Planning a short break to Auckland? Check out Travel Library's recommended Top 10 Things To Do in Auckland. It's a perfect companion for weekend city breaks to Auckland. Once you've been you can add your own tips and suggestions to help other visitors.
Where the stories of New Zealand are told through the visual arts. Consisting of over 12 000 works of art, the Gallery has the largest and most comprehensive collection of New Zealand and International art in the country.
Occupying two buildings in the heart of the city, it is within walking distance of the central city hotels.
Take a free tour of the Gallery every day at 2pm with one of the Gallery’s trained guides. Open every day from 10am – 5pm, 7 days a week, the Gallery is situated on the corner of Wellesley Street and Kitchener Street.
With its extensive displays of native and foreign plants these gardens have received international interest. There are guided rambles held on the first Sunday of every month. If you prefer to go it alone the gardens are open every day from 9am to dusk. Hill Road, Manurewa, is where they are situated.
Daily Maori cultural performances are held at the museum which holds priceless Maori treasures, amazing natural history exhibits and everything one would want to know about the people of New Zealand. The Museum is open from 10am – 5pm daily. Admission is by donation, S 5.00 per adult is suggested and children are free. It is located at The Domain.
Beesonline Honey Centre and Café - Restaurant or Cafe
Offering wonderful seasonal and regional cuisine at New Zealand’s top café (Winner 2004) this working honey centre combines unique honey products, with tastings and an outlet shop. Twenty to thirty minutes from the centre of the city, the centre is located on 791 State Highway, 16, Waimauku.
Step back in time and experience life as it was for the early settlers in 1840. With over 30 European and Maori buildings containing many interesting displays, a costume guide is there to answer any of your questions. The village also has a café and gift shop. A themed Live Day is presented on the third Sunday of every month excluding December. Open from 10am – 4pm, daily. The village is situated on Bell Road, Lloyd Elsmore Park, Pakuranga.
Owned and operated by the craftspeople themselves, this working village is situated in the historic Parnell Village and offers everything from large, unique New Zealand crafts to small mementos of your holiday. Open 7 days a week.
Just a 10 minute stroll from the city centre, this shop offers over 100 clothing designs, all made in leather. If you can’t see what you like, have a garment made to measure within 24 hours. The shop is located at Victoria Park Market.
Galbraith’s Alehouse - Bar or Club
Rumoured to be ‘the best English pub/brewery outside the mother country’ New Zealand’s only Real Ale Brewery is situated in the old Grafton Library. The bar and restaurant serve award winning ales, great food and good company. The actual location of the Brewery is at No. 2 Mt. Eden, Grafton.
This shop promotes and sells the finest quality indigenous art by Maori artists to the domestic and international tourist market. Open 7 days a week between 9am and 6pm, the shop is situated at the Victoria Park Market, Victoria Street.
ABC Tours - Tourist Attraction
If you don’t have too much time to spare, the best way to see Auckland’s main attractions would be on a tour. The morning tour covers the central city, Westhaven Marina, Mt Eden, the Auckland Museum and Eastern suburbs.
In the afternoon go from coast to coast including the Devonport village, Takapuna, the east coast beached, wine tasting in Henderson and the native rain forest of Waitakere.
The Auckland Art Gallery
Auckland Regional Botanic Gardens
Auckland Museum
Beesonline Honey Centre and Café
Howick Historical Village
Elephant House Craft Village
AK Leather Fashions
Galbraith’s Alehouse
Awhina
ABC Tours