While JAFA's may be the brunt of jokes for those south of the Bombay Hills, we think living in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland is pretty damn rad. Whether it’s our ability to complain relentlessly about Auckland traffic, our love affair with a great coffee (or anything with avocado or halloumi), donning activewear with no plans of sweating, and how someone always knows someone who knows someone making The Bachelor winner our worst kept secret… this fine city is a gem of a place to live.
There’s no shortage of things to do so it’s with great difficulty (and lots of fun) that we at Urban List have created our list of 37 things you should do if you live in Auckland.
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Party First Work Later
Follow Morning People to be the first to know when the next hottest morning rave drops. Featuring New Zealand’s top DJs plus bottomless Altezano Brothers Coffee, Karma Kombucha, and All Good bananas, there’s no better way to start your day.
Flex Your Skills (Or Lack Thereof) At Gravity X
Aotearoa's only indoor ski simulator and surfing centre sounds like a vibe and it absolutely is. The massively talented team of trainers at Gravity X will ensure you have a great time even if your surf experience is exclusively web-based and the closest you've ever been to snow is belting Let It Go at the top of your lungs. Suitable for all ages, we can't recommend this gig enough. Plus, there are phone holders set up at each simulator so you can live the influencer fantasy, capturing your wins (or, more importantly, your epic fails) for splashing over socials later.
Feast On Food Trucks
Every week the legends at the Food Truck Collective pop up at a local park or gig and sling the tastiest fare around. You could eat do a fair bit of food travelling in one night or you could get your fix of cult-worthy fries (we're looking at you, Double Dutch). Keep an eye on the Collective's socials for all the juicy deets.
Run The Grid
Think you've got a pretty sharp crew? Put your collective talents to the test at Running Grid, an interactive gaming experience that's halfway between The Floor Is Lava and Bubble manifested as a floor covered in neon tiles. Your group will work together to stamp out all the blue tiles while avoiding the red tiles before the time runs out. It's sweaty work but it's a helluva lot of fun and, for sure, an essential component of flat zombie apocalypse training. (And parents, you've just found the way of tiring out the sprogs.) P.s. The crew have just launched a brand new Squid Game-themed room. This is not a drill.
Get Cultured… In A Car Park
If you’re after shows brimming with original, local, disruptive and boundary-pushing work, Basement Theatre’s the place for you. From live script readings to experimental debuts and iconic acts spanning spoken word, theatre, stage challenge, live music, and more. And yep, you’ll find it in the car park behind the Auckland Town Hall.
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Spend A Dreamy Day (Or Weekend) On Waiheke
Known for its wineries and vineyards, beaches, top tier eateries, and laid-back atmosphere, living it up on Waiheke Island must be done at least once (but preferably on a regular basis). A mere 45-minute ferry from downtown Auckland, this stunning island is practically on our doorstep and it's packed with things to do that range from absolutely luxe to budget-friendly.
Art Up Your Child’s Pose
Image credit: Auckland Art Gallery / Facebook
If you like your yoga with a twist of something a little different, pop along to the Yoga and Art Immersions at the Auckland Art Gallery every Sunday from 9-10am.
Soak Up The Vibes On Karangahape Road
One of the coolest streets in the world as dubbed by Time Out in 2022, whether you're a Tāmaki resident or you're passing through, wandering along Karangahape Road is essential. Downright delicious and utterly saucy (in all meanings of the word) you'll find live gigs and kai, amidst sex shops and dance clubs. Hell, we once witnessed an underground screamo gig at Whammy complete with a Mr Potato Head doll. It's everything your heart could desire, and more than you could ever imagine.
Catch A Game At Eden Park
The All Blacks need no introduction so if you're a diehard fan, you'll definitely want to experience a live game at Eden Park. The stadium is more than a century old and can seat just under 50,000 rabid fans aficionados so you know the hype's going to be off the charts.
Hit Up A Sports Bar
If you can't make it to Eden Park, the next best thing is to catch the game on the big screen at your local (or not-so-local sports bar). Auckland's sports bars are quite the experience, often with immaculate meal deals, inventive cocktails, and mind-blowing collection of beers on tap. This is not your usual sports bar situation.
Make A Thing
Working with your hands is said to relieve stress, and it’s also really good fun. Level up your mixology skills, create a queer candle (yes, it's a thing and it's frickin' glorious), or get zombie apocalypse-ready with archery training on the side of a volcano. Check out all the best workshops here.
Pile Into The Car
Perhaps odd but one of the best things to do in Auckland is leave it. Seriously. The city's so close to so many different adventures—a short roadie will take you to lush native forests, snow-capped volcanoes, massive lakes, sprawling vineyards, caves filled with glowworms, whole other islands, and more. Find inspiration with 8 of the best day trips or 21 stunning walks, do a snack run, and dive head first into adventure.
Unwind With A Very Saxy Evening
Image credit: Caretaker / Facebook
Pssst, secret New York-inspired cocktail bar, Caretaker, offers live jazz every Sunday (and Monday and Tuesday too) from 9pm. The perfect tonic to a wild weekend, shimmy on over to the speakeasy for a total change of pace and unwind with tastebud-tingling cocktails in an unrivalled setting.
Step Right Up
Dodgem cars, carousels, VR games and more. Get up to mischief at Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq—a circus-themed arcade-meets-bar hidden away in Westfield Newmarket. Psst, love secret worlds? You’re going to want to check out all of these too.
Go On A Progressive Dinner
Here in Auckland have an abundance of amazing bars and restaurants so don’t spend your night at just one of them! Line up a bunch of your favourites and hop from one to the next sampling drinks and nibbles along the way. This lil' happy hour cheat sheet might help you out with planning.
Get Filthy
Filth creates legendary parties and safe spaces for people who identify as QTBIPOC. Sound like a bit of you? Follow their IG for deets on their next event.
Snap Up A Bargain At Auckland’s Best Markets
Now more than ever it’s important to support local businesses. Luckily, Auckland’s home to a tonne of wonderful, vibrant markets, both night and day. And if that's piqued your interest, we're guessing you're into popping some tags too. You'll want to bump these opshops to the top of your list.
Consume, Consciously
Image credit: Crushes | Facebook
If you’re in need of a gift for someone special or you want to treat yo’self, Karangahape Road’s Crushes is our go-to. It’s brimming with NZ-made, ethical, and vintage goodness, plus it's the birthplace of the iconic 'Woke Lesbo' tee.
Get Eyes Deep In Ice Cream
Drop everything—Tip Top does factory tours. Watch the glorious ice cream-making process, get treated to a behind-the-scenes video and, yes, taste it. It’s every kiwi kid’s dream, and it can be yours, too, for just $12.50
Did We Mention Ice Cream?
The scoop game is strong in Tāmaki. From old school dairy-style (don't skip the flake and sprinkles, obviously) to gourmet works of art: Gluten-free, vegan, cone, cup—it’s all here, baby. Here's Auckland's coolest ice cream and gelato shops.
Bliss Out With A Spa Treatment
A natural segue from best ice cream spots (what is ice cream if not bliss in frozen treat form?), zen is never too far away thanks to Auckland's best spas. From enzyme treatments to luxurious massage techniques and chocolate facials, it's a vote for self-care that you absolutely deserve.
Huck Axes
There’s just about nothing sweeter than hurling an axe at the wall which is why we can’t get enough of Sweet Axe and why we’re obsessed with their axe-throwing league. Also on offer? Tasty snacks (including gluten-free and vegan options) and darts, you know, if you're feeling cute.
Do Good On Beautiful Motutapu
Image credit: Motutapu / Website
Volunteer with the Motutapu Restoration Project and spend a day on the island planting trees, controlling weeds and working in the nursery. If you're lucky, you might even spot a takahē.
See A Show Under The Stars
The Civic was built way back in 1929 and has been treating us to wonderful shows ever since. Its clever floating ceiling design, studded with stars, recreates the Southern Hemisphere night sky taking your theatre experience to the next level. And if you're keen to delve deeper into the history and stories within its gilded walls, they do a tour too. How good. (And if you want a feed beforehand, we've got you.)
Have A Staycation
Sometimes we want to get away but the thought of traffic and hours on the road is anything but appealing. For those times, book into one of Auckland’s best hotels and live your most luxurious life right here in Auckland city.
Delight In Film
Despite living in a Netflix-drenched world, our local cinemas continue to flourish—a testament to the atmospheric spaces our boutique cinemas, especially, have managed to create. It's not just a flick, it's an experience in and of itself. (Plus, microwave popcorn has nothing on theatre kettles.) The Hollywood is a glorious relic, The Academy's serving velvet (and probably definitely the most niche quiz series ever made), and The Vic is simply splendid.
Relax With A Good Book
We live in a world where it’s possible to carry whole libraries around in our pocket and that’s pretty amazing but nothing beats the smell of a new book. Treat yourself to an IRL page-turner from one of Auckland’s best bookstores.
Get Inked
Image credit: Tattoo Gold / Instagram
Immortalise all the memories you’ve made in Tāmaki Makaurau by having one of our expert local tattooists gun an ink effigy onto your favourite body part.
Visit A Bird Sanctuary
Tiritiri Matangi Island is a wildlife sanctuary home to rare and endangered species like tuatara and takahe. Jump on the ferry, breathe in the fresh air and walk amongst these incredible creatures.
Discover Spoken Word
Slam is where elements of rap, hip-hop, storytelling, and theatre collide in a thought-provoking performance and we’re here for it. JAFA Poetry Slam is Auckland’s regular poetry slam series, serving the slam every fourth Wednesday of the month at Cityside in Mount Eden.
Race Dragons
If your gym routine’s feeling a little flat, joining a dragon boating team might be just the thing to spice up your fitness. With no prior experience necessary, this is an accessible, enlivening sport for all.
Treat Your Ears To the APO
The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra puts on breathtaking classical music concerts and events all year round featuring both traditional and new works. Get yourself a ticket and prepare to bathe in Auckland’s very own classical sound bath.
Paddle To Rangitoto
Image credit: Fergs Kayaks / Website
Sign up for a guided sunset kayak tour to Rangitoto with Fergs Kayaks. The self-acclaimed ‘date to make the producers of The Bachelor swoon’ is sure to amaze, and if you get the taste for kayaking you might just love Vector Wero.
Get Quizzical
There are few better ways to beat the mid-week blues than rounding up a bunch of teammates, coming up with a ridiculously team name, and hitting a quiz night. Grab a pie and a pint, put your thinking cap on, and get ready to put those fun facts and obscure knowledge you learned from TikTok to good use.
Go For A Run
Wait, hear us out. Run clubs in Auckland aren't just about pounding the pavement. Many are more focused on making friends (or maybe more—run clubs have been touted as the next dating app, after all). Yes there's the clubs that meet at crazy o'clock but there are also the ones with cookies, and the ones where you're connected to runners all around the world. Gorgeous.
Feast For Next To Nothing
The cost of living crisis is undeniable but cheap eats still prevail (and they're freakin' good, too). We've got you sorted with over 50 delectable dishes so you can serve the cost of living the proverbial middle finger.
Make The Most Of Every Minute
Now we don't expect you to know what's going on every second of every day in this city—that's our job. Keep your week's fresh and your weekend's fresher and stay in the know with our handy city guides covering what's on in Auckland this week, month, year, and weekend.
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Main image credit: Morning People | Facebook
Urban List Best Of: has our highest stamp of approval—curated lists of the very best recommendations for you to eat, do, see, buy or book, carefully chosen by our Editors.