Auckland

Getting around Waiheke

Auckland's island of wine, Waiheke Island, has so much to offer, whatever your tastes, and it’s only a scenic 40-minute ferry ride from the CBD. It’s time you checked it out: all you have to do is choose how. You can hire a car on arrival, catch a bus from the ferry terminal past some of Waiheke’s 30-plus boutique vineyards, hire an e-bike to visit glorious beaches, or take a leisurely guided ride over farmland on horseback. Read more

A sanctuary with wild kiwi

For those of us determined to see kiwi in the wild, most head to Stewart Island. But one of the best places is actually the last place you’d think: Auckland. Tāwharanui Regional Park is a predator-free sanctuary just over an hour from central Auckland and is home to an astonishing array of birdlife. What most come here at night to see is the thriving population of North Island brown kiwi. Read more

New Zealand's slice of Tuscany

Matakana, a food- and wine-blessed region, is just a 45-minute drive from central Auckland on a good traffic day. Somehow managing to evoke Tuscany, the Hamptons and Fiji, the region is a haven of long, white-sand beaches, snorkelling hot spots, art galleries, sculpture trails, wineries, craft breweries, marine and earthly sanctuaries ripe for eco-friendly activities, and arguably the best gelato outside Italy.. Read more

Marvel at the starry skies

Great Barrier Island is officially classified a Dark Sky Sanctuary, and on a remarkably clear night you can take a magnificent tour through the Universe. On one of Good Heavens' stargazing experiences you'll see our second-closest star, take a look at Magellanic Clouds more than 160,000 light-years away, and watch Mars through a telescope. Read more

The one walk every visitor should do

At 193m above sea level, Maungawhau/Mt Eden is the highest point in Auckland, so of course the views from the crater rim are terrific. However, there’s a lot more to enjoy besides the sweeping 360-degree vista of sea, city, harbour and hills. Getting up there, for a start. The winding road to the summit has been claimed by pedestrians of all levels of fitness, and there are also tracks cutting more steeply up through the bush. Read more

Dried lava and scoria

It's the kind of scene you'd expect to see on the Tongariro Crossing, or up Mt Tarawera. But, if you turn your head, you can see the Sky Tower in the distance. It's surprising how few New Zealanders have ever set foot on Rangitoto, despite it being a fascinating open-air museum. The island is the youngest volcano in New Zealand; it's difficult to imagine that just over 600 years ago a fountain of hot frothy lava was in a constant battle with the sea, slowly sculpting the city's iconic centrepiece. It’s an easy day out, and best of all, it's only 20 minutes from the central city.

A dash of the tropics

Drive just 20 minutes from Matakana towards the coast is the Goat Island Marine Reserve, which has more than 100 species of fish - including two giant snapper named Monkey Face and Charlie Lip. While swimming through the reserve is popular in summer, taking a transparent kayak is the best way to see everything without getting wet. The snapper follow along and glare up at you, forming an unofficial underwater procession as you move through the reserve.

The best times to be in Auckland

Tāmaki Makaurau boasts a packed calendar of family-friendly annual events that showcase the city and its multicultural communities, art, music and food. Aotearoa’s biggest city attracts top-drawer international musicians for sold-out stadium and arena shows that bring visitors from around the country and further abroad. There are other more nostalgic and historic events that utilise Auckland’s diverse landscape – such as the Anniversary Day Regatta, and Round the Bays fun run – while the Pasifika, Chinese Lantern, and Indian Diwali festivals celebrate the city’s cultural diversity. Read more

New Zealand's tiny slice of old-school Corfu

Just 75 minutes from downtown Auckland by ferry, Tiritiri Matangi is nonetheless a world apart. An island sanctuary home to calm, clear-watered coves; rare native birds singing like rising star sopranos from the branches of giant pōhutukawa and pūriri; and a 150-year-old lighthouse with an ocean view as spectacular as anything you’ll feast your eyes on in the Med, Ionian or Aegean. Read more

Interactive movie magic

Wētā Workshop co-founders Richard Taylor and Tania Rodger have long wanted to create a dedicated tour – where people can experience a live workshop and then see it being used on a film set. After years of planning, the spectacular Wētā Workshop Unleashed opened in 2020. You're first led into an enormous workshop where three different films are being made. The first is a horror studio, where you can touch, play, manipulate and experience dozens of activities. The second film set involves walking through a spectacular fantasy workshop, before finally moving on to a sci-fi film with an enormous robot and crashed UFO. Read more

The city of volcanoes

Around 50 dormant volcanoes punctuate the Auckland isthmus, and Tāmaki Makaurau’s unique urban landscape is on the tentative list to be awarded the status of a Unesco World Heritage Site. Since 2014, physical, cultural and spiritual guardianship of 14 of the region's Tūpuna Maunga (ancestral mountains) has been with the Tūpuna Maunga o Tāmaki Makaurau Authority, a co-governance group comprising 13 iwi and hapū of Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau (the Māori tribes of Auckland). Read more

Secret motu of the Hauraki Gulf

Stretching from Auckland to the Coromandel Peninsula, the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park is a southern South Pacific paradise: Its more than 50 motu true treasure islands for anyone who likes pretty beaches, panoramic views and close encounters with native wildlife. Ranging from rocky specks in the ocean to mountainous isles so vast they seem like mini countries, most islands are open to the public – although some are sanctuaries for endangered species which you need a permit to visit. Read more

Matakana's museum of modern art

Anthony and Sandra Grant spent more than a decade collecting an Alice-in-Wonderland-type collection of mesmerising sculptures and art pieces for their 1.5-kilometre maze. At Sculptureum you'll journey between life-size elephants made of driftwood, giant neon pink snails, and even a tin version of The Lion King's Rafiki.

Auckland's unusual zoo

Located near Auckland Airport, Butterfly Creek is an unusual combination of zoo, amusement park and conservation hub. Founder John Dowsett's vision was to create somewhere with a different angle on animals, focusing on interaction, fun and sustainability. So what was once a paddock containing one tree is now a complex of recycled buildings surrounded by lush greenery and wetlands that support huge salt-water crocs, porcupines, cotton-top tamarins, otters and giant tarantula. Read more

Spectacular bird life

Less than an hour from downtown Auckland will bring you to a wild and windswept beach, where birds rule supreme and you're only granted temporary access to admire their antics. Bird watching has never been more entertaining than watching the highs and lows of the gannet colony at Muriwai. Around 1200 pairs of gannets nest at Muriwai between August and March each year and it's worth heading out west of the City of Sails for a visit, especially at sunset when the light is stunning. Read more

The war tunnels

One of the best views of Auckland's harbour and CBD can be found at Maungauika/North Head Historic Reserve. This beautiful volcanic cone, sitting on the harbour's edge, has a fascinating history and secret series of tunnels. Maungauika (meaning the Mountain of Uika) was the home of an early Māori community. By the time the 1880s rolled around it became a fort with a series of underground tunnels. Some tunnels remain open to the public today, and it's an adventure the kids will love. Read more

The wild side

Few people realise Auckland has a permanent whale and dolphin population, which can be seen on a wildlife cruise. The Hauraki Gulf Marine Park covers more than 1.2 million hectares and is home to the critically endangered Bryde's whale. Auckland Whale and Dolphin Safari has a high success rate, with a 95% chance of seeing either dolphins or whales. Some sightings have included orca, humpback whales, southern right whales, leopard seals, turtles and manta ray. Read more

Sail the City of Sails

As well as its collection of sailboats, Auckland is known asthe location of one of the world's great sporting clashes. The best way to get excited about The America's Cup is to take to the helm of a boat yourself. No, not the fighter jet-like foiling yachts that battled it out earlier this year; Explore Group's boats are the classic monohulls that were used in the cups of yesteryear. For two hours, you and your fellow sailors will be in charge of racing the yacht, manning the grinders and even steering.

Treetop adventures in the Bombay Hills

Make a detour off State Highway 1 at Ramarama and you’ll find Adrenalin Forest, a thicket of trees slung with ropes, high wires, ladders and flying foxes – all yours for the exploring, just as soon as you’re harnessed up. As you work your way around the course, you gradually get higher into the treetops. Getting from one platform to the other requires tiptoeing between metal hoops suspended at challenging angles, clambering along cargo nets or balancing on logs that spin beneath your feet. Read more

The stairway to heaven

Some of the best attractions on Great Barrier Island are free: walks through primeval bush and magnificent beaches. The island is 60 per cent Department of Conservation land, meaning the choice of walks is overwhelming. The most coveted is the Aotea Track around the mountainous interior of the island, the most popular walk is the 45-minute stroll to the Kaitoke Hot Springs, but the most spectacular is a visit to Windy Canyon. The 3km trek walks past canyons, climbs staircases wedged between giant rock faces, before emerging with 360-degree views of the island. Read more

A great way to see the city

Power to the Pedal's City Lights tour is full of delightful surprises you never notice in daylight. Lasting just under two hours, the ride spends much of the time on dedicated cycleways, heading through Britomart during the after-work buzz, along the Viaduct and into Wynyard Quarter. You’ll get a great view of the lit-up bridge, before Victoria Park gives way to the interactive glory of the pink lightpath. Then you swoop down Grafton Gully under the historic bridge and past the white lights of the port, back to your start. Read more

South Auckland's magnetic black sand beach

At the end of an impressively scenic eight-kilometre drive from Waiuku, you wind down through huge grassy dunes onto the black sands of long, open and surf-fringed Karioitahi Beach. Tall, weather-sculpted cliffs rise above the beach, which is well-used by dog-walkers, horse-riders, dirt-bikers, blow-carters, paragliders – and magnet artists. A handful of fine sand can be coaxed, using a magnet, into a wide variety of shapes, abstract or recognisably real. It’s fun, absorbing and immensely satisfying to create something soft, furry and three-dimensional out of that stuff you’re just standing on. Read more

An island wildlife sanctuary

If you’ve come all the way to Great Barrier, you can’t miss one of its best bits. There’s a two-kilometre loop track to explore at Glenfern Sanctuary, and the more slowly you go, the better – you might even spot the giant, endemic chevron skink. The 83-hectare sanctuary on the Kotuku Peninsula is home to swooping tūī, screeching kākā, and kererū doing stall dives. A highlight is the swing bridge and ladder into the top of a 600-year-old kauri for a peep through its branches over the now green and bird-busy peninsula. Visitors who choose to stay the night get to enjoy a colourful sunset and then a dazzle of stars at this Dark Sky Sanctuary. Read more

Auckland's Willy Wonka sculpture farm

Gibbs Farm is a surreal collection of outdoor sculptures that navigates a perfect tightrope between the awe-inspiring and the downright bizarre. There are around 30 to see, including a concrete pyramid, a steal island, an abstract cube mermaid, one of the world's largest Tesla coils and a 46-tonne curved stairway that elegantly spirals into the sky. The biggest is an 85-metre long PVC feature that looked a little like a giant trumpet resting on a hilltop. For most, the farm is a complete enigma, and the only glimpse inside is an open day held roughly once a month. The 'golden tickets' are limited, so you need to register early.

Slide around the Sky Tower

Your ticket on the "SkySlide" includes a ride up the Sky Tower, where you can first enjoy the sights of the city. Then, on level 51 (186 metres above the ground), you'll find the launchpad for the new virtual reality adventure. Here, you put on a headset and strap yourself into a moving platform. You have two choices of slides, depending on your fear factor. As you're sliding around, you can look over the side of the slide - it really feels like you're almost 200 metres above ground. Kids will love it. Read more

Auckland's best farmers' markets

Grab a reusable tote bag, Auckland is home to some brilliant community markets. Founded in 2005, Clevedon Village Farmers’ Market is a hub for local growers and makers, featuring everything from veggies and pastries to coffee. Avondale Sunday Market is believed to be one of New Zealand’s largest – and longest running – markets, a treasure trove of fruit, vegetables, craft and clothing. It’s estimated around 15,000-20,000 visitors pass through the market each Sunday. Matakana Village Market is a popular weekend trip where you can fill your bag with oodles of artisanal, organic and delicious offerings. Read more

Vegetarian food in a grand temple

The palatial Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple takes over four hectares in Flat Bush. There's a pagoda with its own water feature, a room where you can practise the cursive designs of Chinese calligraphy and an art gallery covered in twinkling fairy lights. But one of the most popular features can be found tucked away to the left in the main entrance; the temple's on-site café is where nourishing vegetarian food is served fast and steaming. Grab a seat inside the wooden dining room to wolf down barbecue wonton noodles, curry roti, steamed siu mai dumplings, noodle and rice dishes. Read more

An afternoon you will never forget

Puhoi Organic Distillery has been named one of the most exciting in the world, with several awards under its belt. And you can experience it all on a hosted visit. The Kirichuk family will welcome you as their own, with a tour of the factory and a lavish feast of Ukrainian snacks combined with an extensive tasting session. A tasting session is by invitation only. When booking, you need to make your case to Alex about why you want to come, and then he will decide whether to offer you an invitation.

Inventive ice cream

At Giapo it’s really hard to know where food ends and art begins. Giapo and Annarosa Grazioli are creative geniuses when it comes to dessert. Their ice cream is not just a cold sweet treat in a cone – it’s a whole world of different creations ranging from tiramisu to cookies topped with ice cream through to something that looks like a colossal squid. Limited-edition releases pop up regularly, each more fascinating and delicious than the last – all made from the best of local ingredients. It’s unlikely you’ll find an ice cream experience like this anywhere else in New Zealand, maybe the world. Read more

Destination restaurants

It’s no secret that Auckland city boasts more than its fair share of award-winning restaurants, but what happens if you decide to make a day of dining and venture a bit further out? Well, as it turns out, you’ll be equally spoiled for choice, finding good old-fashioned Kiwi kai that rivals even the most exciting menus in the world. For the best burnt butter cinnamon buns head to Clevedon's The Farmhouse. Right next to the water in Cockle Bay, Windross House Restaurant offers classic Italian fare. Bracu Estate brings a taste of the Mediterranean to Bombay, and The Hunting Lodge serves casual sharing fare in West Auckland wine country. Read more

Shopping and dining

Opened in 2020, Commercial Bay is a retail space with exceptional dining options to suit all budgets and tastes. There’s a fancy food court with everything from pho to oysters to hot dogs to empanadas to Korean fried chicken to fresh pasta and so much more. There are also some seated-service licensed casual restaurants like Brothers Beer and Juke Joint (American barbecue) and the legendary Gochu, which serves up some of New Zealand’s finest modern Korean. And then there are more upmarket options like Ahi and The Lodge. Read more

For a good cuppa

Sunday brunch is practically a religion for Aucklanders. There’s a great café in every neighbourhood, so brunch is a great way to explore the lengths of the city. Some of the best places to grab a late morning or early afternoon bite include Bestie in St Kevins Arcade. The dining room might be the most beautiful in the city. The Italian-inspired breakfast and lunch menus at Amano are packed with delicious options. Mr T’s is a French-Vietnamese café and bakery serves up delicious banh mi alongside great coffee and delicious pastries. Hare and the Turtle is a neighbourhood favourite that gets people driving from all over town to eat their sandwiches. Read more

Better living, everybody

Whether you’re wanting a superfood-filled meal, a food intolerance-friendly version of a burger, or are keen to see what plant-based fine dining’s all about, Auckland has somewhere to suit. Forest is arguably the best plant-based fine dining establishment the city has to offer. Little Bird Kitchen is a pioneering plant-health food cafe with an entirely vegan and gluten, dairy and refined-sugar free menu. Khu Khu Eatery turns out tasty vegan versions of Thai classics, Britomart Japanese restaurant Ebisu has a dedicated vegan menu, and Kind Cafe is perfect for a healthy brunch. Read more

More than a plate of chips

Federal Delicatessen's poutine is often regarded as the best in the country. The Jewish-style deli from celebrity chef and entrepreneur Al Brown specialises in “Montréal-style” poutine, which is traditionally served with the additional topping of smoked meat. At the Fed, hungry diners can “make it dirty,” by adding a serving of pastrami for $5. Whether dining for breakfast or swinging by during the late-night service, it’s always worth making the dish a mandatory order, either by itself or as a side dish alongside the much-loved selection of Jewish deli-inspired cuisine. Read more

Auckland's best dog-friendly bars

For those of us on Team Dog, there’s little worse than not being able to take our four-legged mates with us for a drink/meal. Thankfully, The Cav isn’t one of those places. With a recently refurbished outdoor area and lots of sunshine, this Ponsonby gastropub is the perfect spot for you and your four-legged friend. At Botany Commons there’s a gin garden, an extensive selection of whisky and dogs are treated like the VIPs their owners think they are. Dogs are also welcome in the garden bar at Union Post. Read more

Eating and drinking in South Auckland

South Auckland has some of the best places to eat and drink in the entire city. It’s where Auikilani’s Pasifika go to get food that reminds them of home, where the sweets are always fresh, and where quiet, unassuming cafés welcome their regulars without the hustle and bustle of the inner city. Ruby Red in Māngere Bridge its a local favourite for coffee and baked goods, Ōtāhuhu's The Hāngī Shop dishes up flavoursome hāngī feasts, Evelina’s Polynesian Food is known for its famous banana pancakes and steamed buns packed with lamb, and Captain Kai Moana draws crowds for fry bread and cream pāua. Read more

Unwind at The Sawmill

Matakana's Sawmill Brewery is an institution, not only because it makes excellent craft beer – but because it's not all about profits. Solar panels power the plant, and great expense has been spared moving the operation towards zero waste. For example, the ‘spent grain’ that is used to make beer is recycled into crackers, sent to local farmers or is even made into bread. There's a kaleidoscope of exciting beers to try and you'll also want to sit down at the adjoining restaurant with cheese, olive oil, bread, fruit and vegetables that are all locally sourced.

A delicious cracker

Satya serves up delicious South Indian cuisine across five locations. Its dahi puri is the must-try item — it's estimated diners have consumed more than four million pieces since the restaurant launched 21 years ago. The hand-held savoury snack gives an unexpected knock to the senses. Sweet, salty, tangy, spicy, crunchy, creamy, hot and cold; it is a masterclass in flavour and texture all in one bite. Read more

Three of the best cooking schools

In Auckland you can get cooking with some of the best in the business. Situated in Muriwai, Good from Scratch's hands-on classes include butchery and cooking with foraged ingredients. Television chef Michael Van de Elzen and his wife Belinda opened up the cooking school in 2020. At Peter Gordon's Homeland students learn how to make three-to-four recipes with local ingredients, from preserving and baking to cuisine from around the globe. Sachie’s Kitchen is a Parnell cooking school offering three-hour classes focused on Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Indian and Malaysian cuisine. Read more

Something for every taste bud

Feeling like some delicious food but can't quite pinpoint what you want? The Auckland Night Market runs each night at different locations throughout the city, and you won't leave disappointed. Each market has dozens of stalls, ranging from delicious dim sum to Rarotongan-style doughnuts and Hungarian langos. The markets started in Pakuranga in 2010 and are still held there every Saturday night. You'll join thousands of others in a large underground car park full of sizzle, sound and lots of salivating as you walk around the stalls. Read more

Auckland's hidden speakeasies

The speakeasy is a small, exclusive bar which originally earned its name during the prohibition era. Nowadays, they’re legal and a bit louder, but some are just as hard to find. Korean-Western fusion restaurant and bar Seoul Night has an alcoholic vending machine in lieu of a door, and a dark but funky interior. Pineapple is located in upmarket suburb Parnell behind a door emblazoned with the golden pineapple. At Caretaker and Deadshot you’re the master of your own cocktail journey, with no cocktail menu. The casual and cosy Barcita sits out the back of K Road restaurant, Candela. Read more

Beautiful kaimoana

When you go to a top seafood restaurant, a fish burger is not always the first choice when there are so many other fruits of the sea on offer. Kingi restaurant at The Hotel Britomart has a beautiful fish burger that hits all the right marks. A giant piece of buttercrunch lettuce, tangy pickles, delicious mayo, a heavenly fillet of grilled kingfish in a bun that doesn't fall apart - it might just be the best fish burger in Auckland. Read more

Perfect for a romantic staycation

The Park Hyatt on Auckland's Wynyard Quarter extends the limits of luxury on offer in Auckland. Walking inside is suitably dramatic; with a towering artwork that draws your eye to the cavernous space above the lobby - some six storeys high. The beds are heavenly and the hotel has an infinity pool overlooking the Viaduct. It also has three eateries. The main restaurant is the ground-level Onemata. The Captain's Bar is an elegant place to grab a drink with waterfront views later in the evening. Read more

Peace, quiet and pampering

Just 34 kilometres from central Auckland, the two-bedroom Quail Lodge set high in the rolling foothills of Drury is a good choice for city dwellers who want to get away for the weekend but don’t have the time or inclination to drive too far. Set out after work on Friday and you’ll be there with plenty of time to enjoy your complimentary bottle of bubbles in the well-heated, stylish-yet-understated lounge. Or, in warmer weather, in the infinity pool or on your private terrace, both of which look out to the ocean across fields. Read more

Auckland's tallest hotel

The country’s first voco hotel lives inside Auckland's eighth-tallest skyscraper on the corner of Albert and Wyndham streets. There are 201 rooms to book here, ranging from standard twin share to the top-floor suite with separate living and entertainment rooms. And the outlook does not disappoint, from the skyline to Waitemata Harbour. The city location, meeting rooms and underground parking make this an ideal option for business travellers. Italian restaurant Mozzarella & Co sits to the right of the entry, while Bar Albert, billed as New Zealand’s highest rooftop bar, is expected to open in August with a “glamorous art deco” theme and an open deck. Read more

The perfect wellness escape

Cordis Auckland's new 17-storey Pinnacle Tower adds another 244 rooms and suites to the hotel. The Executive rooms and suites are a more premium offering than the existing offerings, have a private VIP entrance separate to the main hotel, and guests have special benefits such as the Club Lounge on Level 14 for complimentary canapés and pre-dinner drinks. There’s also breakfast and afternoon tea available. The Chuan Spa has everything you need for a wellness overhaul – a rooftop pool, hot spa, sauna, snail shower and herbal steam room. Read more

In the heart of the city

The Grand by Skycity has luxury accommodation just a short walk from some of the CBD’s best attractions. In just a few minutes, you can be up the Sky Tower, or down enjoying the viaduct and shopping up a storm at Commercial Bay. On return, you’ll find plush rooms (some with incredible harbour views) and lots of restaurants to choose from for dinner. Or just unwind at the indoor heated pool, and then order room service while watching the sunset across the city from bed.

Central and accessible

Sudima Auckland City is a warm and modern hotel situated in the CBD. The property has been designed with a lot of accessibility features in mind, from ramp access to nine accessible rooms with roll-in showers. One of the new accessibility features is the Hidden Disability Sunflower Scheme which is a discreet way to indicate to hotel staff you might need extra assistance. East restaurant is a vegetarian restaurant located on the ground floor serving Asian-inspired noodle and rice dishes - and cocktails. Read more

Very luxe, very fun

Right in the heart of the Britomart district, SO/ Auckland is within spitting distance from bars, restaurants, transport hubs and shopping. It is as close to the action as you can get. With 130 rooms, a couple of bars, restaurant and spa, there’s a lot going on in one place; the Hi-So rooftop bar alone is a drawcard for guests and visitors alike, with views stretching out across the port and Waitematā Harbour beyond. Read more

NZ's best glamping escape

Castaways Resort was one of the first operators to bring glamorous camping, or glamping, to New Zealand, and they've perfected it over the years. Now they offer the ultimate two-night escape in a remote part of Karioitahi Beach, just 10-minutes from Waiuku: including all food, massages and two completely different glamping tents. There is one on the coast and another in the forest with a bathtub suspended in the trees. Read more

Unbeatable city views

Hilton Auckland occupies the very end of Princes Wharf, extending 300 metres out into the harbour like a giant cruise ship. If you have a harbourside room you're treated to uninterrupted views of both the harbour and looking back at the city. The space is lavish, with large freestanding baths big enough for two and enormous decks, but the star of the show is the heated glass-edged swimming pool that suspends off the fourth floor. It's easily the coolest pool in the central city, complete with a view out to the harbour. Read more

Countryside luxury

A 25-minute drive from central Auckland, DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka is the only full service property in the region. All 122 guest rooms feature subtle racehorse hints in a nod to New Zealand’s working stud farms. The hotel combines contemporary design with countryside retreat. While key clientele will no doubt be those visiting the thoroughbred grounds at Karaka, the hotel is a luxe stay for anyone who likes a more rural escape while still staying close to the city. The onsite restaurant Ethereal is already cementing itself as a fine steed for travellers and gastronomes. Read more

Waiheke wellness

Perched on a clifftop overlooking Waiheke's Onetangi Beach, Wairua house is the perfect weekend hideaway, an ideal family-friendly holiday home, or a great property for a wellness staycation. The two-storey designer home comes with a fully equipped kitchen that opens out to a large dining area and huge lounge, two fireplaces and the master bedroom are all located on the ground floor. It’s spacious enough for a family with a few kids, 3 couples or a group of friends. The standout feature however is the panoramic sea views visible from almost every room in the house. Read more

The best bed in the house

Usually glamorous camping is reserved for the quietest parts of the country; places where cell phone reception is weak, and birdsong is strong. Eden Park has done the complete opposite, becoming the world's first stadium to install Staydium Glamping domes right in the heart of a city. That means you get the whole place - which can fit up to 50,000 people - to yourself. There are two options when staying at Eden Park: a game-day or "stadium to yourself" experience. It's only a 50-metre walk from the car park to the tent, which is filled with designer furniture and has a small self-contained bathroom. Every glamping guest is entitled to a behind the scenes tour of the stadium. Read more

For the ultimate sugar rush

At Mövenpick Hotel Auckland it’s never too late or too early for ice cream. The hotel from Swiss hospitality brand features a service where diners can order indulgent ice cream sundaes to their room any time of the day. Chocolate Hour is what happens on the hotel's 13th floor between 3 and 4 o'choc every day, when a round table displays every kind of chocolatey sweet imaginable. Free ice cream is also offered to kids for the duration of your stay. Read more

A stylish nod to the past

With its Spanish mission-style facade and rustic charm, The Convent Hotel looks more suited for LA living than the heart of Grey Lynn. Aptly known as “Hotel California” before its recent rebirth, The Convent was just about as far from its holy past as it could be before it was snapped up in 2018. The rooms are simple, stylish and charming with nods to its history as a nunnery throughout the design and artwork. It is home to a fabulous tiny eatery called Ada out the back, and with lots of nooks and cute corners to mull over a fine cocktail. Read more

More than a shed

Mangawhai's Little Tin Shed is adults-only with one exception: dogs are allowed, as long as they're well-behaved and are farm-friendly. Owner Julia Smith wanted to create a space where the focus was on slowing down and enjoying each other. The result is a tiny house escape that celebrates the simpler things: reading a book, watching the stars, or listening to the birds. You'll also find an impressive outdoor bath hidden in a mini mānuka forest. Read more

A quirky hotel that's also for dogs

QT Auckland is located in Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour with easy access to the city’s waterfront bars and restaurants. The quirky luxury hotel has a handful of rooms that can be made dog-friendly based on availability. Apart from the usual amenities you’d expect for humans there's also a potty mat, water and food bowls, a comfy dog bed and a really cute minibar for dogs containing treats and a welcome note. The in-room doggie menu is befitting of a spoiled pup. Humans should reserve a table at Esther to sample Mediterranean fare inspired by chef Sean Connolly’s travels - it’s worth a trip out to the hotel just for that. Read more​

Oruawharo Beach House

The Oruawharo Beach House on Great Barrier Island is a minimalist luxury escape sitting just 50 metres from a secluded beach. The entire front of the "L" shaped property is glass, and it slides right open. You'll feel like you're sitting at the beach without leaving the lounge. The property has seen many high profile guests over the years, and it is surprisingly affordable. Just gather four couples, and it's yours for $200 per person, a night. The beach house also has an adjacent cottage, but this isn't some modest ageing bungalow. It's another design masterpiece, which sleeps four. Read more

Bathe by the harbour

Black Rocks Retreat is just over an hour's drive from the central city, and has a luxury cabin overlooking the Manukau Harbour, with views of the western side of the city. The cabin is a little like a flash hotel room with beachfront access and kayaks to explore the water. But the highlight is the outdoor bath, overlooking the harbour, where you and your loved one can unwind in peace. Read more

For more information visit aucklandnz.com