This Anniversary Weekend, celebrate 178 years of Auckland. If you're in the city, visit the Pop-up Globe, tip your hat at the Auckland International Buskers Festival 2018 and find yourself on the waterfront with Tāmaki Herenga Waka Festival 2018 and Ports of Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta. All before Vector Limited switch on the lights at Auckland Harbour Bridge.
After a tough few weeks back at work, Aucklanders are revelling in long weekend goodness.
And if you haven't made a break for the regions, there is plenty to do in the area - and for sports fans within a three-hour drive - over Auckland Anniversary weekend.
St Jerome's Laneway Festival
Four stages, 29 acts and thousands of music fans are set to take over Albert Park on Monday for Laneway Festival. The lineup includes Anderson Paak and The Free Nationals - who achieved breakout success with several appearances on Dr Dre's 2016 album Compton - The Internet, Mac Demarco and New Zealand's very own Aldous Harding.
January 29, gates open at 11.30am Albert Park, Auckland $164.90 plus booking fee
From acrobats to magicians and unicycle champions, the Buskers Festival is going down this weekend. World-class talent will be performing at various locations across Auckland city until Monday. Dig out those spare coins and enjoy the spectacle.
Six sites across Auckland CBD Free
Buskers entertain crowds at last years Buskers Festival. Photo/Greg Bowker
SeePort Festival
Captains Cook Wharf has been transformed into a bustling summer carnival packed with rides, tours and entertainment on and off the water. Enjoy a bite to eat from the many food stalls or take the chance to discover Auckland's port from land, sea or sky with helicopter rides, bus tours and boat cruises available.
January 27–29 Captain Cook Wharf, Auckland CBD Free admission
Have a go at paddling a waka at the Tamaki Herenga Waka Festival. Photo/Dean Purcell
Take the opportunity to get up close with the city's Maori heritage and culture this weekend at the Waka Festival. Have a go paddling a waka or enjoy live music, kapa haka, crafts and delicious kai on the waterfront.
January 27–29 ANZ Viaduct Events Centre Free admission
Black Caps v Pakistan
The Black Caps will take on Pakistan in Tauranga. Photo/Photosport
If you are spending the weekend out of town, Tauranga is the place to be with the Black Caps set to play their
against Pakistan today. Grab your family and friends, pack a picnic and catch all the action at Bay Oval.
January 28, 7pm Bay Oval, Tauranga Children $5, Adults $45
Weather
Getting an extra day off isn't the only thing to celebrate this Anniversary Weekend. So too is the weather that beckons!
Golden weather and temperatures of up to 30C are forecast for much of the North Island over the coming days. But you might want to have a fan ready at night time, with humid evenings topping 20C expected.
Holiday-goers have been warned of the chance of the odd shower - but a sprinkling of rain could be a blessing amid the widespread sun and humidity.
