30 of the Best Attractions in Auckland, New Zealand

From stunning beaches and volcanic landscapes to vibrant neighbourhoods and iconic landmarks, Auckland is a city packed with unforgettable experiences. Known as the “City of Sails,” Auckland offers the perfect blend of urban energy and natural beauty, making it one of the top destinations to visit in New Zealand. Whether you’re looking for scenic viewpoints, cultural attractions, island adventures, or hidden local gems, there’s no shortage of incredible places to explore. In this guide, I’ll take you through 27+ of the best attractions in Auckland to help you plan the ultimate trip and discover why this diverse city has something for every type of traveller.

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Do you need to get around but don’t have a car? Then, use public transport or the Hop-on Hop-off Bus Auckland Explorer, which operates in Auckland.

All prices and times were accurate when this information was written or updated; however, please verify the details on the websites before your visit.

Attractions in Auckland Suburbs

Point Chevalier

• Oakley Creek Walkway and Waterfall
• Western Springs
• Auckland Zoo
• MOTAT

Point Chevalier is only about 10 minutes outside the city and can easily be reached by bus, car, or on foot from the Hop-on Hop-off Bus drop-off points at Auckland Zoo, Western Springs, or MOTAT.

Just around the corner from the main shopping precinct is the Oakley Creek walkway. This 6m waterfall flows into a popular swimming hole with locals. From the Pt. Chevalier shops, it’s only about a half-hour walk through the bush beside the creek to the Waterfall.

Western Springs

Also in this area are three more Auckland attractions: the Auckland Zoo, MOTAT (Museum of Transport and Technology), and Western Springs. Western Springs is a wildlife sanctuary featuring a lake and a 1-kilometre walkway surrounding it. Ducks, swans, pukekos, geese, chickens, and at least one rabbit call this place home. Bring a picnic or use one of the provided barbecues. It’s an excellent place for families with children with play areas.

At one end of Western Springs, there is the Auckland Zoo. Improvements are constantly being made, and the well-being of the animals is their utmost priority. With animal experiences to enjoy or participate in at your own pace, it’s an excellent place for families and anyone who enjoys seeing animals in their most natural habitat.

M.O.T.A.T., or the Museum of Transport and Technology, is at the other end of Western Springs. It’s another excellent place for families. With interactive displays and the history of transport and technology right in front of you, it truly is a fantastic resource for fun, educational experiences. A tram can take you to the Sir Keith Park Memorial Aviation Display on Meola Road. This large display of aircraft, both commercial and military, is on display. The tram also stops at the Zoo.

West Coast Beaches

If you love black sands, movie and TV locations, and wild surf, then Auckland’s west coast beaches are for you. To get to these locations, you pass through the Waitakeres, a natural paradise full of birdlife, hiking trails, waterfalls and more to explore.

• Piha Beach
• Muriwai Beach
• Waitakeres

Piha Beach

Just under an hour’s drive west of Auckland CBD, Piha Beach is a great place to escape to for the day. With black sands, Lion Rock and Kitekite Falls to walk to, there is something for everyone here. Beware if you are going swimming! The rips at these West Coast beaches are dangerous, so always swim between the flags.

Muriwai Beach

Muriwai Beach is the northernmost beach of Auckland’s West Coast beaches. Once again, you have black sands and great walks with one going from the beach up to the cliffs, where you can watch the Gannets up close nesting and flying over the cliffs. You have great views along the beach and out across the Tasman Sea.

Once again, beware if you are going swimming! The rips at these West Coast beaches are dangerous, so always swim between the flags.

Waitakeres

When you’re planning a day or more hiking in the Waitakeres, your first port of call should be the Arataki Visitor Centre. Here you will find out all you need to know about the tracks, what is open or closed, and what conditions are like. You have great views of Auckland from up here as well, and even if you’re short on time, a drive through the Waitakeres is well worth the visit.

To see more on these West Coast beaches, you can read my post, Best of West Coast Beaches, Piha and Muriwai.

Volcanic Walks

If walking up volcanoes is your thing, then these attractions in Auckland are for you.

The most popular volcanic walks in Auckland are Mt Eden, One Tree Hill and Rangitoto Island. Add to that Mt Victoria and North Head in Devonport, and you can safely say that you walked to the top of five volcanoes while visiting these attractions in Auckland.

• Mt. Eden
• One Tree Hill

Mt. Eden

There are plenty of walks close to the city that will keep you going for days. Mt. Eden is the nearest of these volcanoes to the city and is only about a 45-minute walk to the top. With 360° views of Auckland, it is one of the city’s best vantage points, especially for the city and the harbour. It’s one of the must-do attractions in Auckland if you’re short on time but want a free, fantastic view of the city.

One Tree Hill

There are also One Tree Hill and Cornwall Park to explore. With plenty of parkland and tracks to walk through, you can even walk up One Tree Hill for more 360° views over all of Auckland.

You can also relax in the parklands, enjoy a picnic on the grass or people-watch in the Cafe. It’s also another must-do attraction in Auckland for free views.

Attractions in Auckland North Shore

Devonport

• Take the ferry from the Auckland Ferry Building to Devonport
• Enjoy the old-style architecture of Devonport
• Torpedo Bay Navy Museum
• Walk up Mt. Victoria
• Walk up North Head

Catching the 30-minute ferry across to Devonport is one of the must-do attractions in Auckland. The ferry runs every 30 minutes and takes you back in time, both in architectural terms and through a small cruise on the harbour. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants to enjoy your time here, and it is a great place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Mt. Victoria and North Head offer great free views of the city and harbour, and the walk up to the top is a good workout.

Also on North Head are the guns that were placed there during World War 2 protecting Auckland from the Japanese.

At the foot of North Head is the Torpedo Bay Navy Museum. Small but concise, it provides a great insight into the New Zealand Navy and its role in protecting our waters through engagement in past and present wars and peacekeeping operations.

Cooling down at the end of a long walk in summer is easy, with the beaches here being ideal. Picnic tables are there for you, or you can enjoy one of the many cafés in town.

Northcote

• Kauri Glen Reserve

In Northcote, a treetop boardwalk that opened on April 28, 2024, offers new perspectives on viewing the Kauri trees.

Only a 15-minute drive from Sky Tower, the Kauri Glen Reserve features a new treetop boardwalk that takes you 18m up into the canopy, helping protect the Kauri from the Kauri dieback disease.

There is a well-formed path with steps along the track, as well as a 60m elevated boardwalk.

Limited street parking is available around the reserve, but you can catch the number 25 bus, which stops on Onewa Road.

This is one of the great attractions in Auckland for those who want to see a bit of the New Zealand Bush and the large Kauri trees, but don’t have the time to go out into the Waitakeres.

Attractions in Auckland Harbour

Rangitoto Island

• Catch the ferry to Rangitoto Island.
• Walk up Rangitoto Island and see the Lava Caves on the way, or take the 4WD train.
• Kayak across the harbour to Rangitoto Island

Rangitoto Island is the most recent volcano to erupt 600 years ago. It is the only one of Auckland’s over 53 volcanoes that may erupt again sometime, as it’s dormant.

Once again, you can catch the ferry across to the volcanic island for the day. There are two options for getting to the top. You can walk up to the summit or catch the 4WD road train. A great day out for everyone, with plenty of walks, including a trip over to Motutapu Island, which is connected to Rangitoto. Ensure you can catch the ferry back, as there is no accommodation on the islands. If you walk up, you will have not only the world’s largest Pohutukawa forest to walk through but also lava caves to explore. Click here to find the prices and times.

Alternatively, you could take a kayaking tour to Rangitoto Island.

Attractions in Auckland City

Auckland City Attractions

• Explore the Auckland Art Gallery and see English and Maori art at its best.
• Enjoy the gardens of Albert Park.
• Go up to Auckland’s highest viewing point, Sky Tower.

Auckland Art Gallery is open every day between 10 am and 5 pm except Christmas Day and is a great free place to escape to when the weather isn’t on your side.

Here, you can see artwork unique to New Zealand, featuring Maori portraits and exhibits that change regularly.

Heading up the stairs behind the art gallery, you’ll find Albert Park. Here, you can see gardens laid out, serving as a gateway to the University of Auckland.

If you don’t have the time or the inclination to walk up volcanoes to catch the views, there is always Sky Tower in the middle of the city. There are three restaurants and cafés, including a revolving restaurant. If you don’t have a head for heights, there is always the casino, a theatre and over 20 bars and restaurants to keep you entertained at ground level. For the more adventurous, you can do the Skyjump and/or Skywalk. Fall 192 metres straight down or walk around the outside 1.2-metre-wide platform.

Wynyard Quarter and Silo Park

• Explore the eateries and bars of the Wynyard Quarter.
• Relax in Silo Park, eat from Food Trucks or take in a movie in the summer months.

Take a walk along the waterfront and explore the Wynyard Quarter and Silo Park. With restaurants, cafés, kids’ play areas, and entertainment, you will never be bored down here. It is used as a hub during the America’s Cup racing carnival.

Movies in the Park, entertainment and food trucks are down here at different times of the year. Check out their websites in the links above to see what’s on when you’re in town.

The Domain, Auckland Museum and Parnell

• Explore the Domain and its gardens, including the indoor Wintergardens.
• Look through the Auckland Museum and take in the War Memorial.
• Walk through the cobbled streets of Parnell Village.

The Domain is the place to be for a more sedate time in this busy city. With gardens, ponds and the two glasshouses called The Wintergarden, this is a place to get away from all the hustle and bustle of Queen Street. This is also a stop on the hop-on-hop-off buses, but you can also walk from the city across the Grafton Bridge. It is also home to the Auckland Museum and the War Memorial, both inside and outside the Museum.  You will find exhibitions, guided tours and a Maori Cultural Performance to teach you about New Zealand.

You can round off this visit by walking back to the city through Parnell, an upscale suburb with restaurants, cafés, galleries, and boutiques. St. Mary’s Church, a beautiful old wooden church, is also nearby.

Round the Bays – East of the City

Kelly Tarleton’s, Bastion Point and the Bay Beaches

• Visit SeaLife Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium.
• Walk along the foreshore, visiting the beaches from Okahu Bay to St. Heliers Beach.
• Go up Bastion Point to see gardens, views of Auckland city and the Michael Savage Memorial.

Sealife Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium lets you interact with sharks in its Shark Tunnel. You can also walk beside and under these sharks, visit the King and Gentoo Penguins, and visit play and educational areas for the kids.

It’s located at Okahu Bay, the first beach you come to on your trip around the bays. The distance from Okahu Bay to St. Heliers is 5.3 km, so you may want to choose which beach or beaches to visit. Mission Bay has the most restaurants and cafés along the strip, although all the beaches have them.

Bastion Point, located just above Mission Bay and Achilles Point at the end of St. Heliers, offers the best view of the city, harbour, and islands. Both hop-on-hop-off bus companies go as far as Bastion Point, so you could walk or catch public transport from Mission Bay.

Okahu Bay, Mission Bay, Kohimarama Beach and St Heliers Bay Beach are all safe, family-friendly beaches to enjoy. Each has its pros and cons, with Mission Beach being the largest and offering the most shops, cafes, and restaurants.

If you want to do this walk around the bays, it’s 5.6km from Okahu Bay Beach to Achilles Point.

South Auckland

• Enjoy the views of the Manukau Harbour.
• Manukau Heads Lighthouse.
• Awhitu Regional Park for walking, picnicking and beaches.

If you love getting out into nature and learning about the history of an area, then the Manukau Heads out of Waiuku is for you.

Here you see the Manukau Harbour and the dangerous heads from the historic Manukau Heads Lighthouse. Stop off at Awhitu Regional Park and explore the wetlands, pastures and beaches on the Manukau Harbour.

Also in the area is the Glenbrook Vintage Railway, where you can take a trip into the past on a steam train.

Where I Stayed

Auckland International (now Haka House Auckland) is an excellent hostel in an even better location. Right at the top of Queen Street, you are only a short walk to central Auckland, K Road, Auckland University, The Domain and, of course, Auckland Harbour.

Facilities

How To Get Here

Auckland International YHA (Haka House Auckland) is at 5 Turner Street, the top of Queen Street.

How To Book

Conclusion

With so much to see and do, you’ll never be bored, especially with these free, cheap and invaluable attractions to see in Auckland.

Want to see more? Check out my blogs on what to see on the outskirts of Auckland, such as Historic and Scenic Karangahake Gorge—South of Auckland or The Best of Auckland’s West Coast Beaches.

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Links

If you’d like to read more of my blog posts about Australia, you can find them at the following links: Queensland, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Camping, and Silo Art. Alternatively, if you’re interested in New Zealand, the United Kingdom, or Photography, click their respective links.

Travel Resources

• All-in-One Travel App—Klook is for all your travel needs, from tickets and attractions to SIM cards and fast-track through customs and immigration.
• Flights & Accommodation—You can search for the cheapest flights and accommodation using AviaSales, Booking.com, or Tripadvisor.
• Car Hire—In Australia, you can use Budget Car Rentals Australia or Avis Car Rentals Australia or in New Zealand, Budget Car Rentals New Zealand or Avis Car Rentals New Zealand.
• Camper & RV Rentals—Want a quieter pace exploring Australia and New Zealand in your own accommodation? Jucy Rentals and Star RV Rentals will give you an unforgettable travelling experience.
• Travel Insurance is the number one thing to pack when you’re travelling. Cover-More Australia, Cover-More New Zealand, EKTA, Travel Insurance Master, and Insubuy provide insurance coverage during your travels.
• Attractions—buy before you leave home with these great sites: Big Bus Tour, GetYourGuide, GoCity, and Viator.
• SIM cards—Try Airalo, the world’s first eSIM store, which solves the pain of high roaming bills by giving travellers access to eSIMs (digital SIM cards).
• Power Stations—Bluetti Australia Power Stations are your choices for sustainable, eco-friendly power on the road or at home.

• For more tips, try my Travel Links and Resources page.

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