What to do in Auckland this summer holiday: Markets, festivals and family fun

Anyone with an interest in astronomy should check out Te Whatu Stardome’s show The Year in Space 2025. Photo / Richard Parsonson

If this final weekend before Christmas isn’t rammed with last-minute shopping, then count yourself among the lucky ones able to enjoy some of the local arts, cultural and hospitality events on offer. For everyone else, we’ve rounded up a selection of things to do not just this weekend but throughout the holiday period as well.

1) It’s all in the stars

Whether the stars aligned for you this year or not, anyone with an interest in astronomy should check out Te Whatu Stardome’s show The Year in Space 2025. The Planetarium show is a summary of the most incredible galactic events that took place this year and is screening tonight and tomorrow night. The Stardome is closing down for a period over the break, but when it reopens on January 3, it’s lift-off for school holiday boredom-busting. Daytime Planetarium shows are $12 during the school holidays, and there are multiple rocket launching sessions daily (weather dependent). Also, a great, zero-waste last-minute Christmas present for the stargazer in your life is a Te Whatu Stardome annual membership.

When: Open daily until December 24, reopening for the school holidays January 3-February 1.

Where: Te Whatu Stardome, 670 Manukau Rd, One Tree Hill Domain, Epsom, Auckland.

Price: Tickets start at $5 from stardome.org.nz.

2) Summer pop-up

Market is a four-month-long project bringing together fashion, art and design from Aotearoa, Australia and beyond. Photo / Holly Burgess

If you’ve got last-minute shopping to do or start to have retail-withdrawal over the Christmas break, check out the pop-up summer market in Parnell, simply named Market. It’s a four-month-long project bringing together fashion, art and design from Aotearoa, Australia and beyond. There’s a broad range of cool knicks and nifty knacks on offer, accompanied by a programme of live music, events and activities on site to ensure the vibes are always good. It’s open daily throughout the holiday period, except for the statutory holidays, so pop in for an Atomic coffee, a Mezcal choc cookie by Cazador, and a gander at these carefully curated, stylish treasures.

When: Monday-Friday 10am-5pm (late night Thursday ‘til 7pm); Saturday and Sunday 10am-4pm.

Where: 8 Faraday St, Parnell. @letsgotothe_market.

3) Fly into MOTAT

MOTAT opens a new exhibition for the summer today: Ngā hau o Tāwhirirangi - Forces of Flight.

Always a staple school holiday activity, MOTAT opens a new exhibition for the summer today: Ngā hau o Tāwhirirangi - Forces of Flight. The display includes hands-on activities based around the science of take-off and landing, with opportunities to design and test paper planes, make whirligigs, paper rockets and Māori kites. One of the highlights of the exhibition is a real jet-pack - sorry, kids, that’s one activity you won’t get to try first-hand. Start at the Aviation Hall, then hop on a tram down to the Great North Rd site for more activities. If you visit on a Sunday in January, there’s also the opportunity to take a steam train ride.

When: Opens today.

Where: MOTAT, Aviation Hall, Motions Rd and 805 Great North Rd, Western Springs.

Price: Usual MOTAT entry fees apply.

4) Bubbles on the island

This summer, Veuve Clicquot is taking over the island with experiences at two iconic venues.

There’s no dreamier way to spend a summer afternoon than by lounging around on Waiheke with a glass of bubbles in hand. This summer, Veuve Clicquot is taking over the island with experiences at two iconic venues. The first is at beachfront restaurant Ki Māha, which is channelling the French Riviera with its Veuve Clicquot Sun Club. The Sun Club is hosting three champagne-laden events, including a Solaire Sunset Hour, Monday through Saturday from 3-5pm; Sun-Day Sun Club, Sundays 3-6pm; and Sunny-Side-Up Brunch, the second Sunday of the month 9.30am-12pm. Then, across the island at Mudbrick is the Veuve Clicquot Terrace, where you can sip champagne while taking in that ever-impressive view of the Hauraki Gulf.

When: Throughout the summer.

Where: Ki Māha, 1 Fourth Ave, Ōnetangi Beach and Mudbrick, 126 Church Bay Rd, Oneroa, Waiheke Island. @kimahanz and @mudbrick_nz.

5) Eat your way through summer

Iconic Auckland Eats is about highlighting the dishes that mean the most to Aucklanders. Photo / Babiche Martens

Nominations for Iconic Auckland Eats 2026 are now open, which is your official invitation to eat your way through the city this summer and nominate your faves. Specifically, Iconic Auckland Eats is about highlighting the dishes that mean the most to Aucklanders - plates with a story behind them. Five of the most captivating food stories will be selected to receive $500 to spend at their top five Iconic Auckland Eats. From the nominations, which last year totalled 3109, a panel of judges will select the final list of 100 Iconic Auckland Eats. Get eating and get writing, entries close in February.

When: Nominations open now until February 22, 2026.

Where: Visit aucklandnz.com for more information and to submit your nomination.

6) Plan ahead: Holiday antiquing

Take a trip to Pauanui this summer and check out the Antique Fair. Photo / 123rf

For those who like their homewares with some visible ageing and a story or two, take a trip to Pauanui this summer and check out the Antique Fair. Taking place over two days, January 9 and 10, the fair has a good range of antiques, collectables, vintage, retro, crystal, china, glass, furniture, heritage linen, jewellery, books, tools and curios. Money raised from the fair goes to support the Pauanui Surf Life Saving Club.

When: January 9 and 10, 10am-3pm.

Where: Pauanui Sports and Recreation Club, Pauanui.

7) Plan ahead: A Christmas play on Christmas Day

Why not take a stroll down to Takapuna Beach where Stephen Papps is presenting his annual Christmas tradition.

If your Christmas Day isn’t back-to-back family engagements, then why not take a stroll down to Takapuna Beach where Stephen Papps is presenting his annual Christmas tradition: a free public performance of The End of the Golden Weather. It’s the 20th year that Papps, one of the cast members of the 1993 film adaptation, has performed his interpretation of the Bruce Mason play on Christmas Day. He’s a funny and charming performer, and setting up on a rug at the beach is a pretty idyllic way to spend Christmas morning.

When: December 25, 10am.

Where: Takapuna Beach, Takapuna, Auckland.

Price: Free.

8) Plan ahead: The bard by the beach

This year’s plays are Romeo & Juliet and Much Ado About Nothing.

Shoreside Theatre’s annual Auckland Shakespeare in the Park kicks off mid-January for close to a month of performances. This year’s plays are Romeo & Juliet and Much Ado About Nothing. They’re performed lakeside at the Pumphouse Amphitheatre in Takapuna and you won’t find a more bucolic setting for viewing Shakespeare. The Bard’s work might not be the most accessible content for children but it’s free for those aged 12 and under and you could be surprised by how much they comprehend. Have dinner at the on-site cafe or a picnic by Lake Pupuke beforehand and you’ve got yourself a perfect summer evening.

When: January 16-February 14.

Where: The Pumphouse Theatre Outdoor Amphitheatre, Killarney Park, Takapuna, Auckland.

Price: Tickets $27-$30 + booking fees from pumphouse.co.nz. Free for children 12 and under.

9) Plan ahead: An inaugural festival

Six60 is launching a brand new music festival this holiday period. Photo / 123rf

Fresh from recording in Nashville, arguably New Zealand’s biggest band Six60 is launching a brand new music festival this holiday period. Sweet Home Aotearoa is a one-day country and roots festival taking place in Matakana on January 3. Featuring the band themselves along with Tami Neilson, Tash Sultana, Hori Shaw, Brad Cox and more, it’s set to be a boot-scootin’ good time. Hosted at Matakana Country Park, attendees are encouraged to embrace the country aesthetic and wear “boots, buckles and hats”. There are limited remaining tickets, so you’ll have to move quickly to secure your spot.

When: January 3, from 1pm.

Where: Matakana Country Park, 1151 Leigh Rd, Matakana.

Price: Tickets from $159.44 from ticketmaster.co.nz.

Coming up

• The ASB Classic: January 5-17, Auckland.
• Jimmy Carr – Laughs Funny Tour: Nationwide January 7-28, 2026.
• Auckland Lily Society Annual Lily Show: January 10, Western Springs, Auckland.
• Auckland Shakespeare in the Park: January 16-February 14, Takapuna, Auckland.
• Auckland Folk Festival: January 23-26, Auckland.
• Auckland International Buskers Festival: January 23-26, Auckland Waterfront and CBD.
• Opera in the Park: January 24, St Heliers and January 31, Auckland Botanic Gardens.
• The Greenstone Summer Concert Tour: January 24 (Taupō), January 29 (Spark Arena), January 31 (Wānaka).
• Sophie Ellis-Bextor: February 3, Waikato Regional Theatre, Hamilton.
• Murder on the Orient Express [return season]: February 7-15, 2026, ASB Waterfront Theatre, Auckland.
• ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix: February 14-15, Wynyard Quarter, Auckland.
• Potluck (drag show by Haute Dish) February 17-21, Basement Theatre, Auckland.
• ASB Classic, Centre Court Sounds: February 21, Manuka Doctor Arena.
• An Evening with Yotam Ottolenghi: February 21, Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, Auckland.
• Splore 2026: February 20-22, Tāpapapakanga Regional Park, Auckland.
• BNZ Auckland Lantern Festival: February 26-March 1, Manukau Sports Bowl, Auckland.
• Moana Auckland Ocean’s Festival: February 28-March 15, Auckland’s Waterfront.
• NZ Theatre Company presents Prima Facie: February 27, ASB Waterfront Theatre, Auckland.
• The Rocky Horror Picture Show (West End touring cast): February 26 - March 8, The Civic, Auckland.
• Menopause the Musical: March 10-23, nationwide.
• Linkin Park: March 18, Spark Arena, Auckland.
• Mānuka Phuel Synthony Festival: March 21, Auckland Domain.

Email canvas@nzherald.co.nz with brief details of your upcoming event, including dates/times, location and website.