When you land in New Zealand’s most populous city, pick up a car rental at Auckland Airport and head into town. The city is quite spread out and doesn’t have the best public transport system, so a rental car will give you the freedom to see all of Auckland’s attractions.
Here are some of our top picks for things to do in Auckland with a rental car.
Image: 111 Emergency, CC-BY-SA-2.0, via Flickr
Things to do in Auckland for free
Looking for things to do in Auckland today without blowing the budget? Here are the top free activities throughout the city.
● Mission Bay: A beautiful beach and neighbourhood just outside of the downtown area, Mission Bay is the place to walk and relax on the warm sand on a hot day.
● Mt Victoria: Head north across the Harbour Bridge (or take a cheap ferry ride) to Devonport, then take the short brisk walk up Mt Victoria. This small mountain offers awesome views across the harbour towards Auckland and has an old wartime bunker you can explore. It’s also a great spot for a picnic!
Things to do in Auckland with the kids
Need to entertain the young ones but still enjoy the city as an adult? We’ve got you covered.
● The Sky Tower: Auckland (and New Zealand’s) iconic structure is the Sky Tower in the heart of downtown. You’ll spot it as you fly in, so be sure to take a ride up to level 51 to where you can walk on glass and watch tiny humans on the ground far below, then even further up to level 60 for 360-degree views out over the city.
● Kelly Tarlton’s: This impressive aquarium takes you underground to watch all manner of sea creatures. The highlight is the giant ocean tunnel, where you walk through a glass cave as sharks, turtles, and a rainbow of other sealife swim over and around you. You can also book in to swim with the sharks! (This is also an excellent rainy day activity.)
What to do on a rainy day in Auckland
If you’re in Auckland over the winter months (June to August), you’ll likely encounter a day or two of rain. Here’s where to go to stay dry and still have a great time in the city.
● Auckland Art Gallery: This central city art gallery is home to more than 15,000 artworks, with rotating exhibitions, regular events, and a fantastic little cafe and gift shop. (Also, aside from paid exhibits, this attraction is also free!)
● Auckland War Memorial Museum: One of the best museums in the country, this structure is home to exhibits from both world wars, as well as an array of fascinating collections on New Zealand’s wildlife, geology, and more.
● Queen Street: Queen Street is Auckland’s iconic central route and dotted with shops, restaurants, and cafes. Even though this attraction is technically outdoors, the vast majority of it is covered, so you can stay dry as you visit souvenir stores, clothing shops, and cafes. Just bring an umbrella for crossing the road!
What to do in Auckland at night
Don’t stay stuck indoors during the evening in Auckland - this city comes alive at night!
● The Viaduct: One of Auckland’s premiere nightlife scenes, the Viaduct is the area around the waterfront, and is jam-packed with bars and restaurants where you can boogie the night away with a few drinks and great food.
● Night markets: There are Thursday night markets in Henderson, Friday night markets at the waterfront, and Saturday night markets held in Pakuranga - that’s half a week of food, crafts, and music to visit around the city. (Note that this is also one of the most romantic things to do in Auckland if you’re looking for a fun date idea!)
● The Civic Theatre: From comedy to theatre and concerts to film screenings, there’s always something on at the Civic Theatre. Take a look at the schedule to see what’s on while you’re in town and score yourself a ticket.
If you have a few days and want to see a little more outside the city with your car rental from Auckland Airport, check out our best three-day road trips from Auckland!
