Top things to do in Auckland: a 12-hour guide to the city’s best spots

A climb up Mt Eden rewards you with panoramic city views, best followed by a stop at Small Mercies for freshly made Korean doughnuts. Photo / Neat Places

There are countless reasons why 1.8 million people call Tāmaki Makaurau home. So many, in fact, that squeezing them into just 12 hours feels like a cruel task. With its diverse population, thriving food and drink scene, beautiful beaches, rich arts and culture calendar, and 48 dormant volcanoes to keep things interesting, Auckland is as cosmopolitan as they come.

Local or not, there’s always something new to see and do, with endless spots vying for your attention. There’s no single right way to spend a day exploring the best of Tāmaki Makaurau – but this is a pretty neat place to start.

Morning

Morning swim at Herne Bay and coffee at Honey Sundays

Herne Bay, Auckland

Start the day with a refreshing dip at one of Herne Bay’s beautiful beaches. Favourite sandy spots include Home Bay and Cremorne, although you can’t go wrong anywhere along this peaceful stretch of coastline, and there’s every chance a majestic pōhutukawa, homemade swing or weathered boatshed will make its way into your photo reel. Check the tide times before you go (mid to high tide is best).

Morning swims have a way of making that first sip of coffee even sweeter, and as luck would have it, Honey Sundays is just a short stroll from the beach. Expect smooth Allpress Espresso coffee and sell-out scones. Perched on a sunny corner with ocean views, this café perfectly reflects owner Elyse’s passions: coffee, surfing and community.

Start your morning at Honey Sundays in Herne Bay, a sunny neighbourhood café serving Allpress coffee and famously good scones just steps from the beach. Photo / Neat Places

Breakfast at Ozone Coffee

18 Westmoreland St West, Grey Lynn, Auckland

Aucklanders take their meals seriously (don’t we all?), but breakfast holds a special place. Just a 15-minute walk from Honey Sundays, Ozone in Grey Lynn nails the morning brief. First and foremost a specialty coffee roaster, its brews are naturally exceptional and the perfect match for a menu that satisfies both purists (eggs and bacon, please) and the more adventurous (homemade spaghetti on toast with smoked onion butter and a fried egg – stop it!). With a strong focus on local suppliers and reducing waste, Ozone champions sustainable dining without ever skimping on flavour.

Ozone Coffee in Grey Lynn is a bustling roastery and café where exceptional brews meet a creative, sustainably sourced breakfast menu. Photo / Neat Places

Mt. Eden climb and sweet treats from Small Mercies

Mount Eden, Auckland

Ready for some sweeping views of Auckland? Lace up your shoes – there’s a climb involved. The walk to the summit of Mt Eden rewards you with spectacular city vistas and a fresh appreciation for the landscape beneath your feet (plus the perfect spot for a photo or two).

Soak in the views from Mt Eden. Photo / Neat Places

After all that effort, a treat is in order. On your way down, look for the cheerful yellow entrance of Small Mercies on Mt Eden Rd and grab a couple of kkwabaegi — Korean doughnuts with a literal twist.

A climb up Mt Eden rewards you with panoramic city views, best followed by a stop at Small Mercies for freshly made Korean doughnuts. Photo / Neat Places

Midday

Lunch at Bodega

86 Ponsonby Rd, Grey Lynn, Auckland

Now that you’ve touched some grass, it’s time to head for the urban stretch of Ponsonby Rd. If you’re feeling peckish after all that walking and swimming, it’s probably time for lunch. May we suggest Bodega? A buzzing New York-style sandwich bar by day (and wine bar by night), this buzzing neighbourhood deli specialises in made-to-order sandwiches and Italian pastries. Add in a lunchtime glass of wine or cocktail for extra fun points.

Bodega on Ponsonby Rd is a buzzing New York-style deli serving generous sandwiches, Italian pastries and lunchtime cocktails. Photo / Neat Places

Shopping down Ponsonby Rd

Ponsonby Rd, Auckland

After a generously stacked sandwich and a dessert cannoli, your tank will be full and ready for a mini spree down Ponsonby Rd. The street is lined with boutiques that beckon with their window displays. Check out the latest from Aotearoa labels like Ruby, Deadly Ponies and Caitlin Crisp, browse timeless designer pieces at The Shelter, hunt for secondhand treasures at Tatty’s, and swoon over thoughtful homewares at Everyday Needs and Good Form & Mr Bigglesworthy. We take zero responsibility for any spontaneous purchases that may occur.

Ponsonby Rd offers an irresistible mix of local fashion labels, vintage finds and modern homeware boutiques perfect for an afternoon browse. Photo / Neat Places

Auckland Museum & Domain Wintergardens

Auckland Domain, Parnell, Auckland

Swap boutique changing rooms for some of the city’s most exciting exhibition spaces. Perched atop the green fields of Auckland Domain, the imposing Auckland Museum is hard to miss – and even more impressive inside. Explore three floors of history, culture, science and more, telling the story of New Zealand, its place in the Pacific, and its people. Before you leave the Domain, don’t miss a stroll through the Wintergarden, a lush collection of rare and wonderful plants housed in two grand Victorian-style glasshouses.

The Auckland Museum in Parnell brings New Zealand’s history and culture to life, while the nearby Domain Wintergardens showcase rare plants in grand glasshouses. Photo / Neat Places

Afternoon

Auckland Art Gallery Toi O Tamaki

Wellesley St E, Auckland Central, Auckland

If a stroll around the Auckland Museum has whetted your appetite for more, Auckland Art Gallery is the perfect next stop. Home to over 15,000 works, it’s Aotearoa’s largest art institution, showcasing historic, modern, and contemporary masterpieces. Come back another time for the 60-minute tour on weekdays at 1.30pm, or explore at your own pace. There’s an interactive area for kids, plus a café and gift shop to round out the visit.

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki is the country’s largest public art gallery, home to over 15,000 works spanning traditional to contemporary. Photo / Neat Places

Explore St Kevins Arcade

183 Karangahape Rd, Auckland CBD, Auckland

The walk from the gallery to St Kevin’s Arcade takes you through the historic Myers Park and past Auckland landmarks like the Civic Theatre (the largest surviving atmospheric cinema in Australasia) and the iconic Smith & Caughey’s department store. Built in 1924 as a premier shopping destination, the arcade’s granite tiles and bronze detailing once guided visitors to photography studios, dressmakers, and tea rooms. Today, it’s home to boutiques, vintage stores, and eateries, many sharing the light-filled dining space at the rear.

St Kevins Arcade on Karangahape Rd blends historic architecture with an eclectic mix of vintage stores, boutiques and eateries. Photo / Neat Places

Aperitivo Hour at Pici Wine Bar

23/183 Karangahape Rd, Grafton, Auckland

A beloved resident of St Kevins Arcade, Pici serves a small but stellar menu of antipasti and handmade pasta, paired with a carefully curated wine list. Their love of grape juice led them to expand next door (formerly Tappo) into a larger wine bar, where they pour and sell interesting tipples and often host release parties with local winemakers. Stop by between 4.30–6.30pm for aperitivo hour specials.

Pici Wine Bar in St Kevins Arcade serves handmade pasta and small plates alongside a superb wine list, especially lively during aperitivo hour. Photo / Neat Places

Evening

Dinner at Gemmayze Street

No need to go far for dinner. At the end of the arcade, with windows overlooking the park and that famous tower, Gemmayze Street is a Lebanese-inspired restaurant by chef Samir Allen. Since opening in 2016, it has helped put Karangahape Rd on Auckland’s culinary map. The Jeeb menu hands the meal over to the kitchen – perfect for sharing and discovering new flavours. Lebanese techniques meet local, seasonal produce, and the hummus alone is unforgettable. Pair it with Lebanese wine for a truly memorable evening.

Gemmayze Street on Karangahape Rd is a Lebanese-inspired restaurant combining Middle Eastern flavours with seasonal New Zealand produce. Photo / Neat Places

Nightcap at Bar Magda

Not quite ready to bid farewell to Auckland for the night? Okay, let’s go for one more. Cross the road, scoot around the corner to Cross Street and head underground into Bar Magda. With low-lit corners, exposed brick and warm wooden furnishings, it feels like slipping into another world — though the local drops will quickly remind you where you are. The drinks menu is thoughtfully curated to suit every course (a food menu that has earned them a spot in Metro’s Top 50 Restaurants), but they’re also reason enough to visit on their own. Sour, salty, sparkling or sweet, there’s a creative, seasonal cocktail for everyone to end the night on.

Bar Magda on Cross Street is an intimate underground bar offering inventive cocktails, local wines and a creative seasonal food menu. Photo / Neat Places.

Sleep tight

Well, it’s probably time we called it a night. You’ve got somewhere to stay, right? If not, check out the luxurious Hotel Britomart, Hotel Fitzroy on Ponsonby Rd, and QT on the waterfront.

This story originally featured on Neat Places.