What to do in Auckland (city, nature, and foodie ideas from my 5 day visit)
I’ve got the best of what to do in Auckland, from ferry rides to Waiheke Island and iconic filming locations like Hobbiton and Cathedral Cove, to city adventures. I spent 5 days here with my mom and siblings, en route to my cousin’s wedding in Samoa. We met up with my aunt, uncle, and cousins on this trip so you’ll see some of my crew throughout this post.
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How Long to Spend in Auckland
So many people come to New Zealand and spend a month or more. It’s easy to see why, because driving out of the city, nature is beautiful.
I felt that 5 days in Auckland (with two day trips included) was a good amount of time before continuing onwards to Samoa. If I was pushing it, 2 full day in Auckland would also be enough to hit the highlights.
With a car, you can use Auckland as a base for easy day trips. You can also get around on buses, though I didn’t navigate any of those myself.
Where to Stay in Auckland
I was visiting with my mom and siblings, and so we stayed in this Airbnb outside of town and rented a car. We opted to go grocery shopping for pastas and frozen pizzas for most of our dinners to cut down on some of our vacay costs. If you plan to do the same, then make sure you’re staying somewhere with a kitchen.
I thought renting a car was vital to our trip because Auckland’s activities are a bit spread out, and we planned on day trips as well. However, I found that Uber prices were low in the city, so if you’re not planning on day trips, then that is an easy option as well.
For a simple 2 nights or so before moving on to other parts of the island, I suggest something like this apartment downtown or this funky, artsy hotel near Ponsonby.
What to do in Auckland
There are a LOT (over 50!) Google Maps locations in this post! Save them all directly from my Auckland Guide.
Ponsonby for Wandering and Shopping
Ponsonby is a hip area with shops, cafes, and restaurants.
Start with a long black at Ponsonby Central.
Long black ft my cousin Vivienne
Browse The Garden Party for NZ-made gifts.
Visit The Women’s Bookshop.
Check out Bijoux Gallery for unique handmade silver jewelry (I got a gorgeous necklace I wore to my cousin’s wedding). It also looked like something elvish out of The Lord of the Rings.
Finish at the Ponsonby International Food Court, ducking into shops along the way. There are a lot of great looking restaurants too, so you can eat wherever!
Visit Devonport
Devonport is one of Auckland’s most historic suburbs, with charming storefronts along Victoria Road.
Have brunch at Lily’s Eatery (go for the pastries in the window rather than a cooked meal).
Browse Paradox Books.
Buy beautiful silver jewelry at Toti — I got a lovely bracelet with little flowers on it.
Devonport vibes
Walk up to the Mount Victoria viewpoint (it was so windy when we visited!).
Grab coffee at Chiasso Coffee Roasters.
We got super lucky and saw a double rainbow while walking along the waterfront as well.
Buy Greenstone and Go Shopping
The Greenstone Factory Shop is the best place for jewelry souvenirs. My mom, sister, aunt, and I all went a little crazy here. Besides pounamu (a greenstone found only in the South Island), they also sell paua shell jewelry at incredible prices.
I picked up bracelets for just $6 NZD, matching earrings, a necklace to match my mom’s, and even a tiny Māori man for good luck. This shop had the best prices out of all the ones we visited.
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Check out the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki for a mix of classic and contemporary New Zealand art. The museum is free, though some exhibits may have an entry fee. Plan for about 2 hours here.
The Arts House Trust at Pah Homestead
This little art museum feels like a hidden gem. It’s free to visit and has a few small exhibits to explore, but the Hill House Cafe is the real star — the pastries were as good as they looked. Get one of those instead of ordering from the menu.
Afterward, take a walk around the park.
More Museums in Auckland
If you love museums, you could easily fill a day also exploring the Auckland War Memorial Museum, the New Zealand Maritime Museum, the Museum of Transport & Technology, the Stardome Observatory & Planetarium, Gus Fisher Gallery (contemporary art), and the Torpedo Bay Navy Museum.
Go Wine Tasting in Kumeu Country
Go on a winery tour in Kumeu Country, just 30 minutes outside Auckland.
Search for Whales
Go whale watching! It’s possible to see humpback whales and southern right whale year-round but are more likely seen May to September.
Explore with a Guide
If you want to explore Auckland without worrying about logistics, consider the hop-on-hop-off tour or this half-day guided option.
Day Trips from Auckland
Go to Waiheke Island for the Day
I’ve got a whole blog post about how to have the best day on Waiheke Island — from wineries to beaches and shops.
Day Trip to Cathedral Cove
Cathedral Cove is a gorgeous beach on New Zealand’s coast.
You’ll need to park in the designated parking lot and take the $6 NZD shuttle (or walk) to the start of the hike, as there’s no parking at the trailhead.
The hike down was lovely. Besides its white sands, the beach is also famous for scenes from The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince of Caspian (which is honestly part of why we visited — my siblings and I love the series!). The cove scene takes place when the siblings return to Narnia from the real world.
Even though it was winter, we still enjoyed visiting.
After the hike, have lunch at Hahei Beach Cafe. The pastries and savories are so good. We started with three and ended up buying two more. Browse the shops nearby, and if the weather’s better than ours was, check out The Little Blue Kitchen food truck.
Then, drive to Purangi Winery, run by a quirky and friendly owner who’ll happily talk you through all the wines and liqueurs they make. We got to try every flavor!
This was honestly a highlight of our trip. Don’t miss it if you’re in the area. There are some small bottles of liquor for sale and I got a beeswax cream!
As I was the driver, my sister Sitara had to ‘suffer’ and have all the liquor hahaha. I tasted them all, and it’s hard to have a favorite. The feijoa one was the most interesting, as was the story that comes with it.
Visit Hobbiton
Drive to Shire’s Rest and book the tour. If you don’t have car, then it may be worth taking a tour like this one or this one so that your transportation (and some lunch) is included. To combo the trip with Waitomo Caves (where you can see glowworms), then I suggest booking this tour. Check out my post with all you need to know to visit Hobbiton.
Waitomo Caves
Glide through an underground river and stare up at thousands of glowworms lighting up Waitomo Caves.
Rotorua
My cousin, who lives in Auckland, highly recommended staying 2 nights in Rotorua and using that as a base to explore. It’s great for adventurers and nature seekers. If you’re without a car, you can go on this Rotorua trip from Auckland. This tour visits both Rotorua and Waitomo Caves.