Best Things To Do in Auckland

Auckland is New Zealand's largest city and has a privileged location on the shores of the Pacific. It is a place where you can see beaches, hills, visit extinct volcanoes and experience the diversity of landscapes of Oceania concentrated in one place.

But the attraction of this city is not only in the natural beauty, as it is a very active city where you can enjoy the intense cultural and nightlife and many options of tours in Auckland for you to enjoy to the fullest.

During your stay in Auckland, you can't miss the incredible film set for the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies. It's a dream setting nestled in the hills above the village of Matamata, about 100 miles from the city.

If you take a tour of the Hobbiton film set you'll no doubt be enthralled as you visit the Burrows, the Shire and the Green Dragon Inn. You'll also be able to enjoy a pint of beer as if you were part of Middle-earth.

Please note that the set can only be visited when booking a guided tour of Hobbiton. Tours usually depart from Auckland by bus or car to the south and are full day tours.

Undoubtedly the epicentre of Auckland's tourist attraction is the Sky Tower, the tallest structure in the southern hemisphere. At 328 metres high, it's the best place to get a 360-degree panoramic view of the big city.

From the tower you can see Auckland's iconic landmarks as well as the surrounding volcanoes. That's why Sky Tower is always among the most recommended attractions for short or 3-day stays in Auckland. In Sky Tower you can also find varied gastronomic options, as it has 3 restaurants and cafes where you can have lunch, dinner or refreshments.

And if you like extreme sports, in Sky Tower you will satisfy all your expectations, as in this building you can sign up for activities such as skyjumping, a 192-metre jump, and skywalking, a walk along the outer ring of the tower where there are no handrails.

Further information

• Location: Victoria Street West, Auckland CBD.
• Hours: Monday and Tuesday 9.30am-6pm and Wednesday to Sunday 9.30am-8pm. Last admission is half an hour before closing time. Activities take place from 10am to 5pm.
• General admission: about 25 EUR per person, 11 EUR for children under 14 and free for children under 5. Discounts for couples and families.
• Value of the activities: Skywalk costs about 90 EUR per person and Skyjump about 140 EUR per person (minimum age 10 years). It is recommended that you book these activities on the Sky Tower website.
• Tip: If you visit Auckland in November, don't miss the annual Guy Fawkes Festival, which features a huge fireworks display.

One of Auckland's main attractions is Queen Street, its main thoroughfare. Considered the commercial heart of Auckland, walking along this thoroughfare gives you the chance to experience the best of local dining, entertainment and shopping, while admiring the city's iconic historic buildings.

It is also often visited when booking a guided tour of Auckland, so you don't have to walk it alone.

Fashion

Queen Street has shops to suit all tastes and budgets, from the big brands to small boutiques. It's a great place to shop for gifts, so it's a must on your Auckland itinerary. 10 Things to do in Auckland at Christmas.

Entertainment

Queen Street offers outdoor events at any time of the year. More specifically, this street is home to New Zealand's largest arcade. Options include movies, sensory maze, miniature golf, bowling and arcade games.

Dining

Queen Street is lined with restaurants, cafes and food outlets offering classic French, Scandinavian, Asian, Mexican and other local dishes. That's why a tour of this street is often included in Best Food Tours of Auckland.

Auckland beer and cider tours are also available on Queen Street, two characteristic New Zealand products that invite you to get to know the city from a different point of view.

Auckland is a city that offers a wealth of cultural options, including a variety of museums with historical, science, classical and contemporary art exhibits. In these museums you will find everything from Maori treasures and wartime relics to aviation and maritime exhibits, among others.

Here is a list of the best museums in Auckland, so you can visit the ones that interest you the most:

• The Auckland Art Gallery, which is New Zealand's largest art museum with a large collection of paintings, sculptures and multimedia exhibitions.
• The Auckland War Memorial Museum, where you can learn about New Zealand's military history and achievements. It was created as a tribute to the citizens who lost their lives during the First World War.
• MOTAT, which is the Museum of Transport and Technology and features aviation and technology exhibits.
• The Maritime Museum of New Zealand, whose exhibits will give you an insight into the life of the early settlers of the region. You can also take a ride on an old ship.
• The Howick Historical Village, where you can see an exact recreation of a colonial village in the suburb of Howick, with original Victorian houses and cottages.

Outdoor cultural activities

If you're interested in learning more about the city's cultural heritage and you're visiting Auckland in October, don't miss the Auckland Heritage Festival, which is free to attend.

And if you prefer to experience the city's heritage in a different way, a good option is to book a bike tour of Auckland and get around Auckland on wheels- it's also a fun way to see the city's most iconic sites.

If hiking and connecting with nature is your thing, Auckland has plenty of places to explore with scenery that looks like something out of a fairytale. There are several options to choose from depending on the difficulty you're looking for, the distance and the time you want to walk.

• The Mercer Bay Loop walk is one of the best things to do in Auckland in summer. It is a low-difficulty loop through the Waitakere Ranges rainforest.
• The Te Henga Walkway: perfect if your physical condition allows for something more demanding. It is 10 km long along the west coast of Auckland.
• Kitekita Falls Trail about 3km.
• Karekare Falls Trail, less than 1km. The latter two are ideal if you're visiting Auckland in December, when the peak season has not yet begun.

And if you prefer to explore nature in a group, I recommend booking a tour of Auckland's beaches and rainforest.

Auckland' s climate is temperate all year round, so there's no excuse for missing out on its incredible beaches, some of which are urban and popular with tourists. Others, on the other hand, are more secluded and offer a more serene atmosphere and are perfect for connecting with the natural environment.

You can also take advantage of your stay in the city to embark on a sea voyage, such as booking an Auckland harbour cruise.

There are many options for Auckland harbour cruises, but all usually last about two hours and include dinner. They are ideal for enjoying Auckland by night and taking in the beauty of the sunsets from the waters.

Just minutes from the city centre is Auckland's oldest and most affluent suburb, a place steeped in history and heritage that also has the most modern places to eat, shop and enjoy: Parnell Village.

There you'll find, among other things, Auckland's best designer shops, select jewellery stores showcasing handmade goods and art galleries with productions by artists from all over New Zealand.

It's one of the stops on the Hop on Hop off bus in Auckland, which is one of the easiest and most convenient ways to get around the city, so don't hesitate to book an Auckland bus tour.

Visiting Auckland's markets is an experience not to be missed if you want to experience the local culture and buy local produce. There are several markets to choose from and each has its own unique charm, so here's a list of some of the most popular in and around the city:

• The Clevelan Farmers Market, which offers very fresh local produce, such as freshly picked fruits and vegetables, honey and jams. It is located on a farm on the outskirts of the city and is open on Sunday mornings.
• Britomart Market, a market with many food and drink stalls that also sells fresh local produce and crafts. It is located in the city centre and is open Saturdays from about 8am to 2pm.
• Avondale Market, which has over 100 stalls selling everything from fresh produce to clothes and books. It is open on weekends in the evenings.

During the winter months it is generally less crowded. So if you're visiting Auckland in July or wondering what to do in Auckland in August, a visit to the markets can be a great way to spend some quality time out of the cold.

That Auckland is built on an area of dormant volcanoes is the first thing we learnt when we took the transfer from Auckland airport to the hotel. It turns out that there are more than 50 volcanoes in the region and visiting them is a great opportunity to admire the best panoramic views of the city.

At 196 metres, Mount Eden is the highest in and around Auckland. From its summit, you can get incredible 360-degree views of Auckland, its harbour and the Pacific. Located only about 5km from the city centre, it is one of the best hikes you can do from Auckland.

Mount Maungauika, which was a military fortress during the World Wars, is also a place that offers a privileged view from the heights. It's ideal if you visit Auckland in February when temperatures are warmer and you can enjoy the great outdoors.

Wintergarden, the winter garden, consists of two large domed-roofed glasshouses, one of which has a tropical climate as it is heated. The site has been created especially for Auckland's wintertime enjoyment of plant species from around the world.

The Wintergarden is located within the city's oldest park, the Auckland Domaine, and is free to enter. If you visit Auckland in June, when temperatures are cooler, you can tour the greenhouse in warmer temperatures and admire tropical plants and flowers.

Wintergarden also has a large fern garden at the back and a breakfast, lunch or tea venue, the Winter Garden Pavilion Café, with a beautiful view of the gardens.