Auckland itinerary: 1 to 7 days
Plans for one to seven days in Auckland, day by day: the Sky Tower, Queen Street and Eden Park first, then the harbour bridge, waterfront and Auckland Museum in the Domain, and volcanic cones, Rangitoto Island, the zoo, MOTAT and Kelly Tarlton's as you add days. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 3 days
Auckland in 1 day
Day 1
Britomart Transport Centre
Main train station in a restored 1912 post office, at the heart of a lively precinct of restaurants and shops.
Sky Tower
328-metre tower with observation decks, a revolving restaurant, SkyWalk and SkyJump; the tallest freestanding structure in the Southern Hemisphere.
Queen Street, Auckland
Auckland's main street, running from the waterfront up through the CBD, lined with shops and heritage buildings.
Auckland in 2 days
Day 1
Auckland Town Hall
Edwardian town hall on Queen Street with a fine concert chamber and a large pipe organ.
Sky Tower
328-metre tower with observation decks, a revolving restaurant, SkyWalk and SkyJump; the tallest freestanding structure in the Southern Hemisphere.
Queen Street, Auckland
Auckland's main street, running from the waterfront up through the CBD, lined with shops and heritage buildings.
Day 2
Auckland Harbour Bridge
Bridge to the North Shore with a bridge climb and a bungy jump from the Westhaven side.
Britomart Transport Centre
Main train station in a restored 1912 post office, at the heart of a lively precinct of restaurants and shops.
Auckland Civic Theatre
1929 atmospheric theatre with a starry ceiling and Moorish-style decor, used for musicals and festivals.
SkyCity Auckland
Casino and entertainment complex at the foot of the Sky Tower with restaurants, bars and a theatre.
Symonds Street Cemetery
Historic 1842 cemetery in native bush on a gully slope, with graves of Auckland's early settlers.
Auckland War Memorial Museum
Neo-classical museum with one of the best Māori and Pacific collections, plus natural history and war galleries.
Auckland Domain
The city's oldest park, on an extinct volcano, with the museum, Wintergardens and sports fields.
Auckland in 3 days
Day 1
St Patrick's Cathedral, Auckland
Gothic Revival Catholic cathedral of 1907 in the CBD, restored with colourful stained glass.
Sky Tower
328-metre tower with observation decks, a revolving restaurant, SkyWalk and SkyJump; the tallest freestanding structure in the Southern Hemisphere.
SkyCity Auckland
Casino and entertainment complex at the foot of the Sky Tower with restaurants, bars and a theatre.
Queen Street, Auckland
Auckland's main street, running from the waterfront up through the CBD, lined with shops and heritage buildings.
Day 2
Auckland Harbour Bridge
Bridge to the North Shore with a bridge climb and a bungy jump from the Westhaven side.
Auckland Civic Theatre
1929 atmospheric theatre with a starry ceiling and Moorish-style decor, used for musicals and festivals.
Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland
Anglican cathedral in Parnell with a modern glass-walled nave and the small wooden St Mary's Church beside it.
Karangahape Road
Known as K' Road, a lively street of vintage shops, bars, cafes and nightlife on the CBD's southern ridge.
Symonds Street Cemetery
Historic 1842 cemetery in native bush on a gully slope, with graves of Auckland's early settlers.
Auckland War Memorial Museum
Neo-classical museum with one of the best Māori and Pacific collections, plus natural history and war galleries.
Auckland Domain
The city's oldest park, on an extinct volcano, with the museum, Wintergardens and sports fields.
Day 3
Auckland Town Hall
Edwardian town hall on Queen Street with a fine concert chamber and a large pipe organ.
Mount Eden
Dormant volcano and Auckland's highest natural point, with a grassy crater and 360-degree views over the city and harbour.
One Tree Hill
Maungakiekie volcanic cone with Māori terraces, an obelisk and wide city views, set in Cornwall Park farmland.
Auckland in 4 days
Day 1
St Patrick's Cathedral, Auckland
Gothic Revival Catholic cathedral of 1907 in the CBD, restored with colourful stained glass.
Sky Tower
328-metre tower with observation decks, a revolving restaurant, SkyWalk and SkyJump; the tallest freestanding structure in the Southern Hemisphere.
SkyCity Auckland
Casino and entertainment complex at the foot of the Sky Tower with restaurants, bars and a theatre.
Queen Street, Auckland
Auckland's main street, running from the waterfront up through the CBD, lined with shops and heritage buildings.
Day 2
Auckland Harbour Bridge
Bridge to the North Shore with a bridge climb and a bungy jump from the Westhaven side.
Auckland Civic Theatre
1929 atmospheric theatre with a starry ceiling and Moorish-style decor, used for musicals and festivals.
Auckland Town Hall
Edwardian town hall on Queen Street with a fine concert chamber and a large pipe organ.
Karangahape Road
Known as K' Road, a lively street of vintage shops, bars, cafes and nightlife on the CBD's southern ridge.
Symonds Street Cemetery
Historic 1842 cemetery in native bush on a gully slope, with graves of Auckland's early settlers.
Auckland Domain
The city's oldest park, on an extinct volcano, with the museum, Wintergardens and sports fields.
Auckland War Memorial Museum
Neo-classical museum with one of the best Māori and Pacific collections, plus natural history and war galleries.
Day 3
Auckland Zoo
Zoo at Western Springs with a large Te Wao Nui New Zealand section showing kiwi and tuatara.
Museum of Transport and Technology
MOTAT, a hands-on museum of trams, aircraft, trains and machines, linked to the zoo by heritage tram.
Mount Eden
Dormant volcano and Auckland's highest natural point, with a grassy crater and 360-degree views over the city and harbour.
One Tree Hill
Maungakiekie volcanic cone with Māori terraces, an obelisk and wide city views, set in Cornwall Park farmland.
Day 4
Rangitoto Island
Youngest volcano in the Auckland field, about 600 years old, with a summit walk through lava fields; a half-day ferry trip.
Mount Victoria
Takarunga, Devonport's grassy volcanic cone with views across the harbour to the city.
North Head, New Zealand
Maungauika volcanic headland in Devonport with old military tunnels, gun emplacements and harbour views.
Kelly Tarlton's Sea Life Aquarium
Aquarium on Tāmaki Drive with an underwater shark tunnel and an Antarctic penguin enclosure.
Auckland in 5 days
Day 1
Sky Tower
328-metre tower with observation decks, a revolving restaurant, SkyWalk and SkyJump; the tallest freestanding structure in the Southern Hemisphere.
Pah Homestead
1879 Italianate mansion in Hillsborough housing the Wallace Arts Centre's New Zealand art collection.
Westhaven Marina
One of the largest marinas in the Southern Hemisphere, under the Harbour Bridge, with a waterfront path.
Auckland Domain
The city's oldest park, on an extinct volcano, with the museum, Wintergardens and sports fields.
Day 2
Auckland Harbour Bridge
Bridge to the North Shore with a bridge climb and a bungy jump from the Westhaven side.
Queen Street, Auckland
Auckland's main street, running from the waterfront up through the CBD, lined with shops and heritage buildings.
Wynyard Quarter
Revamped waterfront district with playgrounds, a fish market, restaurants and the silo park.
Viaduct Basin
Viaduct Harbour, the former America's Cup base, now lined with superyachts, bars and restaurants.
Britomart Transport Centre
Main train station in a restored 1912 post office, at the heart of a lively precinct of restaurants and shops.
Day 3
St Patrick's Cathedral, Auckland
Gothic Revival Catholic cathedral of 1907 in the CBD, restored with colourful stained glass.
Albert Park, Auckland
Victorian park by the university with a floral clock, fountain and big trees.
Aotea Square
Main civic square beside the Town Hall and Aotea Centre, used for markets and events.
Auckland Civic Theatre
1929 atmospheric theatre with a starry ceiling and Moorish-style decor, used for musicals and festivals.
SkyCity Auckland
Casino and entertainment complex at the foot of the Sky Tower with restaurants, bars and a theatre.
Symonds Street Cemetery
Historic 1842 cemetery in native bush on a gully slope, with graves of Auckland's early settlers.
Karangahape Road
Known as K' Road, a lively street of vintage shops, bars, cafes and nightlife on the CBD's southern ridge.
Ponsonby
Inner-city suburb along Ponsonby Road, with restored villas, independent shops, cafes, restaurants and bars.
Day 4
Auckland War Memorial Museum
Neo-classical museum with one of the best Māori and Pacific collections, plus natural history and war galleries.
Mount Eden
Dormant volcano and Auckland's highest natural point, with a grassy crater and 360-degree views over the city and harbour.
One Tree Hill
Maungakiekie volcanic cone with Māori terraces, an obelisk and wide city views, set in Cornwall Park farmland.
Stardome Observatory
Public observatory and planetarium on One Tree Hill with evening shows and telescope viewing.
Day 5
Rangitoto Island
Youngest volcano in the Auckland field, about 600 years old, with a summit walk through lava fields; a half-day ferry trip.
Mount Victoria
Takarunga, Devonport's grassy volcanic cone with views across the harbour to the city.
North Head, New Zealand
Maungauika volcanic headland in Devonport with old military tunnels, gun emplacements and harbour views.
Kelly Tarlton's Sea Life Aquarium
Aquarium on Tāmaki Drive with an underwater shark tunnel and an Antarctic penguin enclosure.
Orakei Basin
Volcanic explosion crater filled by the sea, with a boardwalk loop and water sports.
Auckland in 6 days
Day 1
St Patrick's Cathedral, Auckland
Gothic Revival Catholic cathedral of 1907 in the CBD, restored with colourful stained glass.
Sky Tower
328-metre tower with observation decks, a revolving restaurant, SkyWalk and SkyJump; the tallest freestanding structure in the Southern Hemisphere.
SkyCity Auckland
Casino and entertainment complex at the foot of the Sky Tower with restaurants, bars and a theatre.
Queen Street, Auckland
Auckland's main street, running from the waterfront up through the CBD, lined with shops and heritage buildings.
Day 2
Waiheke Island
Island in the Hauraki Gulf reached by ferry from downtown Auckland, known for vineyards, olive groves, beaches and coastal walks.
Viaduct Basin
Viaduct Harbour, the former America's Cup base, now lined with superyachts, bars and restaurants.
Day 3
Albert Park, Auckland
Victorian park by the university with a floral clock, fountain and big trees.
Aotea Square
Main civic square beside the Town Hall and Aotea Centre, used for markets and events.
Auckland Civic Theatre
1929 atmospheric theatre with a starry ceiling and Moorish-style decor, used for musicals and festivals.
Auckland Town Hall
Edwardian town hall on Queen Street with a fine concert chamber and a large pipe organ.
Symonds Street Cemetery
Historic 1842 cemetery in native bush on a gully slope, with graves of Auckland's early settlers.
Karangahape Road
Known as K' Road, a lively street of vintage shops, bars, cafes and nightlife on the CBD's southern ridge.
Ponsonby
Inner-city suburb along Ponsonby Road, with restored villas, independent shops, cafes, restaurants and bars.
Day 4
Kelly Tarlton's Sea Life Aquarium
Aquarium on Tāmaki Drive with an underwater shark tunnel and an Antarctic penguin enclosure.
Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland
Anglican cathedral in Parnell with a modern glass-walled nave and the small wooden St Mary's Church beside it.
Auckland War Memorial Museum
Neo-classical museum with one of the best Māori and Pacific collections, plus natural history and war galleries.
Auckland Domain
The city's oldest park, on an extinct volcano, with the museum, Wintergardens and sports fields.
Domain Wintergardens
Two 1920s glasshouses with tropical and temperate plants, set around a courtyard pond in the Domain.
Day 5
New Zealand Maritime Museum
Museum of Pacific voyaging and New Zealand's seafaring history on Hobson Wharf, with harbour sailings.
Mount Eden
Dormant volcano and Auckland's highest natural point, with a grassy crater and 360-degree views over the city and harbour.
Museum of Transport and Technology
MOTAT, a hands-on museum of trams, aircraft, trains and machines, linked to the zoo by heritage tram.
Auckland Zoo
Zoo at Western Springs with a large Te Wao Nui New Zealand section showing kiwi and tuatara.
Day 6
Rangitoto Island
Youngest volcano in the Auckland field, about 600 years old, with a summit walk through lava fields; a half-day ferry trip.
Mount Victoria
Takarunga, Devonport's grassy volcanic cone with views across the harbour to the city.
North Head, New Zealand
Maungauika volcanic headland in Devonport with old military tunnels, gun emplacements and harbour views.
Orakei Basin
Volcanic explosion crater filled by the sea, with a boardwalk loop and water sports.
One Tree Hill
Maungakiekie volcanic cone with Māori terraces, an obelisk and wide city views, set in Cornwall Park farmland.
Auckland in 7 days
Day 1
St Patrick's Cathedral, Auckland
Gothic Revival Catholic cathedral of 1907 in the CBD, restored with colourful stained glass.
Sky Tower
328-metre tower with observation decks, a revolving restaurant, SkyWalk and SkyJump; the tallest freestanding structure in the Southern Hemisphere.
SkyCity Auckland
Casino and entertainment complex at the foot of the Sky Tower with restaurants, bars and a theatre.
Queen Street, Auckland
Auckland's main street, running from the waterfront up through the CBD, lined with shops and heritage buildings.
Day 2
Auckland Harbour Bridge
Bridge to the North Shore with a bridge climb and a bungy jump from the Westhaven side.
Westhaven Marina
One of the largest marinas in the Southern Hemisphere, under the Harbour Bridge, with a waterfront path.
Auckland Zoo
Zoo at Western Springs with a large Te Wao Nui New Zealand section showing kiwi and tuatara.
Viaduct Basin
Viaduct Harbour, the former America's Cup base, now lined with superyachts, bars and restaurants.
Britomart Transport Centre
Main train station in a restored 1912 post office, at the heart of a lively precinct of restaurants and shops.
Day 3
Albert Park, Auckland
Victorian park by the university with a floral clock, fountain and big trees.
Aotea Square
Main civic square beside the Town Hall and Aotea Centre, used for markets and events.
Auckland Civic Theatre
1929 atmospheric theatre with a starry ceiling and Moorish-style decor, used for musicals and festivals.
Auckland Town Hall
Edwardian town hall on Queen Street with a fine concert chamber and a large pipe organ.
Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland
Anglican cathedral in Parnell with a modern glass-walled nave and the small wooden St Mary's Church beside it.
Wynyard Quarter
Revamped waterfront district with playgrounds, a fish market, restaurants and the silo park.
Ponsonby
Inner-city suburb along Ponsonby Road, with restored villas, independent shops, cafes, restaurants and bars.
Day 4
Kelly Tarlton's Sea Life Aquarium
Aquarium on Tāmaki Drive with an underwater shark tunnel and an Antarctic penguin enclosure.
Symonds Street Cemetery
Historic 1842 cemetery in native bush on a gully slope, with graves of Auckland's early settlers.
Auckland War Memorial Museum
Neo-classical museum with one of the best Māori and Pacific collections, plus natural history and war galleries.
Domain Wintergardens
Two 1920s glasshouses with tropical and temperate plants, set around a courtyard pond in the Domain.
Auckland Domain
The city's oldest park, on an extinct volcano, with the museum, Wintergardens and sports fields.
Day 5
New Zealand Maritime Museum
Museum of Pacific voyaging and New Zealand's seafaring history on Hobson Wharf, with harbour sailings.
Mount Eden
Dormant volcano and Auckland's highest natural point, with a grassy crater and 360-degree views over the city and harbour.
Museum of Transport and Technology
MOTAT, a hands-on museum of trams, aircraft, trains and machines, linked to the zoo by heritage tram.
Karangahape Road
Known as K' Road, a lively street of vintage shops, bars, cafes and nightlife on the CBD's southern ridge.
Day 6
Rangitoto Island
Youngest volcano in the Auckland field, about 600 years old, with a summit walk through lava fields; a half-day ferry trip.
Mount Victoria
Takarunga, Devonport's grassy volcanic cone with views across the harbour to the city.
North Head, New Zealand
Maungauika volcanic headland in Devonport with old military tunnels, gun emplacements and harbour views.
Orakei Basin
Volcanic explosion crater filled by the sea, with a boardwalk loop and water sports.
One Tree Hill
Maungakiekie volcanic cone with Māori terraces, an obelisk and wide city views, set in Cornwall Park farmland.
Day 7
Waiheke Island
Island in the Hauraki Gulf reached by ferry from downtown Auckland, known for vineyards, olive groves, beaches and coastal walks.
Watch: Auckland in 3 days
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Auckland
December to March is the warmest and most settled time, ideal for beaches, ferries and island trips, but also the busiest, with New Zealand school holidays from late December to January. March and April are often still warm with fewer crowds. June to August is cool and wet, though rarely cold, and prices are lower.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Auckland on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Auckland on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Auckland on GetYourGuide or on Viator
- From the airport: a private transfer in Auckland with Kiwitaxi
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for New Zealand from Airalo
- Last day: leave your bags in Auckland with Radical Storage and keep sightseeing
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Auckland
- Most visitors need an NZeTA and pay the International Visitor Levy before travel; biosecurity rules are strict, so declare all food.
- Use an AT HOP card or contactless bank card on buses, trains and many ferries; ferries to Devonport, Waiheke and Rangitoto leave from the Downtown Ferry Terminal.
- Rangitoto has only a few ferries a day and no shops or water; book the ferry, bring supplies and check the last return time.
- Weather changes fast: carry a rain jacket and strong sunscreen even on cloudy days, as UV levels are high.
- Auckland Museum is free for Aucklanders but charges overseas visitors; Sky Tower tickets are cheaper online.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Albert Park, Auckland: Ingolfson, Public domain
- Aotea Square: jmattx, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Auckland Civic Theatre: ChewyPineapple, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Auckland Domain: Ingolfson, Public domain
- Auckland Harbour Bridge: GPS 56 from New Zealand, CC BY 2.0
- Auckland Town Hall: ChewyPineapple, CC BY-SA 3.0 nz
- Auckland War Memorial Museum: Iswzo, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Auckland Zoo: Zoophilia at English Wikipedia, Public domain
- Britomart Transport Centre: Sitedmambo, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Domain Wintergardens: Andy king50, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland: No machine-readable author provided. Gadfium assumed (based on copyright claims)., Public domain
- Karangahape Road: Ingolfson at English Wikipedia ( Original text: Own picture. ), Public domain
- Kelly Tarlton's Sea Life Aquarium: Ingolfson, Public domain
- Mount Eden: russellstreet, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Mount Victoria: Ingolfson at English Wikipedia ( Original text: Uploader. ), Public domain
- Museum of Transport and Technology: Reinhard Dietrich, CC0
- New Zealand Maritime Museum: Ingolfson at English Wikipedia ( Original text: Uploader. ), Public domain
- North Head, New Zealand: Follash, CC BY-SA 3.0
- One Tree Hill: Techno246, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Orakei Basin: Auckland Council, CC BY 4.0
- Pah Homestead: Gadfium, Public domain
- Ponsonby: itravelNZ® – New Zealand in your pocket™, CC BY 2.0
- Queen Street, Auckland: ChewyPineapple, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Rangitoto Island: Bruce Hayward, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sky Tower: QFSE Media, CC BY-SA 3.0 nz
- SkyCity Auckland: Ingolfson at English Wikipedia ( Original text: Uploader. ), Public domain
- St Patrick's Cathedral, Auckland: Jason Pratt, CC BY 2.0
- Stardome Observatory: Ingolfson, Public domain
- Symonds Street Cemetery: Ingolfson, Public domain
- Viaduct Basin: Ingolfson at English Wikipedia ( Original text: Uploader. ), Public domain
- Waiheke Island: NASA image created by Jesse Allen, using Landsat data provided by the United States Geological Survey., Public domain
- Westhaven Marina: The original uploader was JosephWatkins at English Wikipedia ., CC BY-SA 3.0
- Wynyard Quarter: The National Library of New Zealand (Alexander Turnbull Library) states specifically that the author is unknown. See relevance of this below., Public domain
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
