Things to do in Auckland
58 places worth stopping for and 24 places to stay on a road trip through Auckland.
See and do
- Beach
Beach · Piha
Piha Beach and Lion Rock
Black-sand surf beach under Lion Rock, the west coast's best-known stop.
- Beach
Beach · TāwharanuiHidden gem
Tāwharanui Regional Park
Predator-fenced sanctuary park with white-sand beaches and farm walks.
Wildlife · Muriwai
Muriwai gannet colony
One of the few mainland gannet colonies you can walk right up to.
Wildlife · Leigh
Goat Island Marine Reserve
New Zealand's first marine reserve, brilliant for snorkelling.
- Winery
Winery · WaihekeHidden gem
Man O' War Vineyards
Winery at the far eastern end of the island, with a beach out front.
Hot pool · ClarisHidden gem
Kaitoke Hot Springs
Free natural hot pools at the end of a flat boardwalk track across Great Barrier's wetlands.
Beach · KarekareHidden gem
Karekare Beach
Wild, steep-sided black-sand beach, a quieter alternative to Piha.
- Beach
Beach · WhatipuHidden gem
Whatipu Beach
Remote sandy beach, caves and dunes at the end of a long gravel road.
- Viewpoint
Viewpoint · Mount Eden
Maungawhau / Mount Eden
Auckland's best city views from a volcanic crater rim.
Museum · Parnell
Auckland War Memorial Museum
Auckland's big museum, with Māori taonga and a natural history hall.
Beach · MaraetaiHidden gem
Duder Regional Park
Remote headland park with farm views over the Hauraki Gulf.
- History
History · WaihekeHidden gem
Stony Batter Historic Reserve
Underground WWII tunnels and gun emplacements on the eastern end of Waiheke.
- Waterfall
Waterfall · Piha
Kitekite Falls
Multi-tier waterfall with a big plunge pool, a short bush walk behind Piha.
- Lake
Lake · Te HengaHidden gem
Lake Wainamu
Freshwater dune lake backed by a giant sand dune, a short walk from Bethells.
- Beach
Beach · Waiwera
Wenderholm Regional Park
Sandy regional park with a historic homestead, estuary and bush walks.
Town · Matakana
Matakana Village
Pretty village with a Saturday farmers' market, cinema, cafes and nearby wineries.
- Beach
Beach · Whangaparāoa
Shakespear Regional Park
Open sanctuary park at the end of the Whangaparāoa Peninsula.
Beach · Onetangi
Onetangi Beach
Waiheke's longest beach, with calm swimming and a pub at one end.
- Gallery
Gallery · MatakanaHidden gem
Brick Bay sculpture trail
Wine estate with a sculpture trail through bush and wetlands.
- Beach
Beach · Te HengaHidden gem
Bethells Beach (Te Henga)
Wild west coast beach with a lagoon and dunes at the end of a country road.
Beach · LeighHidden gem
Matheson Bay
Small, sheltered beach just south of Leigh, with a bush walk to a swimming hole.
- Beach
Beach · PākiriHidden gem
Pākiri Beach
Quiet, wide beach on the way to Te Arai, with horse treks on the sand.
- Walk
Walk · MahurangiHidden gem
Mahurangi Regional Park
Peninsula of beaches, farmland and bush near Warkworth.
Hot pool · Parakai
Parakai Springs
Geothermal pools and slides on the Kaipara road, a hit with families.
Viewpoint · One Tree Hill
Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill
Large volcanic hill with an obelisk and big city views.
- Beach
Beach · ĀwhituHidden gem
Āwhitu Regional Park
Peninsula park with a historic farm homestead, coast walks and a campground.
- Winery
Winery · Waiheke
Stonyridge Vineyard
One of Waiheke's best-known vineyards, famous for Bordeaux-style reds.
- Winery
Winery · Waiheke
Cable Bay Vineyards
Hilltop winery with a restaurant, views of Auckland and the gulf.
- Walk
Walk · WaihekeHidden gem
Whakanewha Regional Park
Regional park on Waiheke with a lagoon, wetlands and a campground.
- Beach
Beach · Muriwai
Muriwai Beach
Long black-sand surf beach that stretches to Kaipara.
Viewpoint · Waitākere Ranges
Arataki Visitor Centre
Council visitor centre on the ranges with sweeping views over Auckland and the Manukau.
- Beach
Beach · AnawhataHidden gem
Anawhata Beach
Remote black-sand beach reached by a steep road and a short walk.
- Beach
Beach · Omaha
Omaha Beach
Long white-sand surf beach with gentle waves, a favourite for families.
History · Kawau Island
Kawau Island Mansion House
Take a ferry from Sandspit to a Victorian mansion on a bush-covered island.
History · Devonport
North Head Historic Reserve
Harbour headland with old gun tunnels and wartime defences to explore.
Waterfall · Hunua
Hunua Falls
Wide, easy-to-reach waterfall in the Hunua Ranges.
- Beach
Beach · Oneroa
Oneroa Beach
Main village beach on Waiheke, with a sheltered cove next to cafes.
Viewpoint · MāngereHidden gem
Te Pane o Mataoho / Mangere Mountain
Less-visited volcanic cone with a crater, pā terraces and views to the airport.
- Wildlife
Wildlife · Orakei
Sea Life Aquarium (Kelly Tarlton's)
Indoor aquarium on the Tamaki Drive waterfront with penguins, sharks and an indoor kids' play area.
- Wildlife
Wildlife · Western Springs
Auckland Zoo
Big city zoo beside Western Springs with a decent mix of NZ and global animals; open every day but Christmas.
- Museum
Museum · Western Springs
MOTAT
Auckland's transport and technology museum, with hands-on science, old planes and a free heritage tram between sites.
Walk · WarkworthHidden gem
Parry Kauri Park
A small park of big kauri on the edge of Warkworth.
- Walk
Walk · Māngere BridgeHidden gem
Ambury Regional Park
Working farm park on the Manukau Harbour with farm animals and coast walks.
Beach · WaiukuHidden gem
Karioitahi Beach
Long black-sand beach south of Waiuku, popular with surfers.
Activity · Glenbrook
Glenbrook Vintage Railway
Heritage steam railway running through farmland south of Auckland.
- Walk
Walk · Waitākere RangesHidden gem
Cascade Kauri Park
Short loop through old kauri, with a pretty waterfall on the stream.
Beach · Long Bay
Long Bay Regional Park
Sheltered family beach and coastal walk on Auckland's North Shore.
- Walk
Walk · OkuraHidden gem
Okura Bush Walkway
Coastal bush walk between Okura estuary and quiet beaches.
- Activity
Activity · Woodhill
Woodhill Forest
Forest with mountain bike trails, hiking and horse riding west of Auckland.
Beach · Shelly BeachHidden gem
Shelly Beach (Kaipara)
Quiet Kaipara Harbour beach with shell banks and a wide sea view.
Garden · Manurewa
Auckland Botanic Gardens
Large free botanic gardens in south Auckland.
- Lighthouse
Lighthouse · ĀwhituHidden gem
Manukau Heads Lighthouse
Historic lighthouse and signal station on the Manukau Heads.
- Brewery
Brewery · Waiheke
Wild on Waiheke
Craft brewery, winery and gin with archery and paintball on the same site.
Beach · Titirangi
Titirangi Beach
Easy Manukau Harbour beach right at the edge of the ranges.
Beach · Orere PointHidden gem
Orere Point
Quiet beach settlement on the Pōhutukawa Coast.
Beach · Maraetai
Maraetai Beach
Sheltered east coast beach with a long sandy shore at low tide.
- Museum
Museum · Viaduct Harbour
New Zealand Maritime Museum
Waterfront museum on Hobson Wharf covering Polynesian voyaging, sailing and the America's Cup.
- History
History · Pakuranga
Howick Historical Village
Living museum of a colonial village with over 30 old buildings, set in Lloyd Elsmore Park.
Food stops
- Pub
Pub · PūhoiHidden gem
Puhoi Pub
Historic Bohemian-settlers' pub in the village of Pūhoi.
- Café
Café · LeighHidden gem
Leigh Sawmill Cafe
Leigh's old sawmill turned into a cafe and live-music venue.
- Market
Market · Matakana
Matakana Village Farmers Market
Saturday morning market in Matakana with local produce and street food.
Market · OstendHidden gem
Ostend Market
Waiheke's Saturday market with local food, crafts and music.
- Pub
Pub · RiverheadHidden gem
Riverhead Tavern
Historic riverside pub, one of Auckland's oldest.
Market · Clevedon
Clevedon Village Market
Sunday village market in a horse-and-farm town south-east of Auckland.
- Brewery
Brewery · Riverhead
Hallertau Brewery
Craft brewery and restaurant in Riverhead with a big garden.
Café · Piha
Piha Cafe
The beach-front cafe in Piha for coffee and a bite after surfing.
Places to stay
- Campground
Campground · Tāwharanui
Tāwharanui campground
Camp beside the white-sand beaches of Tāwharanui Regional Park.
- Campground
Campground · WellsfordHidden gem
Ātiu Creek campground
Remote farm-park campground on Solomon's Bay, with horses welcome.
Campground · MaraetaiHidden gem
Duder campground
Secluded campground and self-contained parking at Duder Regional Park.
- Campground
Campground · WaihekeHidden gem
Whakanewha campground
Bush-and-beach campground on Waiheke's south coast.
- Campground
Campground · Waiwera
Wenderholm campground
Waterside campground above the Pūhoi estuary.
Holiday park · Piha
Piha Domain Motor Camp
Council-run motor camp right behind Piha Beach.
Holiday park · Muriwai
Muriwai Beach Motor Camp
Beachside motor camp a short walk from Muriwai Beach.
- Hut
Hut · Great Barrier Island (Aotea)
Mt Heale Hut
Serviced 20-bunk hut on Great Barrier Island with views of the Hauraki Gulf and Little Barrier.
- Hut
Hut · Great Barrier Island (Aotea)
Kaiaraara Hut
Twenty-eight bunk hut on Great Barrier Island with a wood stove, gas cooking and under an hour's walk.
- Glamping
Glamping · Wenderholm Regional Park, WaiweraHidden gem
Piwakawaka Eco Structure Site, Wenderholm
Pre-erected eco tent with a queen bed, bunks and deck overlooking the Puhoi River estuary.
- Holiday park
Holiday park · Āwhitu PeninsulaHidden gem
Big Bay Holiday Park
Small family park on the Āwhitu west coast with a wood-fired pizza oven, a white sand beach and tui.
- Holiday park
Holiday park · Takapuna, North ShoreHidden gem
Takapuna Beach Holiday Park
Waterfront sites and cabins on Takapuna Beach, with sunrise over Rangitoto and the city a short drive away.
- Glamping
Glamping · Te Henga / Bethells BeachHidden gem
Wainamu Luxury Tents, Bethells Beach
Safari-style tents with queen beds, kitchenettes, private bathrooms and outdoor baths near Lake Wainamu and Bethells Beach.
- Glamping
Glamping · Karioitahi, near WaiukuHidden gem
Glam Camping at Castaways Resort
Off-grid couples tents on the Karioitahi cliff tops, with ocean or bush settings and a fire pit.
- Holiday park
Holiday park · Martins Bay, Mahurangi East
Martins Bay Holiday Park
Beachfront park beside Scandrett Regional Park with caravans, cottages and a camp shop, close to Sandspit.
- Campground
Campground · ĀwhituHidden gem
Āwhitu campground
Peaceful coastal campground on the Āwhitu Peninsula.
Holiday park · WhangateauHidden gem
Whangateau Holiday Park
Estuary-side holiday park near Omaha and Leigh.
- Holiday park
Holiday park · PākiriHidden gem
Pakiri Beach Holiday Park
Beach holiday park at quiet Pākiri.
Holiday park · Orewa
Orewa Beach Top 10 Holiday Park
Large holiday park close to Orewa Beach, with cabins and powered sites.
- Holiday park
Holiday park · Ōrere Point
Ōrere Point Top 10 Holiday Park
Shaded family park on the Firth of Thames coast an hour from Auckland, with mini golf, bikes and swimming holes.
- Holiday park
Holiday park · Red Beach, Hibiscus Coast
Red Beach Top 10 (Pinewoods Holiday Park)
Hibiscus Coast park 25 minutes north of the Harbour Bridge with powered and unpowered camping, cabins and baches.
- Holiday park
Holiday park · Sandspit
Sandspit Motor Camp
Small motor camp near the Kawau Island ferry.
- Holiday park
Holiday park · Remuera, Auckland
Remuera Motor Lodge and Camping Ground
Inner-city camping with 50 caravan and campervan sites and 20 tent sites beside a motel.
- Holiday park
Holiday park · Clarks Beach, Manukau Harbour
Clarks Beach Holiday Park
Big spacious Manukau Harbour camp with a covered pool and mini golf, 40 minutes from Auckland and the airport.
Plan the drive, not just the stops
Roadtrip works out what the drive costs in fuel for your car, splits it into days with the best stops and places to sleep, and finds the cheapest fuel on the way.
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