Best Things To Do At Night In Auckland New Zealand

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.

Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips, compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips.

Watch the sunset at Mt Eden

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

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.

Watch a live performance at Aotea Arts Precinct

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.

Take in night-time city views at the Sky Tower

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.

Play outdoors at Silo Park

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.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.