Top things to do in Auckland
Attractions, tours and activities in Auckland
Auckland: the city's best neighbourhoods
Find a great area to stay in Auckland
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Auckland Central Business District
In the city centre
From within, Auckland’s CBD holds a clutch of mini-districts. Cool kids head to Britomart and High Street to shop: try Pauanesia for “Kiwiana” and Untouched World for sustainable clothes. Try open-air dining at the family-friendly Eliot Stables, or see Māori and Polynesian art at the Auckland Art Gallery (dazzling after its $100m refit!).
Places to stay from £5 per night
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Viaduct Harbour
0.4 miles from city centre
This downtown dive has transformed itself from “blah” to “hurrah”! Auckland’s powers-that-be pumped money into developing this former no-go zone, building it up for the 2000 Louis Vuitton Cup yacht race. Today, the Viaduct and adjacent Wynyard Quarter are shrines to top-class dining, trendy bars and cool clubs.
Places to stay from £61 per night
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Parnell
1.2 miles from city centre
Parnell, rise. Having thrown off its stuffy image of late, this moneyed city-fringe suburb is flooded with techie start-ups and boutiques. Go to Parnell Rise (the main strip) on Friday night to dine and mingle with Auckland’s young movers-and-shakers – try Mink for café cool, Cibo for designer desserts or Non Solo Pizza for the best slice in town!
Places to stay from £52 per night
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Waitakere
7 miles from city centre
West Auckland is vast and huge, but there are three must-dos: take the easy Omanawanui Track, a half-day adventure through native rainforest; have a flat white in the hippie enclave of Titirangi, a tiny township with links to vineyards (try Artisan in Henderson); plus unspoiled Piha Beach – for experienced surfers, runners, trekkers and loafers.
Places to stay from £29 per night
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North Shore
5.8 miles from city centre
Say “sure” to the shore! Every suburb has its own flavour – Albany with its vibrant South African community, Takapuna for beaches and café culture, Devonport for historical hoity-toity (and its haunting WWII barracks), and Greenhithe for solitude amid the evergreens. For an afternoon of swimming and barbecuing, head further north to Long Bay.
Places to stay from £12 per night
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Manukau
11.5 miles from city centre
Manukau takes some flack for its urban grit – but that’s only half the story. Each suburb teems with openness and warmth. For proof, visit Otara Markets on Saturday for Pacific street-food and bootleg beats, Botany Town Centre and Westfield Manukau for slick shop-stops, or Manurewa’s Botanical Gardens for a theatre of NZ’s diverse flora and fauna.
Places to stay from £60 per night
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Auckland Airport Area
8.8 miles from city centre
Though this area typically bustles with cargo companies, you can find little pockets of peace. After touch down, unwind among the vines of Villa Maria winery, or tee off at the 18-hole Aviation Golf Club. At Mangere Markets, pick up the pace amid a medley of languages and Pacific cultures, then strike thrill-ride gold at Rainbow’s End Theme Park.
Places to stay from £39 per night
About Auckland
Including tips for the best time to visit Auckland
New Zealand’s most populated city, Auckland is flanked by two harbours and built on a volcanic field, with about 50 volcanoes shaping its landscape. Climb up the grassy slopes of Mount Eden or One Tree Hill for 360-degree views, or stop by Auckland Domain – the city’s oldest park – which sits on the crater of a dormant volcano. Nature lovers can also head to Auckland Botanic Gardens for a peaceful picnic amidst tranquil lakes, exotic flowers and native plants.
Featuring urban skyscrapers set against rolling hills, Auckland’s skyline is dominated by the impressive Sky Tower, a 328-metre-tall structure offering panoramic views of the city. Here, you can dine in a revolving restaurant, take a thrilling walk along the edge of the tower or jump off it to experience a free fall of 11 seconds. Expect more bungee jumping opportunities at the Auckland Harbour Bridge, where you can climb to the top or take a plunge into the water below. If you’re after a more relaxing activity, you can see penguins, sharks and stingrays up close at SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium, or take a sunset cruise for evening views of the ‘City of Sails’ and its yacht-decked harbours.
There are plenty of options for art and history enthusiasts travelling to Auckland. Popular places of interest include the Auckland War Memorial Museum honouring New Zealand’s soldiers, and Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, featuring an extensive collection of traditional and contemporary works – from Maori art to Yayoi Kusama installations.
Tonight
From £56 per night
This weekend
From £100 per night
Next weekend
From £85 per night
| Most popular time to visit | October–December |
| Cheapest time to visit | January–March |
| Local currency | NZD 10 = £4.77 |
| Language | English |
| Average weekend price | £113 per night |
| Average weekday price | £115 per night |
| Typical stay | 1 night |
Points of interest in Auckland
Stay near the top sightseeing spots in Auckland
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Sky Tower
0.1 miles from city centre
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Viaduct Harbour
0.4 miles from city centre
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Spark Arena
0.7 miles from city centre
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Mangere Bridge (SH20)
6 miles from city centre
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Dressmart Onehunga
5.2 miles from city centre
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Mount Smart Stadium
5.5 miles from city centre
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K Road
0.7 miles from city centre
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Aotea Centre
0.2 miles from city centre
Auckland reviews
What other travellers say about Auckland
The CBD area has a lot to walk too.
23 April 2024
The CBD area has a lot to walk too. The dinner at the orbit in skytower was very good. The wine tour to Waiheke was lovely! Do note the ferry ride is $55 return if you book online. Piha black Sand Beach is about 50 mins from Auckland. I would suggest a stop off at the Arataki visitor centre before heading to Piha. I would also suggest going to the Mercer bay Loop. It is a bit of a steep walk, but can be done within an hour. Just make sure you do the loop and start where the marker is. The walk up the other way is not as bad as going down. The hop on hop off bus was helpful. I also suggest a stroll up Mount Eden. You get beautiful views of Auckland.
Auckland was clean and felt safe but it wasn't terribly...
21 April 2024
Auckland was clean and felt safe but it wasn't terribly exciting. It's a good place to fly into / out of but only worth a day or two on its own. Around 5 -6pm and most places are closed. There's a decent selection of restraunts and cafes covering a wide range of countries / dishes. I walked everywhere but there are escooters all over the place which look to be preferred method of travel. I spent a day hiking around Rangitoto Island which was enjoyable. Very interesting to be walking amongst volcanic rubble. I went to the Sky Tower but it's not actually that tall and having just flown in, the views from the plane were far better. Also the windows on the first viewing floor were not that clean. I would not recommend the Sky Tower.
5 action packed days with four kids first flight first trip...
19 April 2024
5 action packed days with four kids first flight first trip to Auckland : Kelly Tarlton’s Mission Bay Beach, Rainbows End, Crystal Mountain Costco, Sky-tower, Dress-mart, Harbour Bridge Butterfly Creek, All Black Experience, Memorial Museum in April : we had a great time Kids fav Rainbow’s 🌈 End rollercoaster.. next visit MOT and Zoo. Only ate out 3 times as Brilliant home booked with full kitchen which allowed more budget for activities but Dennys, Walburger and Taco Bell were all great eats.
The city center is not too big, so there is no need to spend...
12 April 2024
The city center is not too big, so there is no need to spend more than 2 days here. I would recommend to visit one of the islands close to Auckland like Waiheke, it was the best decision ever. I would 100% recommend to visit the sky tower, but do not waste your money eating at the Orbit 360 restaurant, the food is not worth the money, maybe try the bar.
I loved how many different food options there were near me...
12 April 2024
I loved how many different food options there were near me in Auckland, we went to multiple food courts and stunning restaurants as well as low-key bars. It was easy to get Ubers, ferries, buses, and scooters as well as walk around the city.
There was a lot to see.
11 April 2024
There was a lot to see. Very easy to get around by bus if you knew where you were going. Extremely hilly as you would expect being in a volcanic region. Boat trips very good. We ate in various places in the city and they were much of a muchness.
Popular places to stay in Auckland
Stay in some of the best accommodation Auckland has to offer
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Princes Wharf's truly stunning North-West Loft Auckland Central Business District, Auckland
From £528 per night
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New Lynn Self- Contained Unit near Golf Course Waitakere, Auckland
From £58 per night
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Stunning Auckland Harbour Views Auckland Central Business District, Auckland
From £228 per night
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Aachen House Auckland, New Zealand
From £134 per night
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Self Contained Cottage Pukekohe Auckland, New Zealand
From £72 per night
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Other accommodation in Auckland
Choose from a wide variety of places to stay in Auckland
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Apartments
From £30 per night
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Resorts
From £21 per night
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Villas
From £88 per night
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Cabins
From £60 per night
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Cottages
From £50 per night
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Serviced Apartments
From £22 per night
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Holiday Homes
From £50 per night
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Guest Houses
From £25 per night
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Hostels
From £5 per night
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Motels
From £47 per night
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B&Bs
From £46 per night
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Holiday Parks
From £29 per night
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Homestays
From £12 per night
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Self Catering Accommodation
From £24 per night
