In a nutshell
- Auckland, with around 1.7 million residents, is by far the largest city in New Zealand.
- In this article, we cover the best things to do in Auckland and tell you which beaches and islands nearby are truly worth your time.
- Our top picks: the Sky Tower, the War Memorial Museum, and Viaduct Harbour — plus Mount Eden for the best free view in the city.
- Need a place to stay? Check out our guide to the best neighborhoods and hotels in Auckland.
The Most Beautiful Auckland Sights on a Map
For a first overview, we’ve marked the top things to do in Auckland — plus the best beaches — on a map.
Sky Tower Auckland
What you need to know: At 328 meters, the Sky Tower is New Zealand’s tallest building. It’s right in the CBD (Central Business District) and offers a range of activities: a SkyBar, bungee jumping, and observation decks. The well-known SkyCity Casino is also right next door.
Is it worth it? Absolutely! The views are seriously fantastic, and bungee jumping here is a one-of-a-kind experience — though definitely not for the faint of heart.
Personal tip: If you want great views without the Sky Tower price tag, head up Mount Eden instead (highlight #6) — the panorama from there is completely free.
Tickets: The standard ticket costs 47 NZD (24 euros). You can book all activities and tickets on the Sky Tower website.
Bungee Jumping from the Sky Tower
We personally wouldn’t throw ourselves off the Sky Tower, but bungee jumping is a hugely popular activity here — so here’s a closer look.
From the 53rd floor, you plunge 192 meters down — the adrenaline rush lasts about 11 seconds at a speed of 85 km/h. Adults pay 330 NZD (just under 168 euros) for the jump.
Auckland War Memorial Park
What you need to know: War Memorial Park is best known for the War Memorial Museum, which covers New Zealand’s natural history, Māori culture, and the wars the country has been involved in. The park itself is great for a run, a walk, or a skate.
Is it worth it? In our opinion, the park is really only worth the trip if you visit the museum — and that’s genuinely interesting if you’re curious about New Zealand’s culture.
Tickets: Admission is 27 NZD (14 euros) for international visitors — free for New Zealanders. Buy tickets on-site or on the Auckland Museum website.
Viaduct Harbour
What you need to know: Viaduct Harbour is a really cool waterfront district in the CBD. You get stunning views of the skyline and all kinds of boats and yachts. You’ll also find the New Zealand Maritime Museum, several hotels, and great restaurants right here.
Is it worth it? Definitely! Viaduct Harbour is our favorite spot to wander around in the CBD, and the photo opportunities are seriously good.
Personal tip: Dolphin and whale watching tours also depart from Viaduct Harbour — one of the best activities in Auckland!
Harbour Bridge
What you need to know: The Harbour Bridge connects Auckland’s CBD with the North Shore neighborhood. You can only cross it by car or bus — not on foot or by bike. The best vantage point is Westhaven Pier, and at night the bridge lights up beautifully.
Is it worth it? It’s okay — honestly, we don’t find the Harbour Bridge all that impressive by day. The nighttime view is much better.
Personal tip: Combine a drive across the Harbour Bridge with a beach visit. We recommend Mairangi Bay Beach and Campbells Bay Beach — only about 20 minutes from the CBD without traffic.
Queen Street
What you need to know: Queen Street is Auckland’s number one shopping destination. From clothing stores to restaurants, cinemas, and theaters, you’ll find everything here. Auckland Town Hall is also located on this street.
Is it worth it? Only if you’re keen on shopping. Otherwise, the individual buildings — like the town hall and theater — are more worth your time than the street itself.
Personal tip: Along Queen Street you’ll also find Aotea Square — it has some interesting artworks and is a great spot to take a breather during your Auckland sightseeing.
Mount Eden
What you need to know: Auckland is dotted with green hills rising up between the city’s houses — all extinct volcanoes. Mount Eden has the best view of the skyline, with several easy hiking trails leading to the summit. It’s a short, relaxed hike.
Is it worth it? Totally! The view is fantastic — and it’s free.
Personal tip: Near Mount Eden there’s a small Chinese restaurant called Eden Noodles. The food is seriously good and really affordable.
How do you get there? Mount Eden is about 3 kilometers from the city center. You can walk, take a bus, or drive. If you drive, park on a side street — the Mount Eden parking lot fills up fast.
Parks in Auckland
What you need to know: Auckland has plenty of parks and green spaces — perfect when you’ve had enough of the busy CBD. The most centrally located are Victoria Park and Albert Park.
Is it worth it? Yes, especially for a breather between sights. That said, one park is really enough — we’d go with Albert Park.
Personal tip: Western Springs Lakeside Park, which includes the zoo and a walk around a lake, is also really lovely. Just keep in mind it’s a few kilometers from the city center.
One Tree Hill
What you need to know: Similar to Mount Eden, One Tree Hill in Cornwall Park is another volcanic hill — but what makes it special is that it’s also a working farm. You’ll see cows and sheep grazing here. At the top, a monument crowns the hill that reminded us a little of the obelisk in Buenos Aires.
Is it worth it? Absolutely! The panoramic view is beautiful, the summit is usually quiet, and you have more space to roam here than at Mount Eden.
Personal tip: The Cornwall Park Café serves tasty snacks — well worth a stop.
How do you get there? It’s best to drive, as One Tree Hill is about 10 kilometers from the city center. There’s a large parking lot in Cornwall Park. Alternatively, bus line 30 runs from the city center.
Beaches and Islands near Auckland
There are several beautiful islands around Auckland, and great beaches are never far away either. Here are our top picks for beaches and islands near Auckland.
Rangitoto Island
What you need to know: Rangitoto Island sits just off Auckland — an inactive volcano and completely uninhabited. You can take a ferry across and hike to the summit. The trail is only 2.5 kilometers long and passes lava caves along the way.
Is it worth it? Yes! If you enjoy getting out into nature on foot, Rangitoto makes for a great day trip from Auckland.
Personal tip: Bring plenty of water and snacks — there are no stores of any kind on the island.
Tickets: Ferry tickets to Rangitoto from Auckland can be booked online in advance. They cost around 59 NZD (32 euros).
Waiheke Island
What you need to know: Waiheke Island lies beyond Rangitoto and is an inhabited island. You can do wine tours, relax on the beach, and properly escape the city for a day or two.
Is it worth it? 100%! If you’re spending a few days in Auckland, we really recommend staying at least one night on Waiheke so you can explore it at a relaxed pace.
Our hotel pick: Kiwi House Waiheke
Tickets: Ferry tickets to Waiheke from Auckland can be booked online in advance. They cost around 59 NZD (32 euros).
Coromandel Peninsula
What you need to know: The Coromandel Peninsula is, for us, one of the most beautiful places to visit in New Zealand. It has stunning bays, great hikes, and fascinating caves. The top highlight is Cathedral Cove.
Is it worth it? Without a doubt! We recommend staying overnight in Coromandel, as it’s about a two-hour drive from Auckland.
Personal tip: If you’re starting your New Zealand road trip in Auckland, Coromandel makes a perfect first stop. Plan for one or two nights.
Our hotel pick: Tairua Shores Motel
Piha
What you need to know: Piha Beach is, for us, the most beautiful beach in the Auckland area. It’s on the west coast, about one hour by car from the city center. The dramatic Lion Rock stands right in the middle of the beach, and the sand is black — don’t forget your flip-flops, as it gets seriously hot underfoot.
Is it worth it? Yes! It’s great for surfing and relaxing. Just be careful swimming here — the currents are very strong.
Personal tip: Also do the short hike to Karakare Falls. The waterfall makes for a beautiful photo and it’s not far from Piha at all.
Our Restaurant Tips for Auckland
There are loads of great restaurants in Auckland. Here are our top picks:
- Eden Noodle’s (€): affordable and delicious Asian food near Mount Eden
- Commercial Bay (€): budget-friendly food court in a shopping center at Viaduct Harbour
- Amano (€€): stylish restaurant with a great breakfast menu
- Little Bird Kitchen (€€): healthy and vegan cuisine
- Duck Island (€€): seriously incredible ice cream
- Takapuna Beach Café (€€): lovely café right on the beach in the North Shore neighborhood
- Metita (€€€): upscale restaurant with a really excellent tasting menu
- The Engine’s Room (€€€): high-quality food in an elegant setting
Where to Stay in Auckland
If it’s your first time in Auckland, your best bet is to stay in the CBD. A great hotel with an excellent price-to-value ratio is the Imagine Beach Road. For a solid budget option, we recommend the LyLo Auckland.
More hotel tips for Auckland can be found here:
Getting to Auckland
Auckland is in the north of New Zealand’s North Island and is a popular starting or ending point for a New Zealand trip.
Getting There by Car
If you’re driving into Auckland, make sure to avoid rush hour — traffic moves very, very slowly at those times. Also keep in mind that parking in the city center is scarce, and most hotels don’t offer it either.
Here are a few centrally located parking garages in Auckland:
Unfortunately, parking in the CBD is quite expensive. Free parking is only available outside the city center.
Getting There by Plane
Flying in? You can pick up your rental car directly at the airport — without traffic, you’ll be in the city center within 30 minutes.
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Alternatively, SkyDrive express buses run from the airport to Sky City in the CBD. A ride costs 20 NZD (about 10 euros), and they run every half hour from 5:00 AM to 10:30 PM.
Getting There by Bus
If you’re already in New Zealand without a car, intercity buses connect Auckland from larger cities like Wellington, Taupo, and Rotorua — with several daily departures to choose from.
Getting Around Auckland
Buses in Auckland
In Auckland, you can reach most attractions on foot or by bus.
You can pay on the buses with a contactless credit card, or pick up an AT HOP card locally — here you’ll find all the places where you can buy one. For a short stay, buying one online isn’t really worth the hassle.
The easiest option is just paying by credit card. Hold it against the reader when boarding and exiting, and the correct fare is deducted automatically.
Hop-on-Hop-off Bus Auckland
If you’d rather skip a lot of walking, you can explore Auckland’s highlights with the Hop-on-Hop-off Explorer Bus.
You can choose a 24- or 48-hour ticket and hop on and off as many times as you like. The bus stops at all the major points of interest around the city.
