will point out all the New Zealand flora and fauna.

I also love that this tour visits the Arataki Centre, where I learned about Māori history and viewed traditional Māori carvings. A bonus add-on is a stop at a local bakery for some delicious treats!

Piha Beach is a very popular spot for surfers, so if you’re lucky, you may get to watch some people ride the waves. Many people come here to swim, too, although be sure to swim between the flags, as this stretch of ocean can be rough and rocky!

6. Get hip in Ponsonby

Easily one of Auckland’s coolest neighborhoods, Ponsonby is filled with hip bars, busy restaurants, and quirky boutiques. But what I love the most about this area is that one street behind the main street (Ponsonby Road) is filled with historic Victorian villas with manicured gardens – it’s the perfect mix of old-world charm with the hipster Ponsonby Road. 

One of the best things to do here is eat good food, and the first place you must visit is Prego, an Italian restaurant famous in the Auckland region. It’s one of the most popular places to eat in Ponsonby, so expect to queue – you can’t book a table in advance! Another favorite spot in Ponsonby is The Blue Breeze Inn, an authentic Chinese restaurant with some really unique, flavorful dishes. 

If you’re after a great, strong coffee, head to Sol’s Place! I love the cozy interior, and their food is just as good as the coffee.

For some shopping, I love perusing The Open Book to find something new to read. There are also a handful of art galleries and vintage stores here, so there’s always something unique to pick up.

And no visit to Ponsonby is complete without a visit to the market! Ponsonby Central has a great atmosphere and a ton of awesome food stalls that showcase cuisines from all over the world, but our favorite has to be Olas Arepas! 

When night falls, hit up Bedford Soda & Liquor on Ponsonby Road for what I think are Auckland’s best cocktails. My top tip: try their alcoholic caramel shake, made with salted caramel, Maltesers, and whiskey, with more Maltesers sprinkled on top. It’s a dessert and cocktail in one! Afterward, head to the late-night bar – Ponsonby Social Club, where some excellent local and international DJs perform from Wednesday through Sunday. 

7. Wētā Workshop Unleashed

From the creators of the award-winning Weta Workshop in Wellington, which creates props for big-hitting movies like Mad Max, Fast and Furious, and The Lord of the Rings, Weta Workshop Unleashed is an experience like no other.

On this 1.5-hour tour through the film effects facility, you will see monsters, giants, and robots up close, as well as set pieces from several famous movies. It feels like you’re right inside the movie; everything is so realistic!

My favorite part was learning how the Weta crew designed and built these fantastical creatures and sets. Whether you’re into the art of movie-making or not, this is guaranteed to be a fun day for all ages.

Weta Workshop Unleashed is an Auckland activity like no other and is located on Federal Street in Auckland CBD. It is a super popular activity (look at all these great reviews), so be sure to reserve your tickets online in advance!

8. Head up Mount Eden

A 20-minute bus ride (or an hour’s walk) from the CBD will get you to Mt Eden, a dormant volcano where you can hike up to see the large crater at its summit! FYI – the crater is the cone of the volcano from its last eruption! You can also get one of the best views of the city from up here, so as you can imagine, it’s an incredibly popular thing to do for tourists in Auckland! 

The hike to the top of Mount Eden is one of the best hikes on the North Island. It’s a loop trail just over 2 km (1.3 miles) and takes about 40 minutes to complete. It’s an easy hike along a paved path and is achievable for most, but the 223 feet of elevation gain may turn some people off.

9. Join a Guided Tour of the City

The best way to see the city if you have limited time in Auckland is to join a guided tour. That way, you can see the city’s most memorable sights in a short time and learn fascinating tidbits from a knowledgeable local guide.

On this half-day tour, you will be taken to Auckland’s best sights, including the Harbour Bridge, Mount Eden, and Mission Bay Beaches (just to name a few). There are many great photo stops along the way, and you’ll learn so much about Auckland from the local guides.

This 4-hour sightseeing tour is the perfect way to start out your time in Auckland, as it will help you get your bearings and give you many ideas for things to do with the rest of your time in the city.

10.  Go on a Harbor Dinner Cruise 

Auckland is known as the ‘city of sails’ due to the sheer number of yachts and boats located in the harbor here. So, what better way to explore the massive harbor than on a harbor cruise?

To take your experience up a notch, I recommend booking this 3-course dinner cruise! Imagine sailing across Waitemata Harbor at sunset, a glass of local wine in hand, with a perfectly prepared dinner spread before you. If this doesn’t scream ‘holiday’, I don’t know what does! 

This is a great experience for any sort of traveler, but especially if you’ve been to Auckland before but have never seen it from the water. It’s truly stunning seeing the iconic sites, like the Auckland Harbour Bridge and Sky Tower from this perspective. 

And the views are only half of it! The food is delicious, featuring New Zealand lamb, fresh fish, and Māori recipes. You can choose your dinner selection before setting sail so you can have something to look forward to. 

All in all, this is a great experience to treat yourself, have a date night, or a lovely evening with friends. It’s an easy addition to your itinerary, and the perfect way to cap off your night!

Related Read: Need help planning your trip? Follow my 3-day Auckland itinerary, which includes some of these top activities, plus my favorite hidden gems!

11. Enjoy the best Gelato in the city at Giapo

You probably already know this about me, but I have a major sweet tooth. So when I found out about Giapo’s famous ice cream, I had to check it out for myself! 

This isn’t your average scoop shop; it’s more like a towering gelato creation, filled with edible art, homemade cones, and flavors you’ll be dreaming about long after the last bite. Of course,  you can get a normal cone and scoop, and it will be delicious. Or splurge for one of their signature art pieces, like the bat cone, a selfie frame, or a sourdough donut cone (yum!).

Gaipo is pretty popular, so there might be a queue when you visit. It always goes quickly, though, and it’s certainly worth the wait!

12. Check Out the View from the Sky Tower

Auckland’s most iconic building, the Sky Tower stands at a whopping 1,076 feet (328 meters) tall and is one of New Zealand’s most photographed buildings. But the best photos can be taken from the top of the tower, where you will be treated to 360-degree views of the city, the Harbour Bridge, Mount Eden, and even as far as Waiheke Island!

I recommend spending 2 hours on the observation levels of the towers, taking photos and getting your bearings on the sprawling city below. Binoculars are available around the observation decks, but I recommend bringing your own if you have them, since the public ones are sometimes already taken.

If you have some more time, check out the SkyBar. It’s a fancy cocktail lounge located 182 meters (597 feet) in the air. I don’t think I’ve ever had a drink with such a nice view before!

13. Go on a Food Tour

One of my favorite things to do in a new city is to join a food tour because it combines two of my favorite things – food and exploring new places!

There are heaps of awesome restaurants and bars in Auckland, so choosing where to go can be overwhelming. That’s why this walking food tour is a great way to get to know the city, and honestly, it’s perfect for your first visit, or if you’ve been here a million times already!

You’ll spend a few hours strolling through various neighborhoods with a local guide. This really helps you get the lay of the land and learn a lot as you go. There’s more to Auckland’s history than meets the eye!

But of course, the best part is the food! This tour focuses on local producers, which I always love! You’ll sample a variety of dishes, from Michelin-rated to local favorites. And of course, ask your guide for dinner recommendations for the rest of your trip.

This is a great intro to Auckland and a tasty way to spend an afternoon. Just be sure to come hungry, because the samples are generous!

14. Learn About New Zealand at the Auckland Museum 

The Auckland Museum in the Auckland Domain Parnell is housed within one of the city’s most beautiful heritage buildings. Spread over three floors, you can easily spend a couple of hours here learning about New Zealand’s unique culture and rich history. Believe me, I actually worked at the museum for a few months before I moved to Queenstown.

There are various exhibitions here; some tell the story of the country’s first inhabitants – the Polynesian voyagers who discovered the island way back in 950 A.D. In comparison, other exhibits offer an insight into the indigenous Māori way of life. You can see Māori carvings, canoes, and an example of the homes they lived in over the years. It’s truly fascinating. 

The museum is also a war memorial for the Auckland area and holds over 3.5 million taonga (treasures) from its military past. It is also home to one of New Zealand’s top heritage-listed libraries.

I recommend spending at least two hours at this Auckland attraction, and the best way to save some time is by purchasing “skip the line” tickets before you arrive for only $32 NZD per adult.

15. Enjoy $2 Oysters at Oyster and Chop

Since Auckland is surrounded by water, there’s a lot of excellent seafood here. However, it’s hard to beat Oyster and Chop’s happy hour oyster deal. This is a hidden gem in Auckland and a local favorite, so keep this one a secret!

From 3 to 5 pm, you can get some of the best oysters in town for just $2 NZD. I’m not kidding! You honestly can’t find a better price anywhere else, and the quality is high. The oysters are fresh and a must for any seafood lover. 

The rest of the menu is pretty enticing too, so come for the oysters and, if you’re still hungry, try a few of the mains! Oyster and Chop sits right on Viaduct Harbor, so try to snag a patio table for some great waterfront views. Cheers!

Where to Stay in Auckland

Auckland is a huge city, so deciding where to stay in Auckland can be a challenge. Luckily, I’ve stayed in Auckland countless times (and even lived there for a few months) so I know the best areas to stay. Below are my favorite hotels/hostels in Auckland to suit all budgets and travel styles:

The Grand by SkyCity – $$$

The Grand by SkyCity is known for being one of Auckland’s most luxurious stays. It feels like a resort to me, and it offers five-star comfort right in the middle of the CBD! It’s part of the SkyCity complex, which means that you’re just steps from the Sky Tower, world-class restaurants, and even a casino. 

The rooms are spacious and modern, and there’s an indoor pool, fitness center, and spa on site. If you’re after a luxurious stay in the CBD, this is the perfect choice. Rooms here start at $300 NZD per night and can go up to $500 NZD during peak season. Book your stay here!

Grand Millennium Auckland – $$

Grand Millennium Auckland is a polished mid-range hotel with a top-notch location near Aotea Square—perfect for sightseeing, shows, or exploring Queen Street on foot. The rooms are spacious, quiet, and filled with natural light thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows, and many reviewers praise the friendly staff and overall cleanliness.

This hotel really shines when it comes to amenities: you’ll have access to an indoor heated pool, a well-equipped fitness center, and multiple on-site dining options.

Standard rooms typically range from around $170 to $400 NZD per night, depending on the season, with breakfast included. Check availability and book your stay here!

Rendezvous Heritage Hotel Auckland – $

If you’re traveling on a budget but still want a central location, Rendezvous Heritage Hotel Auckland is a great pick. It’s tucked into the quieter edge of the CBD, so you’re close to the action without the noise. This historic hotel offers simple, clean rooms at wallet-friendly prices, and it’s just a short walk from Queen Street, the Sky Tower, and Albert Park.

The building has some charming old-school character, and while it’s not fancy, it covers all the basics for a short stay. The vintage touches in the lobby and the laid-back, relaxed vibe give the hotel the feel of a local gem rather than a chain. There’s also a lovely rooftop pool! 

Queen rooms here typically cost between $130 and $300 NZD per night. Book your stay on Booking.com!

Related Read: For more detailed info on the best areas to stay in Auckland and the best hotels, check out this detailed post!

Thanks for reading!

Well there you have it, 10 of the best things to do in Auckland, New Zealand! I bet you can now see why Auckland is worth visiting on your trip.

I’m so excited for you to visit and try these Auckland activities. I, for one, can’t wait to return to this buzzing city soon! If you have any questions for me, please leave a comment below so I can get back to you!

In the meantime, be sure to browse my website for all the most updated and detailed information about visiting Auckland and nearby areas! I have put together an epic bucket list for visitors to New Zealand full of the best things to do and see in New Zealand and the best time to visit New Zealand!

Some other blogs you’ll likely enjoy include:

Auckland to the Bay of Islands Road Trip Itinerary

12 Best Things to do on Waiheke Island, New Zealand

Things to do in Paihia

12 Best Things to do in Wellington, New Zealand