The A-List

Your go-to guide for maximising your time on-board.

‘Tis the season for festive frivolities, gloriously subpar Christmas movies and strategic consumption of electrolytes. Plus, the iconic snap with Santa, of course. Here are the best Santa photo locations in Auckland. 

We’ve uncovered a luxurious lineup of local road trips that feel like a slice of Italy, the Alps and beyond.

More time and energy to focus on the bigger hauora (wellbeing) picture.

Okay, so we both know he's going to say "nothing" or "just whatever" or "I don't mind not doing prezzies this year". Or some other good-hearted but, nonetheless, unhelpful nonsense that leaves you scrolling through endless manosphere slop. Blokes are just about the hardest people to buy for. The only people that are harder are Kiwi blokes. That's why I've compiled the ultimate list of NZ gifts for the man in your life this Christmas.

To make things easy for you, we’ve created this list of the best places to buy your Christmas tree this year—now you have no reason to procrastinate!

Nothing has us feeling more festive than a completely over-the-top display of Christmas lights—this is definitely a case of the more the merrier! Lucky for us Aucklanders, a decent dose of holiday twinkle is never far away.

We love a good market, especially one with the word 'Christmas' attached! So hop in the car, crank up the Mariah (your secret's safe with us) and head along to one of these incredible Christmas markets coming to Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland this holiday season.

The term ‘Mother Knows Best’ probably came from her exquisite taste. Until we can give them the world, we’ve got slick gifts for mums this Christmas. 

This tiny Pacific nation delivers beaches that rival the Maldives and Bora Bora—minus the overwhelm and plus the eco-conscious, slow-living vibe everyone’s trying to copy. Throw in a hearty-meets-tropical food scene and you’ve got yourself a week away you’ll be talking about for years.

Shop our selection of the best Christmas gift ideas this side of the North Pole.

With thatched-roof farmhouses and world-renowned udon on her must-do in Japan hit-list, we asked Nozomi Inoue for the ultimate run-down on her favourite hotspots.

Auckland has some of the best Airbnbs around and we’re semi-obsessed (let’s be real, head-over-heels in love) with those secret urban dwellings that go above and beyond. 

Walking is one of the best ways to make the most of the City of Sails. So grab some sturdy shoes, make use of the kauri dieback wash stations and get amongst the beautiful coastlines, stunning waterfalls, urban strolls and native bush.

Laneway Festival 2026 lineup brings Chappell Roan, Wolf Alice, PinkPantheress, BENEE & more to stages across Australia and New Zealand.

No matter your budget—from cheap and cheerful to total baller—there’s all manner of top-tier eateries to sink your teeth into.

Olivia Dean is returning Down Under in October 2026 to kick off our spring season with her honey-sweet vocals and soul-filled lyrics. Touring her upcoming album The Art of Loving, the singer has just announced her Australia and New Zealand tour dates. Here are all the details.

Let's give it up for Australian talent. There's no denying that a whole heap of the best fashion labels right now are Aussie born and bred.

Ho, ho, holy snowball. December is nearly here and it's time to get our Christmas party on. Is it just us, or did this year really sneak up on us?

If you didn't realise already, Father's Day is fast approaching. Well, actually, it's right around the corner—7 September, to be exact—there's your reminder. What makes matters tricky is how tough Kiwi blokes can be buy for. That's why I've come up with the very best list of gifts to get a Kiwi dad for Father's Day.

Grab a pie and a pint, put your thinking cap on, and get ready to show off your obscure knowledge. Who knows? You might even come out on top. 

Pampering yourself doesn’t come much better than a sleek set of nails. 

We’ve taken the hard yards out of scoping out the very best massage places in Auckland, so that you can sit back and slip right into a state of bliss. Toodles, tension. 

Not only is yoga good for your body, but it also has amazing benefits for your mind too. In the busyness and craziness of life, taking up yoga is one of the best things you could do for your entire wellbeing.

Private dining is the ultimate fantasy—home-style dining (if your home’s hella plush) surrounded by all your favourite people, where tastebud tantalising dishes materialise in front of you, care of a top-tier chef. If I’m dreaming don’t wake me up.

It's the time of year when we resolve to go harder, to be better, to move faster, and to get stronger—no wait, that might just be Daft Punk. In any case, here's our ultimate guide to Auckland's best gyms. 

Here are eight epic day trips from Auckland for you to tick off one by one.

If there's one food trend that's defined 2025 thus far, it's Dubai or knafeh chocolate. What started as a candy bar bringing together pistachio cream, tahini, and kataifi (a type of shredded pastry) inside a crackable, paint-splattered chocolate shell, created by Sarah Hamouda of Fix Dessert Chocolatier in Dubai—has inspired an infinte number of copcats across the globe, and just as many sweet treats (think cookies, pastries, even cocktails). 

Nothing cheers me up more on a cold Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland day (any day, to be fair) than wrapping my mitts around a mug of hot chocolate. Whether it’s a classic number done right, or a more adventurous drop laced with peanut butter or peppermint, served in an edible cup or even topped with bright pink fairy floss, sippin’ on a hot choccy is always a good time.

A bunch of workshops have popped up all over Auckland with every kind of class imaginable.

Let's get one thing straight—pilates may be a great tool for rehab but that doesn't mean it's cruisy.

Sick of being a passive bystander in a movie theatre? Perhaps it’s time to become the lead in your own story.

While your Spotify may be overflowing with a cracking collection of music, nothing beats the sweet, sweet sound of live music.

Cue the Macklemore flashbacks. It's clear that thrift shopping—correction, op shopping—is f**kin’ awesome. Especially in Auckland, with the best op shops per capita, so we say. 

For tasty kai with bangin' views, make a beeline for the Auckland Viaduct. 

Takapuna is one of my favourite suburbs in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. Not only is it home to one of the most popular beaches on the North Shore, it also boasts a long list of amazing places to eat and drink and that's a combo that makes this food writer very happy indeed.

We’ve plucked, tinted and shaped our way to bring you the very best brow bars in Auckland. 

There’s something about dancing I just can’t get enough of. Whether it’s dancing in the moonlight, dancing in the dark or dancing in the rain, there really is nothing greater.

From chic patisseries and pretty pink ice cream parlours to boujee burger joints, Ponsonby's got it all.

With its top-notch eateries and unrivalled views of the Waitematā Harbour, Wynyard Quarter is one of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s most beautiful spots. 

We live for new openings (especially the kind that involves food) and know you do, too. Fortunately, Auckland is the city that just keeps on giving when it comes to new restaurants, bars, cafes and bakeries—we really are a lucky bunch.

Korean food has officially taken over Auckland—and we're not mad about it. Whether you're in it for fiery Korean fried chicken, bubbling bowls of stew, or sizzling hot BBQ, this is your go-to guide to the best Korean restaurants in Auckland.

Matariki is here and it's time to feast. 

Few things in life come close to the excitement of receiving jewellery. The box, the silky lining, the glamour of it all—nothing compares. Here are a few of our favourite jewellers in Tāmaki Makaurau for you to chase that thrill. 

Skip dinner altogether and go straight into a sugar-glazed euphoria.

Let’s be honest, Mother Nature is one amazing lady. She’s the mastermind behind some of life’s finest things: beaches, waterfalls, mountains, forests…the list goes on. 

We’ve looked high and low and we’ve scouted the best places to eat if you’re gluten free—because there’s no need to miss out.

Tattoos are a universal art form used as a form of self-expression and tribute and as the world’s most tattooed nation, it's no surprise we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing a tattoo studio in Auckland.

Whether you'd love to spend your weekend gazing at art-adorned walls with a quizzical look on your face thinking ‘what the heck is that!?’ or simply elevate your mind by marvelling at stunning artwork then we have found the best places for you.

Ahhh brunch, the perfect blend of breakfast and lunch we just can’t get enough of, which is lucky because the brunch game is strong in Tāmaki Makaurau.

Doughnuts are having a moment—and that’s totally fine by us. Whether you like them dusted with sugar, oozing with chocolate custard or stuffed with cream, there’s something for everyone in this doughnut lovin’ city of ours. We’ve rounded up the best places to get the best doughnuts in Auckland. Dough-not delay, try one today.

If you’re curious about anything (or everything), get yourself along to one of Auckland’s many incredible museums and prepare to expand your mind. From ancient relics to impressive architecture, lush outdoors to lifeforms past and present, Auckland has no shortage of intriguing historic collections to get amongst.

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but why settle for the usual smashed avo when you can take a morning trip around the globe—no passport required?

We all deserve a bit of relaxation time now and again, let’s face it. Tired? Needing a pick-me-up? Feel like treating yo'self? 

As the adage goes, if the zombie apocalypse comes after leg day, the ‘fittest’ will be the first ones to go. That said, when your survival odds rest on your ability to head for the hills (and actually make it there), it makes sense to put the leg work in today.

Bargain bevvies, a bar snack or two and some quality yarns make for the ultimate after-work wind-down.

Although we may have reluctantly come to terms with the fact that we don’t possess the golfing prowess of Lydia Ko or Rory McIIroy, it doesn’t mean that we can’t enjoy an 18-hole game from time to time.

Whether you're after breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner or a little somethin' somethin' this ANZAC Friday, there's loads to choose from. 

Whoever came up with this cunning way of eating cake for breakfast (or any other meal, for that matter), we thank you for your service.