New city centre additions to share with international visitors

After more than two years, New Zealand has officially set April as the month we welcome back our Aussie neighbours and May for international tourists from visa-waiver countries. This marks an exciting time for many New Zealanders as they welcome back loved ones who haven't been able to visit for years. 

New Zealand has been closed off from the pandemic for two years, and in this time, we have seen some significant transformations and new additions to our city centre. We've compiled a list of these things so that you'll have plenty to show your new visitor(s) when the time comes.

New restaurants 

We've been fortunate to see some great new restaurants pop up around the city - just adding to the list of incredible dining experiences on offer! New to Britomart is Ghost Street, a hidden underground eatery serving Chinese food with punchy flavours and umami richness. Also in Britomart is Mr Morris, a place to be served, nourished and indulged. Another new addition is Homeland, a food embassy that promotes powerful, tradeable. sustainable Kai, take your guest here to sit by the water and dine on the best of New Zealand and the Pacific food. 

Some other great new additions are Poni, The Fox, Ahi, The Lodge Bar and Dining and Onemata. Add these new additions to your list, and you'll be sure to wow your new visitor. 

New attractions 

SkyCity has recently welcomed its two new attractions, All Blacks Experience and Weta Workshop Unleashed. The All Blacks Experience is a fully guided, state-of-the-art, interactive showcase of the All Blacks and all other New Zealand national teams in black. This experience is entertaining, enthralling, educational and worthwhile to check out! 

At Weta Workshop Unleashed you’ll be taken on a guided journey through three original movie projects. Lose yourself in the worlds of horror, sci-fi and fantasy while navigating enchanting environments, discombobulating displays and interactive technologies. 

New hotels

The city centre has also welcomed two beautiful new hotels in the past two years. The first is The Hotel Britomart, where the rooms are havens of calm, and the interior design is soulful, smart, and contemporary. A stay here can be topped off with a visit to their restaurant Kingi, serving fresh, locally sourced food. 

The second is Park Hyatt, positioned on Auckland’s waterfront with stunning views overlooking the Waitematā Harbour where guests can expect a luxurious and sophisticated stay. Also new are their dining experiences, Onemata, The Living Room, Captain’s Bar and The Pantry. 

In preparation for the return of tourism activity, many hotels will also re-open their doors and the restaurants and bars within. We're particularly excited for the return of The Churchill and Beast & Butterflies. 

Large new developments 

Commercial Bay is one of the most transformational projects Auckland has ever seen. Home to over 40 bars and restaurants and over 60 designer boutiques. This urban transformation brings together the largest concentration of high-quality retailers and food and beverage in the city – a must-visit with your visitor! 

Alongside the Commercial Bay development is the downtown and waterfront redevelopments. The upgrade includes new public transport connections, cycleways, footpaths and upgrades to Quay and Galway Street - making it a great new place to explore!

Other developments to check out 

We highly recommend spending some time in some of the city centre's new community spaces. Te Wānanga is the latest downtown public space and a beautiful spot for all to enjoy. Silo Park boasts plenty of new features, such as the Playline, which runs alongside the park's southern edge and sees materials from old tanks transformed into bespoke, interactive play equipment. Once a privatised space, Urunga Plaza is a great new addition to Wynyard Quarter which allows visitors to get closer to the water's edge in the city centre. Other new additions include Te Komititanga, Amey Daldy Park and Tiramarama Way.

The past few years have also seen places like the Chief Post Office building, and the Aotea centre refurbished and reopened. 

New public art installations 

Public art is all around the city, here are some of the most recent additions to show your international visitor. The Wynyard Quarter pump station in Amey Daldy park has an exciting new look - it's covered by a large mural inspired by Aotearoa's manu māori, our native birds. Close by is Tīramarama Way, where beautiful displays line the street. There are also new installations at Silo Park. These reflect mana whenua identity and provide a practical shelter from the elements. Another new addition is The Lightship, a new site launched at Ports of Auckland for contemporary art showcases. Lastly, is the Guide Kaiārahi sculpture located outside Auckland Art Gallery.