The best things to see and do around Waitematā Station

Why drive into the city when the train can drop you right amongst the action? No checking the meter halfway through dinner. And no drawing straws over who gets to be designated driver. Simply arrive at Waitematā Station and Auckland’s waterfront is yours for the evening, with cocktails, standout restaurants, heritage laneways and harbour views all just a stroll away.

Discover Waitematā Station

Your evening begins inside one of Auckland’s most recognisable heritage buildings. The restored Edwardian former Chief Post Office remains the main entrance to Waitematā Station, where colourful stained-glass skylights illuminate the contemporary station below.

Outside, you’ll emerge into Te Komititanga, meaning ‘to mix’ or ‘to merge’, one of the city’s largest public squares and a fitting meeting point between downtown Auckland and the waterfront. At the station’s eastern entrance, look out for Waitī Waitā, a circular sculpture representing the meeting of fresh and salt water, where people gather before heading into Britomart and beyond.

From here, the harbour is straight ahead and Commercial Bay is just across the square. Have a browse through its mix of local and international fashion, beauty, jewellery and homewares before drinks (and perhaps find an excuse to pick up something new for the occasion).

Start with a waterfront cocktail

Why not let dinner wait another half hour and take in a pre-dinner drink in one of Auckland’s scenic social spots. For sweeping harbour views, head up to Queens Rooftop & Wineshop above Commercial Bay, where cocktails come with a bird’s-eye view over the ferries criss-crossing the Waitematā.

For another perspective on the city, HI-SO Rooftop Bar sits high above downtown at SO/ Auckland, with views stretching across the harbour and skyline. Or wander towards the Viaduct (around 10-minutes walk from the station) and pull up a seat at Parasol & Swing, known for inventive cocktails served just metres from the water.

Whichever direction you head, it can pay to book ahead if you’re going out on a Friday or Saturday night, as sunset and a waterfront cocktail is a combination Aucklanders know not to leave to chance.

Choose a restaurant to match the mood

You’re spoilt for choice with many exceptional restaurants within a short radius of the station

If inventive Pacific-influenced dining is calling, secure a spot at Mr Morris where celebrated chef Michael Meredith takes seasonal New Zealand ingredients in unexpected directions.

Inside The Hotel Britomart, kingi puts sustainably sourced seafood and local produce front and centre. The space is warm and understated, the menu has a distinctly New Zealand point of view, and you're surrounded by the brick heritage buildings that give Britomart so much of its character.

For Japanese, head to Ebisu, where sushi, sashimi and hot dishes are served inside a converted heritage building. Or follow the smell of freshly baked bread to Amano, a relaxed and rustic all-day restaurant known for handmade pasta and award-winning sourdoughs. Make a mental note to come back again for the mouth-watering pastries and tarts from the bakery.

Over at Commercial Bay, Origine serves contemporary French-inspired cooking with elevated harbour views, while downstairs at The Lodge Bar & Dining you’ll find refined seafood dishes cooked over a charcoal grill oven for extra juicy, smokey flavours.

If you’re planning dinner around a milestone birthday, anniversary or other diary-worthy occasion, take your pick of one of Auckland’s MICHELIN starred restaurants, like Ahi in Commercial Bay, the restaurant of renowned New Zealand chef, Ben Bayly.

Take the long way through Britomart

Resist the urge to head straight back to the station after dinner and take some time to wander Britomart’s heritage lanes. 

Walk through Te Ara Tahuhu, an area that once formed part of the foreshore and is now a striking pedestrian laneway, before crossing Takutai Square and exploring the surrounding heritage streets illuminated by twinkling fairy lights above. Here, old brick warehouses sit alongside contemporary architecture, designer boutiques and some of the city's most celebrated restaurants. 

Look up as you walk; the restored façades, murals and architectural details are part of the precinct’s charm.

See the waterfront after dark

From Britomart, follow the lights towards the harbour. Walk through Te Komititanga, past the grand Edwardian Ferry Building and out towards Queens Wharf, where the view opens across the Waitematā. After dark, ferries trace their way across the water and the lights of the city and North Shore shimmer across the harbour.

If the night is young, keep walking towards the Viaduct Harbour, where bars and restaurants hum with late-night revellers.

And for those who want to finish on a sweet note, take a stroll to Giapo on Gore Street, a couple blocks from the station. Here, ice cream gets the full creative treatment, with elaborate creations that bear very little resemblance to an ordinary scoop in a cone. Otherwise, get to Miann in Britomart before 9pm. It’s one of Auckland’s most celebrated dessert destinations, with handcrafted chocolates, pastries and other decadent sweet creations.

Turn dinner into a city escape

Of course, the ultimate indulgence might be knowing you don't have to go home afterwards. Check into The Hotel Britomart and you're well-positioned for a morning of shopping or exploring the harbour when you wake up. QT Auckland brings its signature playful style to the Viaduct, while Hilton Auckland juts 300 metres out to sea on Princes Wharf with the harbour almost beneath your feet.

If you’ve got time before dinner, catch a Fullers360 ferry from the Auckland Ferry Terminal to Devonport and back, taking in views of the city skyline, harbour and volcanic landscape along the way. Or make the harbour the main event with an Explore Group Harbour Dinner Cruise. This boutique experience pairs a three-course dinner with an evening on the Waitematā Harbour, giving you front-row views of the skyline as the city lights come on.