If there’s one structure in Auckland you can’t miss, it’s the Sky Tower – a steel and concrete spire rising 328 meters above the city, dominating the skyline and daring you to look out over land, harbour, volcanoes and sea. Ever since it opened in 1997, it’s been more than just an observation tower – it’s an icon, a view-point, and (if you’re brave) an adrenaline playground.

Ride the glass-panelled lifts up to one of three public decks: the Main Observation Deck, the Lookout, and the SkyDeck perched closer to the top among the antennae. Each offers sweeping 360° panoramas – on a clear day you can see up to 80 kilometres into the distance.

For an extra pulse-race, try the SkyWalk, a 1.2-meter-wide ledge walk at 192 m above ground, open-air, harnessed, wind-in-your-hair kind of stuff. Or if you want more thrill, there’s the SkyJump – which is basically a wire-guided base jump from the same height, reaching up to roughly 85 km/h in free-fall style adrenaline.

Inside, there’s more than just vertigo. Elegant dining happens at the Orbit 360° Restaurant, which rotates while you dine. There’s also the SkyBar, The Lookout café, and a gift shop filled with Auckland keepsakes.

Did you know? On special nights, the Sky Tower lights up in millions of LED colours, supporting causes or celebrating festivals – it's one of Auckland’s favourite ways to shine.

Take a walk by Sky Tower early morning or at sunset, when the light washes the city in gold, whisking you between towering views and street-level charm. Add Sky Tower as your high point – literally – of the route, and savour how Auckland transforms from dawn to dusk.

The main art gallery in Auckland, known as Toi o Tāmaki, boasts an impressive collection of both national and international artwork, making it the most extensive in New Zealand. It frequently hosts exhibitions from around the world. Back in 2009, an American investor named Julian Robertson made headlines by generously donating art valued at a whopping $115 million to the gallery. This generous gift included works by renowned artists like Paul Cezanne, Paul Gauguin, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Piet Mondrian, Salvador Dali, Georges Braque, Andre Derain, Fernand Leger, Pierre Bonnard, and Henri Fantin-Latour. It was the largest art donation of its kind in the Australasia region.

The gallery itself is housed in a unique building that combines both modern and traditional architectural elements to showcase the art pieces. When you enter the gallery, you'll walk between majestic kauri columns, a type of native tree, and have the opportunity to explore four floors of exhibitions spanning seven centuries of art history. It's not just a place to admire international art; it's also home to the largest permanent collection of New Zealand art right in the heart of Auckland City.

Visitors can enjoy world-class touring exhibitions and immerse themselves in the rich diversity of traditional and contemporary international art. Additionally, friendly and knowledgeable guides are available to lead you on an engaging tour, offering insights into the art, artists, stories, and histories that enrich the gallery's collection.

Tip:
Take the cost-inclusive guided tour – you won't be sorry you did. Afterward, stick around and wander the galleries you missed during the tour.

The Auckland Domain is the oldest park in Auckland, covering 75 hectares, making it one of the largest in the city. It's situated in the central suburb of Grafton and includes the entire explosion crater as well as most of the surrounding tuff ring of the Pukekawa volcano.

This park is famous for housing one of Auckland's primary tourist attractions, the Auckland War Memorial Museum, which is prominently located on the rim of the crater (tuff ring). The crater's floor is occupied by several sports fields, encircling the southern part of the cone. On the opposite side of the Museum, you'll find the cricket pavilion and Auckland City Hospital. Moving to the north side of the central scoria cone, you'll discover the Domain Wintergardens, featuring two beautiful glass houses. The fernery has been built within an old quarry within the cone. Additionally, there are duck ponds in the northern area of the explosion crater, which has a small overflow stream to the north.

Among the notable annual events held here are "Christmas in the Park," which has attracted over 200,000 spectators in the past, as well as other popular recurring events like "Symphony under the Stars," the "Lantern Festival," and the "Teddybears Picnic."

Why You Should Visit:
Great place to picnic, walk around, watch cricket, sit in the shade, listen to music in the park or visit the Auckland Museum and the Wintergardens.

Tip:
If you like walking, make a whole day of it by starting in Mount Eden, then going to Newmarket and the Auckland Domain.
During the summer there are loads of events that take place here, so always worth checking if there's anything happening.

Maungawhau, also known as Mount Eden, is a volcanic scoria cone and a significant Tūpuna Maunga (ancestral mountain) located in the Mount Eden suburb of Auckland. This cone is part of the broader Auckland volcanic field and stands as the tallest volcanic formation on the isthmus.

This dormant volcano reaches an elevation of 196 meters (643 feet) above sea level, making it the highest natural point on the Auckland isthmus. Its distinctive bowl-like crater is impressively deep, measuring 50 meters (160 feet). The volcano experienced eruptions from three separate craters approximately 28,000 years ago, with the last eruptions originating from the southern crater, eventually filling in the northern ones. Notably, the western slope of the hill has undergone extensive quarrying activities and has become the site of a substantial ecological restoration project, managed by volunteers.

The name "Mount Eden" was selected by Governor William Hobson to pay homage to George Eden, the 1st Earl of Auckland, who served as his superior naval officer.

Mount Eden is a popular tourist destination, drawing visitors due to its status as the highest natural point in Auckland, offering stunning panoramic views of the city from its summit. In recognition of the mountain's spiritual and cultural significance to the Māori people, and for safety reasons, the summit road was permanently closed to most vehicles in 2011, except for those with limited mobility.

In 2019, the historic 1926 Spanish Mission-style tearoom underwent transformation, becoming the Whau Cafe and the Mount Eden Visitor Experience Centre. This center provides insights into the geological and Māori cultural history of the maunga.

Additionally, in 2020, boardwalks were constructed around the rim of the crater, serving to preserve the terraces and storage pits on the upper slopes of the summit. These boardwalks offer spectacular views of the deep crater and the city of Auckland.

Why You Should Visit:
It's a hike up to the top, but the view is worth it. You can do it at your own pace and stop at different levels. Walk down is much easier. Free to do!

Tip:
Consider straying off the pathway and following the dirt tracks (the views are similar to the summit, but not crowded with other people!)
To make it worth it for little kids, make sure to spend a little time at the ice cream shop near the summit and the playground at the bottom.
Don't try to go in the crater as well, though – it's off limits and rather dangerous, and you might have to be rescued from in there!

Stretching along Auckland’s waterfront, Viaduct Harbour is where sails, style, and sea-breeze combine to make walking feel like a mini celebration. Once a rugged industrial stretch of warehouses and fisherman’s docks, the area was completely reimagined in the 1990s and early 2000s. What used to be gritty wharves became prime waterfront apartments, top-notch restaurants, and a marina full of gleaming boats.

A key turning point was hosting America’s Cup events – that helped push Auckland to invest in Viaduct’s redevelopment and polished it into the destination it is today. The precinct now combines luxury living with seriously good food: waterfront dining spots from Soul Bar & Bistro to Hello Beasty and Bivacco, where the views of the marina are almost as tasty as the dishes.

The Viaduct Harbour Marina (now branded „Auckland Central Marina“ in parts) has around 70-80 berths, handling everything from sleek superyachts to day-trip charter boats. It’s also a gateway for cruising the Waitematā Harbour and heading out toward the Hauraki Gulf.

Did you know? The Viaduct Events Centre reopened in April 2023 after renovations, now shining with a sustainability badge: floor-to-ceiling glass, event halls overlooking the harbour, and design touches that speak to both marine tradition and modern flair.

Start by meandering the boardwalk, peek into luxury shops and hidden laneways, enjoy al fresco meals by the water, then soak up the marina energy. It’s one of those parts of Auckland where you feel like you’re both in the city and by the sea – perfect for mixing history, leisure, and panoramic views.