10 Auckland itineraries for the perfect long weekend

One thing that might surprise you about Auckland is how many different kinds of holidays you can fit into just three days.

You could wake to vineyard views on Waiheke Island, spend the day exploring black-sand beaches and native forest, eat your way around the city or fill the itinerary with shopping, spa treatments and rooftop drinks. Travelling with kids? We’ve got that covered too.

We’ve created 10 ready-made Auckland long weekend itineraries, with places to stay, eat and explore already mapped out. Find the one that sounds like your kind of weekend and start planning.

Check into Cordis, Auckland and start your weekend with a couples treatment at Chuan Spa, followed by dinner at Ahi in Commercial Bay, before rounding out the evening with dessert at Miann nearby in Britomart.

Don’t stay out too late though, because the next morning you’ll catch a Fullers360 ferry to Waiheke Island for a long lunch and wine tasting at Mudbrick Vineyard. Add a little adventure with EcoZip Adventures, flying above native forest on a treetop zipline, before returning to the city for sunset drinks.

Optional inclusions for extra indulgence: Take a harbour dinner cruise, add rooftop cocktails, fly to Waiheke by helicopter or stay overnight at Mudbrick.

Stay right amongst the action at The Hotel Britomart, starting the day with coffee and pastries at nearby Amano before browsing the Britomart Saturday Market. Then, wander over to check out the fresh catch of the day at Auckland Fish Market in Wynyard Quarter.

Afterwards, head to Parnell for a hands-on cooking class at Elemental Cooking School to discover the refined techniques of different Asian cuisines. Leave some room for dinner at kingi, conveniently located downstairs at the hotel, or book ahead to secure a table at one of Auckland’s recently awarded Michelin restaurants.

Save the next day for Waiheke Island and join a gourmet food and wine tour with Ananda Tours where you’ll enjoy fresh oysters, Waiheke’s olive oil and other locally produced specialty foods, and wines from some of the island’s top vineyards.

Optional inclusions for some extra spice: Add a private Auckland food tour or upgrade to a private Waiheke wine experience.

Swap the city for native forest and wild coastline with two nights in the Waitākere Ranges.

After breakfast, drive north to Muriwai beach for dramatic coastal views and a walk towards the beach’s famous gannet colony, before heading back south along the west coast to Piha for the afternoon. Stay for the spectacle of a west coast sunset then head to dinner at The Olive Kitchen for dinner overlooking the Waitakere Valley.

The next day, explore more of the Waitākere Ranges, discovering its bush walks, waterfalls and scenic lookouts before making your way back to the hotel for a soak at the Wairua Day Spa.

Optional inclusions for more nature immersion: Book a Muriwai beach horse trek, try blokarting, or add a guided west coast nature adventure with Bush and Beach.

Make SkyCity Hotel your base, putting you right in the heart of the action. Start with a tour through Wētā Workshop Unleashed, where fantastical movie worlds come to life, or head next door to the All Blacks Experience to put your rugby skills to the test and learn about the history, heritage and culture of New Zealand’s national teams.

Next, visit Auckland Zoo and book an immersive Te Wao Nui tour, which takes you on a guided tour from forest to coast, exploring the habitats of the Zoo’s Aotearoa New Zealand track. 

On day two, visit SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s aquarium, then continue along the waterfront to Mission Bay for beach time and ice cream.

Optional inclusions for bonus bonding activities: Spend a day at Butterfly Creek, where butterflies, dinosaurs, farm animals, crocodiles and a miniature train make it a hit with younger kids, or catch the ferry to Devonport to explore Maungauika North Head and have lunch in the village.

Check into QT Auckland, round up the girls and ease into the weekend over a long brunch at Amano or Odettes Eatery. Then it’s off to Ponsonby Road for an afternoon of boutiques, bubbles and a little well-earned pampering. Book a private styling session at MUSE Boutique, complete with a curated edit and glass of Champagne, before dropping the shopping bags and donning a spa robe for a relaxing treatment at endota spa.

Come evening, get dressed up and head to Caretaker in Britomart for cocktails and live jazz, followed by dinner overlooking the Viaduct at Soul Bar & Bistro.

The next morning, regroup over a bottomless brunch at The Lula Inn, then head to Karangahape Road to browse vintage stores, independent boutiques and galleries.

Optional inclusions for some extra laughs: Shake up your own cocktails at a cocktail-making class at Bellini Bar, or catch the ferry to Waiheke Island for a long vineyard lunch and wine tasting.

Clear the camera roll and bring comfortable shoes – there’s a lot to see. Start at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, then wander through Albert Park before heading up Karangahape Road for lunch at Atelier.

Spend the afternoon exploring Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira, then dress up for an evening performance at The Civic, Aotea Centre or Auckland Town Hall. 

The next day, join a guided tour with Time Unlimited Tours to discover Auckland through Māori stories, history and local knowledge. Then head back to Karangahape Road for a guided street-art tour before settling in for drinks and dinner at Pici or Coco’s Cantina.

Optional inclusions for some extra culture: Get hands-on with a pottery or ceramics workshop, or squeeze another live performance into the weekend at Q Theatre.

Clear some room in the suitcase – this weekend combines some of Auckland’s best shopping with good food and plenty of pampering.

Check into Ramada Newmarket your base for the weekend, then hit  Westfield Newmarket for a morning of shopping before lunch at MAMA and a movie at Rialto Cinemas. Work up an appetite with a pasta-making class at Arte Della Pasta, then head to Parnell for evening drinks at Pineapple on Parnell and dinner at Gerome.

The next morning, browse the stalls and grab a pastry for breakfast at Parnell’s Farmers’ Market, then spend the afternoon exploring Auckland Museum before sitting down to a 1920s-inspired high tea at Hotel DeBrett or an indulgent experience at Fable Auckland.

And because this is a pamper weekend, make time for a treatment at East Day Spa before heading home rested and refreshed.

Optional inclusions for some extra escapism: Add a personal styling session, book another spa treatment or leave yourself a little more time to explore Newmarket’s boutiques.2

The last ferry home? Not your problem this weekend!

Catch the Fullers360 ferry to Waiheke Island and check into Mudbrick Vineyard Luxury Accommodation, where you’ll stay among vineyards, gardens and Hauraki Gulf views for the next two days. Start with a long vineyard lunch and cellar-door tasting, wander the grounds, then settle in for dinner as the sun goes down.

Wake amongst the vines and head to The Archive Bar & Bistro for breakfast before setting out to discover more of Waiheke’s boutique vineyards and cellar doors. Break up the wine tasting with a swim or stroll at Onetangi Beach, then return to Mudbrick for another slow evening watching the sun set over the city in the distance.

Optional inclusions for some added island immersion: Hire e-bikes, book a private wine tour or tasting, or extend the escape for a third night.

Fuel up over breakfast at The Pantry, then head to the Auckland Harbour Bridge and take the plunge on an Auckland Harbour Bridge Bungy by AJ Hackett Bungy. 

Once your feet are safely back at sea level, catch your breath over a waterfront lunch at Sails Restaurant or Swashbucklers, then gear up for a sunset dinner cruise on the Waitematā Harbour.

The next day, take the ferry to Waiheke Island and head to the Man O’ War Forest Flight, where you’ll zipline through native forest before finishing at the vineyard. Conveniently, wine tasting and a leisurely lunch await.

Optional inclusions for some extra adrenaline: Take a helicopter flight to Waiheke for a seriously memorable upgrade. 

No hire car, no parking buildings, no problem. Auckland’s trains, ferries and your own two feet can take it from here.

From SO/ Auckland, start on foot through Britomart and Commercial Bay, browsing designer stores and cafés along the way. Then hop on the train to Maungawhau Station and explore Eden Terrace, stopping for lunch at The French Cafe or continuing towards Dominion Road, where dumplings, noodles, hotpot and more showcase Auckland’s diverse food scene.

From here, make your way up Maungawhau / Mount Eden, following the crater rim for panoramic city views, then wander down to Mt Eden Village for coffee, local shops or dinner.

The next morning, catch the ferry across the harbour to Devonport. Pick up fish and chips in the village, then walk up Takarunga / Mount Victoria and find a spot to enjoy them with sweeping views across the Waitematā Harbour and city skyline – a classic Devonport experience.

Optional inclusions for extra exploration: Add a Karangahape Road street-art walk or visit Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki.