5 days in Auckland

Day by day

1. Day 1: Sky Tower and Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

   Sky Tower, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki and Viaduct Harbour and Wynyard Quarter, then Karangahape Road in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Sky Tower

      Go up an hour before sunset to see the city by day and lit up at night on one ticket. (1–1.5 hours, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

      Combine it with a walk through Albert Park and the University of Auckland's old Clock Tower next door. (1.5–2 hours, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Flat white

      Independent cafés across Ponsonby, Britomart, Kingsland and Mount Eden.

   4. Afternoon

      Viaduct Harbour and Wynyard Quarter

      On summer evenings, Silo Park often hosts outdoor events; check the waterfront's listings before you go. (1–2 hours, free).

   5. Evening

      Karangahape Road

      Late-night bars, live-music venues, clubs and the city's main LGBTQ+ scene.

2. Day 2: Auckland War Memorial Museum and Auckland Domain and Wintergardens

   Auckland War Memorial Museum, Auckland Domain and Wintergardens and Maungawhau / Mount Eden, then Ponsonby Road in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Auckland War Memorial Museum

      Book the Māori cultural performance for the same visit, and see the ground-floor Pacific galleries before tour groups arrive. (2–3 hours, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      Auckland Domain and Wintergardens

      Walk up through the Domain to the museum from Parnell or Grafton to avoid paying for parking. (1 hour, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Meat pie

      Bakeries and dairies (corner shops) across the city; award-winning bakeries often post their medals in the window.

   4. Afternoon

      Maungawhau / Mount Eden

      Walking into the crater is not allowed out of respect for its cultural significance; stay on the summit path. (1–1.5 hours, free).

   5. Evening

      Ponsonby Road

      Wine bars, cocktail lounges and restaurant bars with a smart local crowd.

3. Day 3: Waiheke Island and Rangitoto Island

   Waiheke Island, Rangitoto Island and Auckland Harbour Bridge, then Britomart in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Waiheke Island

      Book winery lunches ahead in summer and at weekends, and plan your return around the busy late-afternoon ferries. (Full day, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      Rangitoto Island

      There are no shops or water on the island; bring food, water, sun protection and a torch for the lava caves, and check the last ferry time back. (Half a day, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Fish and chips

      Takeaway shops in beach suburbs such as Mission Bay, Devonport and Takapuna.

   4. Afternoon

      Auckland Harbour Bridge

      For a free view, walk out along the Westhaven marina path towards the bridge's southern end. (1.5–2 hours for the climb, expensive).

   5. Evening

      Britomart

      Rooftop and laneway cocktail bars in restored warehouses near the waterfront.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Waiheke Island

   About 40 minutes by ferry each way. Getting there: Ferry from the Downtown Ferry Terminal to Matiatia.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Waiheke Island

      About 40 minutes by ferry (Ferry from the Downtown Ferry Terminal to Matiatia); about 21 km.

   2. Day

      Waiheke Island

      Vineyards, olive groves and white-sand bays such as Onetangi make Waiheke Auckland's favourite escape. Best for couples, food lovers and beach.

   3. Evening

      Back in Auckland

      Dinner: try Green-lipped mussels.

5. Day 5: Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill and Cornwall Park and Devonport and Maungauika / North Head

   Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill and Cornwall Park, Devonport and Maungauika / North Head and Kelly Tarlton's Sea Life Aquarium, then Viaduct Harbour in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill and Cornwall Park

      Bring a picnic; Cornwall Park has wide lawns and barbecues and is one of the most relaxing green spaces in the city. (2 hours, free).

   2. Late morning

      Devonport and Maungauika / North Head

      Bring a torch to explore the tunnels, then walk round to Cheltenham Beach for a swim in summer. (Half a day, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Green-lipped mussels

      Seafood restaurants around the Viaduct and Wynyard Quarter, and the Auckland Fish Market.

   4. Afternoon

      Kelly Tarlton's Sea Life Aquarium

      Combine it with the waterfront walk or bike ride along Tamaki Drive to Mission Bay. (1.5–2 hours, mid-priced).

   5. Evening

      Viaduct Harbour

      Waterfront bars popular for after-work drinks and summer evenings.

Before you go

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 nights, City Centre and Viaduct Harbour keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Ponsonby ($$$) suits food lovers, couples and shopping. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 25–33 hours of visiting over 5 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.6 hours in June to 14.7 hours in December, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Auckland
• 2 days in Auckland
• 3 days in Auckland

Questions travellers ask