Looking for inspiration for new ways to fill your weeknights or weekends? Check out our recommendations below on fun and new things to see and do without leaving your city. From cooking classes to learning more about art with a visit to one of our world-class galleries, or taking your tastebuds on a journey with a meal at a newly opened restaurant.
Head to an art gallery
Auckland City is home to a variety of prestigious galleries and museums filled with exclusive collections and both international and local artists. In your spare time take a moment to visit them, from the Auckland Art Gallery to Kura Gallery, Gus Fisher Gallery, Visions and Gow Langsford Gallery.
Upcoming and current exhibitions include:
Civilisation, Photography, Now at the Auckland Art Gallery examining our built environments and our hyper-connected world, featuring the work of over 100 world-renowned photographers.
Alternatively, Kura Gallery showcases art and design from Aoteaora, ranging from ceramics, carvings, prints, and sculpture
Gow Langsford's two galleries currently have exhibitions by Paul Dibble and Virginia Leonard.
Try a new bar or eatery
We all have our tried and true favourites when we eat out in the city but there are some fantastic additions too that are well worth a visit.
Hemi Eatery opened in late 2019, and it’s impossible not to be drawn to the clean and open space as you walk past it in the Victoria Park market building. The airy space reflects the ethos of the eatery, which makes clean choices on an environmental, individual, and community level.
Reign and Pour is also one of the many new additions just opened as part of the buzzing Commercial Bay precinct - a seaside tavern on the corner of Little Queen St and Quay St that is definitely set to become a popular new watering hole for after work drinks.
If you're after a quick bite, head to Harbour Eats, on the second floor of Commercial Bay, this New York inspired dining hall is full of delicious food vendors.
Learn something new
Learning a new skill can be both challenging and incredibly rewarding. Made exciting with a good group of friends or an enthusiastic accomplice, there are a number of workshops and classes to take to boost your skills in your desired area.
Bellini’s cocktail classes, taught by experienced mixologists, you will learn tips and tricks to produce a mouth-watering cocktail.
Or try the cooking workshops on offer at the Auckland Seafood School or NZ School of Food and Wine where you can learn how to make Vietnamese street food, spicy Korean seafood, or gain a certificate in New Zealand wine.
Explore the city on foot with a self guided app tour
There are always new things to see and learn about our bustling city centre. A walking tour is a unique way to discover hidden gems and learn more about your city. Walk Auckland is an app which has over 20 hours of content to ensure you learn about the unique heritage of the City of Sails. Other walking tours include; Auckland Free Walking Tours, Aucky Walky tours, and Te Paparahi Toi Māori, a unique way to learn about Maori heritage, stories, and art in Auckland.
Bike around the city and see the sites
Power to the Pedal is a bike tour with a twist. Starting at dawn, the tour has meticulously chosen the best vantage points to see the city light up. Although its a 12 kilometre journey you don’t need to worry about getting weary as the bikes are electrically powered!
Enjoy a classic pub quiz
One of the best ways to make it through a dreary work week is to break up the monotony with a midweek pub quiz. Gather the mates and head down to The Chamberlain, an inviting and warm bar with a great selection of drinks including 15 varieties of craft beer. At 7pm on a Tuesday night, order a drink and perhaps some pub grub and settle into a jam-packed evening of fun-filled competition.