Auckland: Abbay’s Top Five Things To Do
Photo by Matt Crawford.
All photos herein are my own unless otherwise noted in the caption.
The Lonely Planet once crowned Auckland as the world's best city to visit, and after living there for five years, I can tell you they got it absolutely right.
For those unfamiliar, Lonely Planet isn't just any travel guide. They're the gold standard of travel guide book publishing, and their annual awards carry weight in the travel world. So when they single out one city above all others on the planet, people pay attention.
Having called Auckland home for about five years, I experienced firsthand what made those judges take notice. My five favorite Auckland experiences are very similar to The Lonely Planet's list below.
The Lonely Planet’s top five in Auckland…
A day at Piha and the West Coast black sand beaches.
Head into the Hauraki islands to spot takahē on Tiritiri Matangi or taste wine on Waiheke.
A stroll around the Auckland Museum and Domain.
See the cutting edge of the city's culture at Auckland Art Gallery.
Maungawhau or Rangitoto, take in a city view from one of the 53 volcanic cones.
Views from Mount Eden, Auckland
While the Lonely Planet has made some solid recommendations, I have accumulated my own top 5 which I’m thrilled to share them with you. (At the end of this post, I’ve also included my recommended places to stay!)
Abbay’s top five in Auckland…
1. Taste wine (or bubbles) on Waiheke Island.
You can take a day trip by way of a 40-minute ferry or you could stay several nights depending on how much time you have, but whatever you do, do not miss it.
From boutique wineries and restaurants to walking trails and white sandy beaches, Waiheke is a destination of its own. A couple of my favorite wineries are Tantalus Estate, Stonyridge, and Man 'O’ War. Also, as a side note, it’s where my fiance popped the question, so Waiheke will always hold a special place in my heart.
2. Visit a west coast beach, like Piha or Muriwai.
Bonus points if you can catch a west coast sunset. Piha and Muriwai are scenic black-sand surf beaches on Auckland’s rugged west coast. These coastal communities are laid back, but the scenery is nothing but laid back. Rugged and dramatic are the words that come to mind. Come for the scenery, walks in the surrounding hills, or maybe even a surf lesson.
West coast sunset at Piha.
Views at Muriwai.
Views of Lion Rock at Piha.
3. Visit the Matakana farmer’s market, and then hit the beach at Tawharanui.
If you’re a market lover like me, you can’t miss the Matakana’s farmer market held every Saturday. Their website touts that the “market was founded on one simple premise: local people, selling locally-produced food,” and that’s exactly what it is. Here you can grab a coffee, buy some local produce, or taste yourself silly on New Zealand cheeses, bourbon, and honey.
My top tip is to make the drive onward to Tawharanui to enjoy the bird sanctuary and stunning white sandy beaches - it may easily be my favorite spot in Auckland.
The entrance of the Matakana farmer’s market.
My fam jam enjoying the New Zealand honey bourbon at the Matakana farmer’s market.
4. Sail the harbour.
Yes, I spelled harbour with a ‘u’ because that’s how it’s done down here. On a sunny day, the harbour actually sparkles and appears SO blue against some of Auckland’s vivid green spaces. On days like this, it’s nothing short of stunning.
There are plenty of opportunities to get out on the water. You can rent (or ‘hire’ as the Kiwis say) a boat for the day or hop on an America’s cup sail boat for a thrill. I’ve done both - check it out below.
Boat day to enjoy the 2021 America’s cup hosted in Auckland (March 2021).
America’s cup sailing experience.
America’s cup sailing experience.
5. Eat & drink like a local in one of Auckland’s hip suburbs.
If you like neighborhoods with a vibe, you’ll be spoiled for choice here. Cafes, restaurants, and watering holes abound across Auckland’s coolest suburbs like K-Road, Grey Lynn, and Ponsonby to name a few. In Grey Lynn, head over to Freida Margolis for a cheeky wine before dining al fresco at Lilian.
Enjoying the crepe truck at the Grey Lynn festival.
My favorite cafe to work from - Dear Jervois
Looking for somewhere to stay?
Of course you are! These are just a few of my Auckland favorites below…
Hotel Britomart
Park Hyatt Auckland
Te Arai lodge
The Boatshed
The Point Residence (Apartment-style residence)
I have no shortage of gorgeous recommendations and can help you pick the one that best suits you and your style of travel.
What next? Go see the rest of New Zealand for as many days as you can!
Auckland is fantastic, but eventually you will want to bid farewell to the city in exchange for some of New Zealand’s wide open spaces and world-class landscapes. You might even wonder if the toilets flush the opposite way in New Zealand, so be sure to check out this blog post too.
What do you think? Have you been to Auckland before? If so, I’d love to hear your favorite spot - please leave a comment for me!
Abbay’s Escapes is a boutique travel agency based in New Zealand (and sometimes in Birmingham, Alabama). We love planning trips to New Zealand, but we also plan travel all over the world. If you want to learn more or plan a trip, we would love to hear from you - just click below.