The Best Things To Do With Mum This Mother’s Day In Auckland

 

Mother’s Day is just around the corner (10th of May to be exact) and while not all of us have a mother we almost certainly all have someone who’s looked out for us, someone who’s cared for us, someone who has supported us no matter what. Maybe it’s your Work Mum, your House Mum, your Chosen Mum, or the one who brought you into this world. And it’s these people in our lives who we take the opportunity to thank this Mother’s Day. 

From jaw-dropping jewellery design and a whole lot of muscle (wait, what?) to the ultimate high tea, this Mother’s Day lineup is packed with more quality time than you can shake a bunch of peonies at. 

Here are the best things to do with Mum this Mother’s Day.

Floral Workshop

&Flowers, 19 Mt Eden Road, Grafton, Auckland

Image credit: &Flowers | Instagram

While you absolutely could gift your mum a gorgeous bouquet of flowers (and I’d recommend doing that regardless), it’s extra special to deep dive into the floral realm together and at &Flowers’ Mother’s Day workshop, you can do exactly that. You and Mum will be seated next to each other, separated by a divider. You’ll created a floral arrangement for each other, without seeing what’s happening on the other side until the big reveal at the workshop’s end. Cute, right? Tickets include a $50 flower credit to spend in-store and complementary drinks (with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drink options). 

The Details

When: 10 May 2026
Where: &Flowers, 19 Mt Eden Road, Grafton, Auckland 
Cost: $65 per person
Find out more here. 

Botanical Printmaking 

Kelmarna Community Farm, 12 Hukanui Crescent, Ponsonby  

Speaking of florals, if channeling nature into an ancient art practice in an urban farm setting sounds like a bit of your mum, book the two (or more) of you into The Recreators’ botanical printmaking workshop. Over the three hours you’ll sip on herbal tea while learning stencil and block printing coming away with a botanical-inspired print. Neat. 

The Details

When: 9 May 2026
Where: Kelmarna Community Farm
Cost: $90
Find out more here.

Champagne High Tea

Esther, QT Auckland

Image credit: Esther QT Auckland | supplied. 

I’ve got two words for you: dessert trolley. And it’s giving Parisian. Yep, if your mum’s eyes sparkle at the suggestion of something sweet, you’ve just got to take her to Esther’s Mother’s Day Champagne High Tea. Along with said trolley, you’ll enjoy a welcome glass of G.H. Mumm Champagne on arrival or a bottomless bubbles upgrade if that you'd like (you do) and, as a nod to high tea tradition, a curation of teas. 

The Details

When: 10 May 2026
Where: Esther, within QT Auckland, 4 Viaduct Harbour Avenue
Cost: $89 per person, $45 bottomless Champagne optional upgrade
Find out more here.

Live Jazz At A Speakeasy 

Caretaker, 40 Customs Street, Britomart Place

If you haven’t been to Caretaker yet, you’re surely overdue. The hidden New York-inspired cocktail bar is an experience in itself with its menu-less, immersive cocktail-ordering. Better still, on Mother’s Day there’ll be live jazz from 9pm. So for the ultimate, smooth soundbath with cocktails that slap, make a beeline for Caretaker. 

The Details 

When: 10 May 2026
Where: Caretaker, 40 Customs Street, Britomart Place
Cost: Free entry
Find out more here. 

Gindulgence

Shed 10, Queens Wharf

While this gin festival technically takes place just before Mother’s Day, if your mum’s a spirit connoisseur, she’s unlikely to mind if the celebration comes early. Gindulgence is a gin crawl through Shed 10, with the opportunity to sip pretty on 25 distillers’ signature G&Ts and other creative tipples they’ve whipped up for the occasion, plus bottle shops to load up on your faves. And what’s not to like about getting a bit tipsy with mum? 

The Details

When: 8-9 May
Where: Shed 10, Queens Wharf
Cost: $69
Find out more here.

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Art, Three Ways

Auckland Art Gallery

Image credit: XU ZHENⓇ, “Hello”, 2018-2019, installation view, 2019, MadeIn Gallery, Shanghai. 

Make Mother’s Day an art-soaked celebration starting with an enlivening mug of matcha or coffee from the culinary artists at Kompass Coffee, pop across the road for a 60-minute beginner-friendly hatha yoga class within the gallery exhibition rooms, then jump into the gallery’s newest exhibition Forever Tomorrow: Chinese Art Now and marvel at robotic sculptures, meditative digital landscapes and contemporary re-imagingings of traditional Chinese crafts. 

The Details

When: 10 May 2026
Where: Auckland Art Gallery
Cost: $20 per person for yoga, $27.50 for Forever Tomorrow
Find out more, here and here.

Make Beautiful Things

Layla Kaisi Collection, Shortland Street, Auckland CBD

Image credit: Layla Kaisi Collection | supplied

While the jury’s out on whether diamonds are, in fact, a girl’s best friend, one of the best things to do with mum this Mother’s Day does involve all that sparkles. And if you’re wondering how you can make Mother’s Day extra special this year, booking an appointment at Layla Kaisi Collection could be just the thing.

LKC is a local jeweller that’s contemporary luxury incarnate, creating exquisite pieces that go beyond celebrating a moment—they immortalise stories. This Mother’s Day, start the process, working with your mum to co-design a micro-collection that illustrates your connection with sheer elegance. 

The Details

When: By appointment
Where: Layla Kaisi Collection, Shortland Street, Auckland
Find out more here.

Mini And Mum, The Manicure Edit

Valet, 182 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby

One of the sleekest manicure spots in the city has put together a Mini & Mum experience which ticks the boxes for both thoughtful gift-giving and an experience that’ll go straight to core memory (or maybe even start an ongoing ritual). The voucher includes an adult express gel manicure–plus shaping and buffing–and a kids polish for just seventy bucks. Kids must be under 11 years old. 

The Details 

When: Whenever you like
Where: Valet, 182 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby
Cost: $70
Find out more here. 

Craft Cafe

Karigar Lane, 165 Parnell Road

Image credit: Karigar Lane | Instagram

A craft cafe has just opened in Parnell, where you order arts and craft instead of food. Touted as a third space for creatives, you simply pull up a pew, select an activity, then get crafting, sipping on chai, hot chocolate or coffee while you do so. Currently on the menu are personalised roll on perfumes, soy candles, painting terracotta pots or plates and block printing tote bags, with more activities to be released. Reserve your spot for $10 per person. 

The Details

When: 10 May 2026
Where: Karigar Lane, 165 Parnell Road
Cost: $35-55 (less the $10 reservation fee)
Find out more here.

Live Professional Wrestling 

Kumeu Community Centre

Yes siree, that is not a typo. For something totally different this Mother’s Day, head to the wrestling ring. This Mothers Day Mayhem wrestling event features performances by undisputed champion Matty Short, new premier champion Bee Numan, Victoria Ryan, Dorian Webber and ‘The Fabulance’ Lance Williams. Better still, mums get a free ticket with every child ticket purchased. Hardcore and so here for it. 

The Details

When: 10 May 2026
Where: Kumeu Community Centre, Kumeū
Cost: $7.50
Find out more here.

The Dog Rescue Project Mother’s Day Market

Smales Farm, 72 Taharoto Road, Takapuna

If mum can’t resist that morning market energy, go browsing at this cute ceramics Mother’s Day market and load up on pottery and merch for the cutest cause—The Dog Rescue Project. The fundraiser will help the Auckland-based nationwide team continue to work with owners of neglected and/or abused dogs to help improve their lives of dogs and owners alike. 

The Details

When: 10 May 2026
Where: Smales Farm, 72 Taharoto Road, Takapuna
Cost: Free entry
Find out more here. 

Want more? Check out: 

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Main image credit: Esther at QT Auckland | supplied.