MUSEUMS
Auckland War Memorial Museum
The Auckland War Memorial Museum showcases the New Zealand’s community, natural and military histories. As its name suggests, the museum was originally built as a tribute to all the local citizens whose lives were lost during the First World War. It has since been refurbished and transformed into a home for Maori and Pacific artifacts, historic exhibitions and an extensive archival collection.
New Zealand Maritime Museum
The New Zealand Maritime Museum highlights some of the finest seafaring treasures of the City of Sails. From exhibitions showcasing the journey and lives of the country’s earliest settlers, to models of traditional Maori canoes and European shipping vessels and even a modern America’s Cup display, this museum is the place to visit for history buffs who have a keen eye for all things nautical.
MOTAT
The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT) is a place which aptly melds technology with history. Vintage cars and planes, tram rides, and a trove of innovative displays are a part of MOTAT’s appeal. They also run regular educational programmes for kids, making this a great stopover for those travelling with families.
TSB Wallace Arts Centre
Part art gallery, part art museum, the TSB Arts Centre is housed in one of Auckland’s most distinguished heritage sites – the Pah Homestead in Hillsborough’s Monte Cecilia Park. The Arts Centre has a dynamic events and exhibitions schedule, always prioritising and supporting the work of new and established New Zealand artists.
Stardome Observatory and Planetarium
This space gallery/observatory/planetarium is one of Cornwall Park’s key attractions (Auckland’s One Tree Hill is another). Stardome has been around since 1967, and has since become one of the favourite places for school field trips and educational expeditions. The adjoining Planetarium was completed in 1997 and is the largest of its kind in New Zealand.
Mangere Mountain Education Centre
Learn all about Maori heritage and history in the most natural manner. The Mangere Mountain Education Centre takes visitors across its namesake mountain, as well as hosting a visitor centre that serves as the local museum. A visit to the centre will teach you all about the mountain’s archaeological features and its significance for the local indigenous communities.
Te Toi Uku – The Crown Lynn and Landworks Museum
Crown Lynn is a now defunct ceramics manufacturer who, over the course of 40 years, produced some of New Zealand’s most iconic home wares. Te Toi Uku is a museum that immortalises these classic items, showcasing a collection ceramic works, vases, porcelains, shards, dinnerware and nursery ware. The museum also consists of archival items like photographs and documents, focusing on the manufacturing, production and evolving trends in the industry.
Vaughan Homestead
This historic museum is located in Long Bay, on Auckland’s North Shore, and has been a part of the community since early European settlement. George Vaughan and his descendants used the cottage farmhouse as their homestead for 100 years, farming approximately 2000 acres of land in its surrounds (the latter of which is now the Long Bay Regional Park).
Huia Settlers Museum
The Huia Settlers Museum was opened in 1984 and is fully owned and operated by the local community. Its primary focus is on capturing the settler farming history of Huia, the Manukau Harbour, the Waitakere Ranges, Cornwallis, Laingholm, Whatipu and Parau. Many of the museum’s photographs are of unknown authors.
PARKS
Auckland Domain Wintergarden
The city’s oldest park is also home to an exquisite collection of plants and flowers. The Wintergarden makes its prominent appearance right at the heart of the Domain. It is made up of two Victorian-style glass houses, which are connected by a beautiful courtyard with sculptures and a luscious pond.
Auckland Botanic Gardens
The Auckland Botanic Gardens is home to more than 10,000 plants and flowers from all over the world. Anyone who passes through the garden’s plains will marvel at its 64-hectare showcase of exotic and native plant life. If you’re travelling with kids, make sure to take them to the Dinosaurs in the Garden exhibits.
Waitawa Regional Park
This park is actually far enough from the bustling city life to be a strong contender for a day trip. You could even do some overnight camping, if you wanted to. The Waitawa Regional Park is located in Kawakawa Bay, approximately 50 kilometres (31 miles) south-east of central Auckland. It’s a great place for swimming, walking, mountain biking, and taking in those quintessential Kiwi countryside views.
Parnell Rose Gardens
You’ll find this breathtaking mantle of roses right in the midst of Parnell village. The Parnell Rose Gardens is also known as the Dove-Myer Robinson Park, and it houses an incredible variety of flower blooms and native trees. There is also a barbecue area on-site, as well as plenty of places to sit and soak up the surrounding scenery.
Omeru Reserve
Omeru Reserve is a scenic historic marvel right outside of Kaukapakapa, a town 50 kilometres (31 miles) north-west of Auckland city. It’s a great place to explore on any given day – you’ll be exposed to stunning streams, breathtaking waterfalls, and remarkable Maori heritage sites.
Shakespear Regional Park
A pest-free habitat, and a popular wildlife sanctuary. Shakespear Regional Park is renowned for its coastal views, hiking trails, lovely beaches, rich forested plains and remarkable pastures. If you don’t have access to a car, or you simply don’t feel like driving, there are daily buses from downtown Auckland that will take you to the park entrance.
Totara Park
With more than 216 hectares’ worth of forest and farmland to play with, Totara Park is the ideal getaway for nature lovers. The South Auckland based reserve is filled with biking trails and walking tracks that will appease the most active souls. There are also tennis courts and a playground in its vicinity.
Monte Cecilia Park
Monte Cecilia Park is located on the suburb of Hillsborough. It is home to a disc golf course and the TSB Bank Wallace Arts Centre, which houses a collection of contemporary art. If that wasn’t enough, the park is packed with an array of walking tracks, polished lawns, incredible trees and lovely views.
Ambury Regional Park
The Ambury Regional Park, just over the Mangere Bridge, is another local gem that aptly packs coastal scenery, country life and parkland onto one single location. Visitors can interact with the park’s farm animals, take a stroll along the Kiwi Esplanade, observe the native birds or simply admire the nearby rock formations.
MARKETS
Matakana Village Farmers’ Market
Live music, artisan baking, local produce, honey, cheese and even a knife sharpening service — if you’re looking for an eclectic Saturday market, Matakana is the place to go. The market is always filled with locals, visitors, and Aucklanders heading on a weekend day trip not too far away from home. Matakana is a 40-minute drive from downtown Auckland and is also renowned for housing some of the best wineries in the region.
La Cigale French Market
This Auckland icon is a definite must-visit for foodies. La Cigale French Market is held every Saturday and Sunday right outside its namesake café and bistro. Its stalls are filled with seasonal fruits and vegetables, baked goodies, seafood, cheese, salami and various vendors selling some great staples from Europe and beyond. Recently, La Cigale has also taken over the farmers’ market in Britomart — so anyone who is around the city centre can relish this continental occasion.
The Auckland Night Markets
Relying on more than 200 stalls on any given event, the bustling Auckland Night Markets bring an exciting Asian flavour to the market scene. Highlights include street foods from all corners of the world (predominantly from South East Asia) as well as a range of inexpensive produce and crafted goodies. The dynamic markets run across different locations: at the Botany Town Centre on Wednesday, in Henderson on Thursday, Papatoetoe on Friday, Pakuranga on Saturday, and Glenfield on Sunday.
Avondale Sunday Markets
It’s not uncommon to hear that more than 20,000 people have visited the Avondale Sunday Markets on a typical Sunday morning. Since starting out in the early 1970s, this has become New Zealand’s biggest one-day market. The suburb’s local Asian and Polynesian culture is always well-represented throughout each stall — the market is a great place to grab an array of fresh produce, artworks, crafts, clothes, ready to eat foods, among various other goodies.
Otara Flea Market
The Otara Flea Market in South Auckland runs every Saturday from morning ’til noon, and is famous for having a strong Maori and Pacific influence. Foods, jewellery, clothing, arts, crafts, and nick-knacks of all sorts can be found on any given visit. Occasionally there are live musical and cultural performances too. Hangi, island doughnuts, steamed buns, bacon and egg rolls and chop suey are among the diverse foods you’ll get to taste as you scour through the market’s stalls.
Clevedon Farmers Market
Held every Sunday from morning until noon, the Clevedon Farmers Market is a quintessential village fanfare. Along with luscious produce stalls, the market also includes pony rides for children, live music, and an interesting assortment of ready to eat treats like wood fire pizzas and bacon rolls. Once you’ve finished browsing the outside stalls, you can also head across the road to the local arts and crafts market at the Clevedon Community Hall.
Hobsonville Point Farmers Market
This mostly-indoor market is held every Saturday and Sunday mornings and is the ideal place to visit whenever the weather is looking a bit iffy. The Hobsonville Point Farmers Market livens up the local ferry terminal with musicians, an incredible trove of foodie finds, as well as an eclectic assortment of locally produced dips, preservatives, and oils.
Oratia Farmers Market
A literal farmers’ market, held at the Artisan Wines vineyard at the foothills of the Waitakere Ranges, the Oratia Farmers Market is the perfect go-to for those heading out to explore the lush forestry and beautiful beaches in its surrounds. You can even pick up some breakfast or picnic supplies to supplement your journey. Hot pies, free range eggs, homemade breads, handmade cheeses, fresh spring rolls, coffee, and live music are just some of the highlights in this Saturday market.
