10-Day Auckland Itinerary

Check in near the Viaduct

Land in Auckland and settle into a hotel near the Viaduct Harbour, yachts bobbing just outside.

First flat white on Ponsonby Road

Order a flat white at a Ponsonby Road cafe, the strip that anchors Auckland's coffee and brunch culture.

Wander Ponsonby's villas and boutiques

Walk past Ponsonby's restored Victorian villas and independent boutiques, one of the city's oldest inner suburbs.

First dinner on the Viaduct waterfront

Eat fresh Bluff oysters and greenshell mussels at a Viaduct restaurant overlooking the marina.

Sky Tower observation deck

Ride up the Sky Tower, the Southern Hemisphere's tallest tower, for a 360-degree view over the Hauraki Gulf.

SkyWalk or glass floor at the Tower

Try the Sky Tower's glass floor panels, or the outdoor SkyWalk for those wanting an extra dose of adrenaline.

Britomart and the waterfront

Wander the Britomart precinct's restored warehouses and the Wynyard Quarter waterfront promenade.

Meat pie and craft beer night

Try a classic Kiwi meat pie alongside a Hauraki Gulf-brewed craft beer at a downtown gastropub.

Maori taonga at the War Memorial Museum

Explore the Auckland War Memorial Museum's Maori Court, home to a carved meeting house and a war canoe.

Haka performance and war history exhibits

Catch a live cultural performance and haka, then move through the museum's war history galleries.

Auckland Domain gardens

Walk the Auckland Domain's volcanic-crater parkland and Wintergarden glasshouses surrounding the museum.

Hangi-style dinner

Try a modern take on hangi, meat and vegetables traditionally earth-oven steamed, at a restaurant reviving Maori cuisine.

Ferry to Devonport

Take the short ferry across the harbour to Devonport, a leafy naval village with Victorian villas.

Climb Mount Victoria

Walk up Mount Victoria, one of Auckland's volcanic cones, for sweeping views back over the city skyline.

Cheltenham Beach afternoon

Relax on Cheltenham Beach's calm sand, looking out toward Rangitoto's distinctive volcanic silhouette.

Fish and chips back at the Viaduct

Ferry back for classic fish and chips, snapper wrapped in paper, eaten waterside at the Viaduct.

Ferry to Waiheke Island

Take the 40-minute ferry from downtown Auckland across the Hauraki Gulf to Waiheke Island.

Vineyard tasting at a Waiheke estate

Tour a boutique Waiheke vineyard's cellar door, tasting the island's noted syrah and bordeaux-style blends.

Onetangi Beach afternoon

Spend the afternoon on Onetangi Beach's long stretch of sand, Waiheke's most popular swimming spot.

Vineyard dinner overlooking the gulf

Stay for a sunset dinner at a vineyard restaurant, olive groves rolling down toward the Hauraki Gulf.

Ferry to Rangitoto Island

Take the ferry out to Rangitoto, the Hauraki Gulf's youngest and largest volcanic cone, uninhabited and pest-free.

Hike across black lava fields

Walk the trail across Rangitoto's black lava fields, pohutukawa trees growing straight out of the rock.

Summit crater rim views

Reach the summit crater rim for a 360-degree view over Auckland's skyline and the scattered gulf islands.

Seafood dinner back in the city

Back in Auckland, order a green-lipped mussel chowder at a downtown seafood restaurant after the day's hike.

Drive south through the Waikato

Head south through the green rolling Waikato countryside toward Matamata and the Hobbiton Movie Set.

Hobbiton Movie Set tour

Walk through the actual Hobbiton film set's hobbit holes and round doors, ending with a drink at the Green Dragon Inn.

Waitomo Glowworm Caves

Glide by boat through the Waitomo Caves beneath a ceiling glowing with thousands of native glowworms.

Evening drive back to Auckland

Drive back north as the countryside fades to dusk, arriving in Auckland for a quiet night.

Otara Market

Visit the Otara Market for Pacific Island produce, fresh coconut and the city's biggest Polynesian community gathering.

Hangi lunch

Sit down to a proper hangi lunch, meat and root vegetables slow-cooked in an underground earth oven.

Karangahape Road wander

Wander Karangahape Road's mix of vintage stores, record shops and Pacific-fusion eateries.

Night market dumplings and skewers

Graze a weekend night market's dumplings, skewers and bubble tea stalls in the city's diverse food scene.

Slow morning walk to Mission Bay

Take a relaxed morning walk along the Tamaki Drive waterfront path toward Mission Bay.

Swim at Mission Bay

Swim at Mission Bay's sheltered beach, its landmark fountain and palm trees framing the gulf view.

Ice cream on the promenade

Grab a scoop of hokey pokey ice cream, New Zealand's beloved honeycomb flavour, on the Mission Bay promenade.

Farewell dinner in Ponsonby

Close out the trip with a modern New Zealand tasting menu built around lamb and Hawke's Bay wine in Ponsonby.

Last souvenirs at Britomart

Pick up final greenstone jewellery and Merino wool goods from Britomart's boutiques before checkout.

Last look from Mount Eden

Drive up Mount Eden, Auckland's highest volcanic cone, for a final view over the city and the Hauraki Gulf.

Farewell lunch at the Viaduct

A final seafood chowder lunch overlooking the Viaduct Harbour's yachts before heading to the airport.

Transfer to Auckland Airport

Head to the airport for the evening flight home, Rangitoto's cone visible one last time from the descent.