Food Scene
Only three minutes from the apartment, the French Cafe (it's not a cafe!) is consistently voted one of the finest restaurants in all New Zealand. Lovely food, but you'll probably have to book.
46 locals recommend
Sid at The French Cafe
210 Symonds StOnly three minutes from the apartment, the French Cafe (it's not a cafe!) is consistently voted one of the finest restaurants in all New Zealand. Lovely food, but you'll probably have to book.
Two minutes from the apartment, this is Japanese fusion food at its fanciest. One of the finest restaurants in New Zealand.
14 locals recommend
KAZUYA restaurant
193 Symonds StTwo minutes from the apartment, this is Japanese fusion food at its fanciest. One of the finest restaurants in New Zealand.
This couldn't really be any closer to the apartment, with very nice Japanese food.
8 locals recommend
Bian Sushi & Donburi
183 Symonds StThis couldn't really be any closer to the apartment, with very nice Japanese food.
The closest fast food to the apartment - just across the road - and its part of a nationwide chain, so you will at least know what you will get. Good range of pizzas.
24 locals recommend
Hell Pizza
160 Symonds StThe closest fast food to the apartment - just across the road - and its part of a nationwide chain, so you will at least know what you will get. Good range of pizzas.
Always fun and upbeat, with good quality Italian food. If you like to see Italian men with their shirts off bringing you cake, just tell them it's your birthday. Two minute walk.
19 locals recommend
Gina's Italian Kitchen
448 Symonds StAlways fun and upbeat, with good quality Italian food. If you like to see Italian men with their shirts off bringing you cake, just tell them it's your birthday. Two minute walk.
Lovely fine dining in a nice little restaurant that specialises in matching wine choices. The 15 minute walk home will help your food go down :)
6 locals recommend
Mela
5 City RdLovely fine dining in a nice little restaurant that specialises in matching wine choices. The 15 minute walk home will help your food go down :)
Betsia Chargrilled and wraps
199 Symonds StYummy kebab takeaway and restaurant. One minute walk.
Our best local cafe. Awesome breakfasts, cool surroundings, and if you're lucky (or unlucky), you might spot a local media type. Five minutes walk.
11 locals recommend
Twenty Three Cafe
23 Mount Eden RdOur best local cafe. Awesome breakfasts, cool surroundings, and if you're lucky (or unlucky), you might spot a local media type. Five minutes walk.
The burgers are American style, and a little greasy for my taste, but flavoursome all the same.
9 locals recommend
Burger Geek
175 Symonds StThe burgers are American style, and a little greasy for my taste, but flavoursome all the same.
I have never tasted bagels and fillings this good. You must go. Five minutes walk.
28 locals recommend
Goodness Gracious Cafe
2A New N RdI have never tasted bagels and fillings this good. You must go. Five minutes walk.
Drinks & Nightlife
The best pub in New Zealand is five minutes walk away. Nice food, amazing beers, and a warm, pubby atmosphere, even if the clientele is a little bit middle-aged. Highly recommended.
35 locals recommend
Galbraith's Alehouse
2 Mount Eden RdThe best pub in New Zealand is five minutes walk away. Nice food, amazing beers, and a warm, pubby atmosphere, even if the clientele is a little bit middle-aged. Highly recommended.
Recently redeveloped, its now a place of cool, busy, city pubs and high-end shopping. Its also Auckland's transport hub. Buses go to it from right outside the apartment, on Symonds Street.
67 locals recommend
Britomart Place
Britomart PlaceRecently redeveloped, its now a place of cool, busy, city pubs and high-end shopping. Its also Auckland's transport hub. Buses go to it from right outside the apartment, on Symonds Street.
If you want a casual hook-up, the downtown bars might be the place, but if you want to be cool, come to Ponsonby Road. The nightlife is unparalleled in Auckland, with bars and clubs for every taste, with everything on one, long, walking strip.
227 locals recommend
Ponsonby Road
Ponsonby RoadIf you want a casual hook-up, the downtown bars might be the place, but if you want to be cool, come to Ponsonby Road. The nightlife is unparalleled in Auckland, with bars and clubs for every taste, with everything on one, long, walking strip.
Cool place to hang out, drink and dance, and still has the slightly-edgy feel of its red-light days. Five minutes walk.
76 locals recommend
Karangahape Road
Karangahape RoadCool place to hang out, drink and dance, and still has the slightly-edgy feel of its red-light days. Five minutes walk.
Entertainment & Activities
Eden Park
Reimers AvenueOnly a 20 minute walk to the home of New Zealand rugby and cricket.
Just a five minute walk to one of Auckland's primary live music venues. I saw Elbow here. Yes!
24 locals recommend
Powerstation
33 Mount Eden RdJust a five minute walk to one of Auckland's primary live music venues. I saw Elbow here. Yes!
Parks & Nature
If you like hiking / tramping / walking, this is the main visitor centre. its a drive out of town, but has all the information you need, with lots of booklets and advice.
111 locals recommend
Arataki Visitor Centre - Waitakere Ranges
300 Scenic DrIf you like hiking / tramping / walking, this is the main visitor centre. its a drive out of town, but has all the information you need, with lots of booklets and advice.
New Zealand has awesome bush walks. The Waitakere's are the most accessible to Auckland, with everything from 5 minute walks to lookouts, to the four-day Hilary Trail. Have fun!
114 locals recommend
Waitākere Ranges Regional Park
New Zealand has awesome bush walks. The Waitakere's are the most accessible to Auckland, with everything from 5 minute walks to lookouts, to the four-day Hilary Trail. Have fun!
If you like trees, open parkland and sweeping views, this is for you. Bring a picnic, and if you are feeling lively, climb One Tree Hill in the neighbouring park to wear it off, and enjoy the great, two-harbour view.
155 locals recommend
Cornwall Park
Green Lane WestIf you like trees, open parkland and sweeping views, this is for you. Bring a picnic, and if you are feeling lively, climb One Tree Hill in the neighbouring park to wear it off, and enjoy the great, two-harbour view.
Built with depression-era labour, this lovely winding forest road links you to bush track starting points, the Arataki Visitors Centre, awesome views, and (via Piha Road) the famous Piha surf beach
Scenic Drive
Scenic DriveBuilt with depression-era labour, this lovely winding forest road links you to bush track starting points, the Arataki Visitors Centre, awesome views, and (via Piha Road) the famous Piha surf beach
Sightseeing
The most iconic of New Zealand's west coast beaches, with year round big surf, and masses of beach space to laze around in summer. Muriwai, Karekere and Bethells beaches are other great choices.
229 locals recommend
Piha
The most iconic of New Zealand's west coast beaches, with year round big surf, and masses of beach space to laze around in summer. Muriwai, Karekere and Bethells beaches are other great choices.
Its impossible to walk past all those waterfront restaurants and bars and not be tempted to sit, drink, eat, and watch the world go by.
220 locals recommend
Wynyard Quarter
Its impossible to walk past all those waterfront restaurants and bars and not be tempted to sit, drink, eat, and watch the world go by.
The place to go if you want to wander round and check out menus before you eat. Nice and busy on weekend and summer evenings for great people-watching.
223 locals recommend
Viaduct Basin
The place to go if you want to wander round and check out menus before you eat. Nice and busy on weekend and summer evenings for great people-watching.
Mt Eden Station
The stiff walk up is worth it for the great view over the city.
In my view, North Head and the nearby Mount Victoria offer the best viewpoints in Auckland. Bring a picnic rug, some food and drink, and just sit and watch the boats pass by from this elevated lookout. It does mean a trip over the Harbour Bridge, or a ferry ride to Devonport, but on a sunny day, it is so worth it.
85 locals recommend
North Head
In my view, North Head and the nearby Mount Victoria offer the best viewpoints in Auckland. Bring a picnic rug, some food and drink, and just sit and watch the boats pass by from this elevated lookout. It does mean a trip over the Harbour Bridge, or a ferry ride to Devonport, but on a sunny day, it is so worth it.
The iconic little Auckland beach, backed by a streetfront of bars, restaurants, and cafes. The water quality is almost always good, the waves are tiny and safe, and in summer there are always lots of babes of both sexes on view. Kohimarama, St. Heliers, and Okahu Bay are also good, but quieter options, and parking might be easier.
250 locals recommend
Mission Bay
The iconic little Auckland beach, backed by a streetfront of bars, restaurants, and cafes. The water quality is almost always good, the waves are tiny and safe, and in summer there are always lots of babes of both sexes on view. Kohimarama, St. Heliers, and Okahu Bay are also good, but quieter options, and parking might be easier.
Arts & Culture
Eclectic displays, with well-known international names, plus lots of Kiwi artists. Worth a visit.
606 locals recommend
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki
Wellesley Street EastEclectic displays, with well-known international names, plus lots of Kiwi artists. Worth a visit.
Auckland's main museum. Lots of Maori and Pacific artefacts, a good section on the wars, and lots more.
787 locals recommend
Auckland War Memorial Museum
Auckland's main museum. Lots of Maori and Pacific artefacts, a good section on the wars, and lots more.
Essentials
This is a 15 minute walk down Queen Street, and it isn't very big, but it does have most of the supermarket essentials, and the shoppers are way hotter than you get in the suburbs.
111 locals recommend
New World Metro Queen Street
125 Queen StThis is a 15 minute walk down Queen Street, and it isn't very big, but it does have most of the supermarket essentials, and the shoppers are way hotter than you get in the suburbs.
This is about a 10 minute walk into Ponsonby, is brand new, and is a full size supermarket for the cool people who live nearby. Like you :)
79 locals recommend
Countdown Ponsonby
4 Williamson AveThis is about a 10 minute walk into Ponsonby, is brand new, and is a full size supermarket for the cool people who live nearby. Like you :)