As New Zealand’s biggest city, Auckland is home to a thriving nightlife scene. With theatre, live music and high-rise city views, this city – home to more than 1.6 million people and a culture inspired by its diverse population – offers visitors a world of entertaining nightlife experiences to choose from. Check out this list of the best things to do in Auckland at night.
Auckland is home to 48 volcanic cones, giving the city a unique landscape of peaks and hills, which means heaps of places to take in the view of the city. Mt Eden, also known as Maungawhau at 196 metres (643 feet) tall is the best place to watch the sunset over Auckland as it is the highest natural point in the city. Within 10 minutes of the city centre, Mt Eden offers 360-degree views of Auckland CBD and the harbour.
Home-made pasta, crispy gyoza and fresh fish tacos are just a few of the dishes from around the world that can be enjoyed at some of Auckland’s food courts. Grab a table at one of these dining villages with friends and choose from a taste of flavours from around the globe. Try Elliott Stables, located in a historic building in the heart of Auckland’s CBD, or Ponsonby International Foodcourt in Auckland’s trendy neighbourhood of Ponsonby.
Go back in time on a tour of Auckland’s historic bars
Bar, Restaurant, European, Beer, Wine, Cocktails, Fast Food, Street Food, $$$
Experience Auckland’s drinking culture and learn about the city’s alcohol history with Auckland Historic Bar Tours. This pub crawl with a difference will leave guests educated and give them a chance to sample five different New Zealand beers at five different types of drinking establishments including microbreweries, intimate pubs and hidden, upmarket bars. The tour runs Saturday nights for three hours, but private tours can also be booked on other nights.
The best local and international theatre performances that come to Auckland all make a turn at the city’s Aotea Centre. Located in the Aotea Arts Precinct in Auckland’s CBD, a cultural hub of the city, the precinct hosts live DJs every Friday night at the Box Cafe, while the Town Hall hosts live performances by the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra on Wednesday nights.
Auckland’s famous Sky Tower is a city landmark standing a whopping 328 metres (1,076 feet) tall. Visit the viewing deck and observation platform for 360-degree views of the city’s volcanic cones, sprawling neighbourhoods and large harbour at night-time up until 8pm. Continue enjoying the view with a drink or a meal at one of the 13 bars and restaurants in the tower.
Auckland’s Wynyard Quarter is home to Silo Park, an urban regeneration project that has transformed old cement silos into an inner-city nightlife destination. Visit Silo Park in summer to watch a movie outdoors projected onto one of the large grain silos or shoot some hoops before grabbing dinner from a nearby food truck. While the park itself can be enjoyed at any time all year round, most events run in the summertime, so make sure to check the Silo Park website to find out what events are on before going.
