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Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour, Auckland

Things to do guide

The best things to do in Auckland

Updated 7 October 2026 · 15 things to do

Pictured: Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour

Auckland is built on a field of extinct volcanoes and squeezed between two harbours, which gives it a geography most cities would envy. Green cones pop up among the suburbs, yachts fill the water, and within an hour you can be drinking wine on an island or standing on a black-sand surf beach with rainforest at your back.

It is New Zealand's biggest city and the place most visitors land. Don't just pass through. Two or three days here, mixing the waterfront with a ferry trip and a volcano or two, is a fine start to any tour of the country.

Don't miss

  1. 1Sky Tower
  2. 2Waiheke Island
  3. 3Rangitoto Island
  4. 4Maungawhau / Mount Eden
  5. 5Piha

The big sights

  1. Sky Tower

    Landmark

    The Sky Tower in Auckland
    Photo: August Dominus, CC0

    The needle that defines Auckland's skyline is the tallest structure in New Zealand. Lifts whisk you to observation decks with views over both harbours, the volcanic cones and the islands of the Hauraki Gulf, and there are glass floor panels for anyone who wants to test their nerve.

    Thrill-seekers can walk around the outside on a narrow ledge or jump off on a wire. Everyone else can settle for a drink with a view.

    Tip: Go up shortly before sunset to see the city by day and by night in one visit.

  2. Auckland War Memorial Museum

    Museum

    The Auckland War Memorial Museum
    Photo: Daan Hoffmann / Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira, CC BY 2.0

    Set on a hill in the Auckland Domain, the city's oldest park, this grand neoclassical building holds one of the finest collections of Māori and Pacific treasures anywhere, including a full-sized carved meeting house and a great war canoe.

    Upstairs are natural history galleries and the war memorial itself. It is the best single introduction to New Zealand's story, and the Domain's winter gardens next door are worth a stroll.

  3. Viaduct Harbour and Wynyard Quarter

    Neighbourhood

    Boats moored in Viaduct Harbour
    Photo: Radosław Botev, CC BY 3.0 pl

    Auckland calls itself the City of Sails, and this is where you see why. The Viaduct, rebuilt for the America's Cup, is a marina ringed with restaurants and bars; a footbridge leads on to Wynyard Quarter, where old fishing wharves and silos now share space with playgrounds, parks and seafood spots.

    It is lively on any sunny evening. The New Zealand Maritime Museum is here too, and you can get out on the harbour on a sailing trip.

Volcanoes

The city sits on dozens of dormant cones. Climb at least one.

  1. Maungawhau / Mount Eden

    Nature

    The crater of Mount Eden with the city skyline and Rangitoto beyond
    Photo: Avenue, CC BY-SA 3.0

    The highest natural point on the Auckland isthmus is a short trip from the centre. A walk up its grassy slopes brings you to the rim of a deep, perfectly formed crater, with a full-circle view of the city, both harbours and the other cones dotted across the suburbs.

    The mountain was once a fortified Māori settlement, and the terraces are still visible. The crater is sacred, so keep to the boardwalks.

  2. Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill

    Nature

    One Tree Hill in Auckland
    Photo: itravelNZ® - New Zealand in your pocket™, CC BY 2.0

    Another volcanic cone, crowned with an obelisk and surrounded by Cornwall Park, a huge sweep of farmland in the middle of the city where sheep and cattle graze beneath old trees. It was the site of one of the largest Māori hill forts in the country.

    The summit views rival Mount Eden's, with fewer people. Bring a picnic and make an afternoon of it; children will enjoy the lambs in spring.

  3. Rangitoto Island

    Nature

    Rangitoto Island seen from Takapuna Beach
    Photo: Duncnbiscuit, CC BY-SA 4.0

    The low, symmetrical cone that sits in the harbour off Auckland is the city's youngest volcano, which emerged from the sea only around six hundred years ago. A ferry from downtown drops you at the wharf, and a track climbs through black lava fields and pōhutukawa forest to the summit.

    The view from the top takes in the whole city and gulf. There are no shops on the island, which is a pest-free reserve.

    Tip: Wear sturdy shoes, carry water and food, and check the time of the last ferry back.

Islands, beaches and the bush

  1. Waiheke Island

    Day trip

    A vineyard on Waiheke Island
    Photo: russellstreet, CC BY-SA 2.0

    A ferry ride from downtown, Waiheke is Auckland's playground: an island of vineyards, olive groves, sandy bays and holiday houses. Its wineries are known for rich reds and for restaurants with long views back across the water to the city.

    Between tastings there are beaches at Oneroa, Palm Beach and Onetangi, plus coastal walks and art galleries. It suits couples and groups of friends above all, and a day here rarely feels long enough.

    Tip: Use the island buses or a winery tour so that nobody has to drive.

  2. Devonport

    Neighbourhood

    Devonport and the Waitematā Harbour from the top of Mount Victoria
    Photo: Follash, Public domain

    A short ferry hop across the harbour brings you to a seaside village of Victorian villas, bookshops, cafés and an old-fashioned main street. Two small volcanic cones, Mount Victoria and North Head, rise behind it; North Head is riddled with old military tunnels and gun emplacements to explore.

    The view back to the city skyline from either is one of Auckland's best. It makes an easy, gentle half-day.

  3. Piha

    Beach

    Lion Rock seen from North Piha
    Photo: Avenue, CC BY-SA 3.0

    On the wild west coast, Piha is New Zealand's most famous surf beach: a long sweep of black volcanic sand pounded by Tasman Sea rollers, split by the great bulk of Lion Rock. The drive there winds down through the rainforest of the Waitākere Ranges.

    It is a dramatic, elemental place and a complete contrast to the sheltered city beaches. The surf and currents are powerful.

    Tip: Swim only between the flags, where the lifeguards patrol.

  4. Waitākere Ranges

    Nature

    The forested hills west of the city are Auckland's back garden: a regional park of native bush, tree ferns, waterfalls and lookouts over the Tasman coast. The Arataki Visitor Centre, on the scenic drive, is the place to get your bearings.

    Combine a short bush walk with Piha or one of the neighbouring beaches for a full day out. Some tracks close at times to protect the kauri trees from disease, so check before you set off.

  5. Mission Bay

    Beach

    The beach at Mission Bay
    Photo: gérard, CC BY-SA 2.0

    The pick of the city beaches lies along Tāmaki Drive, a waterfront road that curves east from the centre. Mission Bay has a sandy beach, calm water, a grassy park with a fountain and a row of cafés and ice-cream shops, all facing Rangitoto across the harbour.

    Walk or cycle the seafront to get there. It is ideal for families who want a simple beach afternoon without leaving town.

Eat and drink

  1. Ponsonby

    Food

    Ponsonby Road, on a ridge just west of the centre, is Auckland's favourite strip for eating and drinking. Old wooden villas house restaurants, wine bars, coffee roasters and boutiques, and a lively food hall brings a dozen kitchens under one roof.

    It is at its best from late afternoon, when the pavement tables fill. Nearby Karangahape Road, known as K Road, is edgier, with late bars and live music.

Day trips

  1. Hobbiton

    Day trip

    A garden and hobbit holes at the Hobbiton Movie Set
    Photo: Joe Ross from Lansing, Michigan, CC BY-SA 2.0

    On a sheep farm near Matamata, a couple of hours south of Auckland, the Shire from the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films has been preserved as a permanent set. Guided tours lead past round-doored hobbit holes set into green hillsides, over the bridge to the mill and on to the Green Dragon Inn.

    It is beautifully done, right down to the vegetable gardens. Fans will be in heaven, and even sceptics tend to be charmed.

    Tip: Visits are by guided tour only, so book ahead.

  2. Waitomo Caves

    Day trip

    The Cathedral cavern in the Waitomo Glowworm Caves
    Photo: Karora, Public domain

    Further south, the limestone country around Waitomo hides a network of caves famous for their glowworms. On the classic tour you glide by boat in silence through a dark grotto, with thousands of tiny blue-green lights overhead like a starry sky.

    More adventurous visitors can float through the caves on inner tubes. Many day tours from Auckland pair Waitomo with Hobbiton.

Where to stay in Auckland

Not sure which area suits you? Read our guide: Where to stay in Auckland →

Getting around

The city centre and waterfront are walkable, though hilly. Ferries from the downtown terminal run to Devonport, Waiheke and Rangitoto, and buses and trains reach the inner suburbs. A hire car or a tour is the practical way to reach Piha, the Waitākere Ranges, Hobbiton and Waitomo.

When to go

Summer, from December to March, is warm and best for beaches and islands. Winters are mild but wet. The weather changes quickly at any time of year, so carry a light waterproof, and remember the sun here is strong.

Questions about visiting Auckland

What is Auckland best known for?
The Sky Tower, its two harbours and sailing, the volcanic cones dotted across the city, the wine island of Waiheke and the black-sand surf beaches of the west coast.
How many days do you need in Auckland?
Two to three days covers the city, a volcano and a ferry trip to Waiheke or Rangitoto. Add a day for Piha and the Waitākere Ranges, and another for Hobbiton and Waitomo.
What is there to do in Auckland with kids?
The Sky Tower, the Auckland Museum, the beach at Mission Bay, the lambs in Cornwall Park, the tunnels on North Head in Devonport and a day trip to Hobbiton.
Do you need a car in Auckland?
Not for the city centre and the islands, which are served by ferries and buses. A car is very useful for the west coast beaches and for day trips south.

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