An expo lover’s guide to what to do around Auckland Showgrounds

Coming to Auckland Showgrounds for an expo? There’s plenty more to see and do beyond the entrance gates.

The Showgrounds sit between Epsom, Greenlane and Newmarket, putting you within reach of some excellent places to eat, one of Auckland’s biggest and glitziest shopping precincts, cinemas, parks and a surprising number of attractions worth adding to the itinerary.

And there’s a particularly good excuse to visit coming up. Armageddon Expo returns to Auckland Showgrounds over Labour Weekend from 23–26 October 2026, bringing several days of gaming, cosplay, collectables, celebrity guests and general pop-culture mayhem to the venue. 

Whether that’s what brings you here, or you’re visiting for the Easter Show, Auckland Home Show, Baby Show, Food Show or another event, there’s plenty to do nearby.

Fuel up before you head inside

Expo strategy 101: do not attempt several hours of browsing on an empty stomach. Start with coffee and breakfast at Hello Friends + Allies, or head to Slow Lane in Ellerslie for brunch before the expo doors open. Joe’s Garage Alexandra Park is another handy option right next door to the Showgrounds, serving breakfast and coffee from early morning through to burgers, pizza and drinks later in the day.

Coming out hungry? Manukau Road gives you plenty of options.KK Malaysian Cuisine is a long-standing Epsom favourite for Malaysian dishes including rendang, laksa and mee goreng. Sake Bar Nippon is a lively choice for some of the best Japanese food in the city and a post-expo debrief over karaoke, while Salt Mango Tree brings the flavours of Kerala to Epsom. Little Jimmy has you covered for relaxed, yet upmarket neighbourhood dining, while One Tree Grill is worth booking if you want something a little bit fancy.

You can also head towards Newmarket, where MAMA serves Italian-inspired food in Osborne Lane. Or take the lift to the rooftop at Westfield Newmarket, where you can choose from a line-up of restaurants and bars without requiring group chat consensus on a cuisine first.

Make room in the schedule – and possibly the suitcase – for Newmarket

If the expo hasn’t already done enough damage to your discretionary spending, Newmarket is waiting. 

Westfield Newmarket one of Auckland’s biggest shopping destinations, with fashion, beauty, lifestyle and international brands spread across several levels. The surrounding streets offer more boutiques, cafés and restaurants, so there’s plenty to explore beyond the mall too.

Within the mall, Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq feels like a great way to round out a day at a gaming convention, with new and nostalgic arcade games, bowling, virtual reality and dodgems.

Give your feet a break at Lido Cinema

There comes a point in every expo day when sitting in a comfortable chair starts sounding like an attraction in its own right, so find your way to Lido Cinema.

This much-loved Epsom cinema screens a mix of mainstream, independent and international films and is just down Manukau Road from the Showgrounds. 

Swap cosplay crowds for cows at Cornwall Park

Need some fresh air? Across Manukau Road, Cornwall Park offers a welcome change of pace. Trade exhibition halls for green pasture, heritage trees, walking paths and livestock wandering around in the middle of Auckland.

Bring a picnic, take a walk or follow the paths towards Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill, one of Auckland’s most significant volcanic landmarks. From the summit, you’ll get expansive views across the city – and a reminder of just how far Auckland stretches.

There’s another appropriately Armageddon-adjacent attraction at the park’s edge too. Te Whatu Stardome Observatory & Planetarium runs planetarium shows, astronomy experiences and even sci-fi evenings.

Step into another era at Highwic

For a different sort of time travel, head towards Newmarket and Highwic. Built in 1862, this striking Gothic Revival house was once home to the Buckland family and is now cared for by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. Explore the historic rooms and gardens and get a glimpse of domestic life in Victorian Auckland.

See Auckland from the top of Maungawhau / Mount Eden

If you’ve spent most of the day inside an exhibition hall, a walk up Maungawhau / Mount Eden is a pretty good antidote.

A short trip from Auckland Showgrounds, the volcanic maunga rises 196 metres above sea level, with a boardwalk leading around the crater rim to panoramic views across the city and its harbours. Along the way, you can see traces of the terraces and storage pits that tell the story of Maungawhau’s history as an important Māori pā.

Stop at Te Ipu Kōrero o Maungawhau Visitor Experience Centre to learn more about the cultural and geological history of the maunga, or continue into Mt Eden Village afterwards for coffee, dinner or a browse around the shops.

See what’s happening next door at Alexandra Park

Alexandra Park Auckland sits immediately beside Auckland Showgrounds and is best known as Auckland’s home of harness racing. The venue has been part of the neighbourhood since the late 1800s and continues to host race nights, dining and other events. Check what’s on when you’re visiting and you may be able to roll straight from one event into another.

Got another day? Head for the Domain

Pukekawa Auckland Domain gives you another large dose of green space close to the city, with walking paths, mature trees and plenty of room to recover from a big day at the Showgrounds. While you’re there, head into the Domain Wintergardens, where two beautiful heritage glasshouses are filled with tropical and temperate plants. After a day of screens, crowds, stands and sensory overload, giant ferns and lily ponds aren’t a bad change of scenery.

Getting to Auckland Showgrounds 

Auckland Showgrounds is on Green Lane West, a few kilometres from central Auckland, and public transport is well worth considering when a major event is on.

Bus services connect the area with central Auckland, Newmarket and surrounding suburbs, while Greenlane Station gives train travellers another option for getting close to the venue.

Driving? Paid parking is available at Auckland Showgrounds, but big events mean big crowds. Check the latest event information before setting off and allow some extra time.

Staying over? Make a weekend of it

If you’re coming from out of town, staying nearby gives you much more freedom to stretch the expo into a weekend getaway (or longer!).

Ramada Newmarket put you close to the restaurants, shops and entertainment of Newmarket while keeping the Showgrounds within easy reach. Closer to Greenlane, Novotel Ellerslie, ibis Auckland Ellerslie and Edit Auckland Greenlane are also all handy options for getting to and from the venue with ease.