15 Epic Things To Do In Auckland This Weekend
Lachlan Woods-Davidson
Freelance Sub-Editor | Urban List NZ
It's another stellar weekend in good old Tāmaki Makaurau, and with December knocking at the door, would it be rude to say it's starting to feel.... a little Christmasy?
Here are 15 epic things to do this Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and all weekend.
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Friday 28 November
Come Celebrate Pici's 5th Birthday
Various Bookings | Pici | $$-$$$
Image credit: Pici | Vicki Young
Pici are celebrating five years of delicious pasta and natural wines on Karangahape Road this Friday at Pici Wine Bar. With magnums pouring and DJs on deck, join them in celebrating the five years (and here’s to many more). Happy Birthday, Pici! - Vicki Young
Get Down To A 24 Hour DJ Set Raising Money For Movember
12pm Friday-12pm Saturday | Queen's Rooftop
Image credit: Queens Rooftop | Supplied
Head to Queens Rooftop for the last week of Movember, a month of raising awareness on men’s health in November. From 12pm Friday to Saturday, DJ Tim Richards will be spinning the decks non-stop for 24 hours, raising $10,000 to support men’s mental health, suicide prevention, and prostate and testicular cancer for Movember. Get your Saturday brekkie boogie on with a side of Allpress coffee, Morning Made matcha and a Bloody Mary Cart, plus a set menu with granola and bacon butties. Donate over on DJ Tim Richards’ Mo Space. - Vicki Young
Saturday 29 November
Attend An Epic Street Fest
From 5pm | Karangahape Road | $$$
Image credit: The Others Way | Facebook
Simply nothin' better than a good street festy (particularly when the festy in question is on the mighty K' Road). The Others Way is back this Saturday for a smorgasbord of fine, fine acts, including headliners Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory, Conna Mockasin, Georgia Knight and many, many more. All ages areas and an R18 mosh ready for wee self to go boogie in.
Unlock Rare Access To Puketutu Island At This Free Māngere Community Event
From 10am-4pm | Māngere Town Centre | Free
This Saturday, Māngere Town Centre is hosting a free family fun day—and it comes with something you never get access to: guided tours of Te Motu a Hiaroa Puketutu Island, one of Tāmaki Makaurau’s most important environmental restoration sites, normally closed to the public.
For one day only, Watercare is offering 45-minute van tours where you can go behind the scenes, learn how the island is being restored, and get a rare look at how Auckland manages biosolids (aka what happens after you flush).
Back at the event, expect ice skating, cultural performances, market stalls, food trucks, face painting, Santa photos, live music and a hands-on education zone for curious minds of all ages. A proper South Auckland community day out.
Book Your Free Movember Workout This Saturday at MODE
From 8am-1pm | MODE Fitness Studio, Ponsonby | Donation
This Saturday, MODE Fitness Studio teams up with LSKD Aotearoa and Two Dudes Project for a full-day Movember Open Day built around movement, connection, and supporting men’s health. All classes are completely free—simply bring a koha to help fund Movember’s mission to support tāne across Aotearoa. Bring your mates, cousins, dads, brothers, partners, or just come solo. The kaupapa is simple: show up, sweat, and do it for the bros in your life.
Throughout the day, members and newcomers can enjoy giveaways, treats, and fresh gear from a lineup of partners including Kofē, Two Dudes Project, Korner Kutz Barber with DJAY offering free fades, Almighty Drinks keeping everyone hydrated, and Shnack Protein providing fuel for the grind. A few extra surprises will also drop on the day.
Get Your Mind Bent At This Electro Experience
From 6.30pm | The Outer Fields, Western Springs | $$$
Image credit: RÜFÜS DU SOL | Instagram
The most mind-bending, dimension-transcending electro experience known to humankind—RÜFÜS DU SOL—will light up the expansive Outer Fields of Western Springs this weekend. The Australian purveyors of electronic music-meets-legendary-lights-extravaganza-times-unholy-soundscapes are just too good not to go see, listen to, and embrace.
Sunday 30 November
Start Your Sundays With This Epic Lebanese Breakfast Menu
10.30am-2pm | Lebanese Grocer | $
Image credit: Za’atar Bakehouse | Vicki Young
Starting this Sunday, the Lebanese Grocer is offering their Lebanese breakfast menu (from 10am-2pm). Weekends are for Lebanese coffee and manoushe-inspired breakfast offerings—flatbreads filled with spiced meats and gooey cheese, piping hot and fresh out of the oven, with the toasty smell of za’atar (which, side note, is made from a family recipe using oregano grown and sun-dried at his parents’ very own garden in Pōneke). If you’ve missed their Za’atar Bakehouse pop-up on Saturdays, then take this as a sign to make this your next Sunday breakfast ritual.
Score Free Peach Melba Pavlova Gelato
All Day | Little Lato, Ponsonby | $
Starting this Sunday, Little Lato is dropping a Peach Melba Pavlova Gelato in collaboration with My Food Bag—aka your first taste of this year’s Christmas Day hero dessert. Expect creamy vanilla and peach gelato, raspberry jam swirls, meringue crumble and a hit of pistachio… festive perfection in scoop form.
To celebrate, the first 100 people to visit Little Lato Ponsonby (119 Ponsonby Road) on Sunday 30 November will score a free scoop. Consider it your sweet start to the Christmas countdown.
Find All Your Christmas Wares
10am-2pm | The Sapphire Room, Ponsonby Central | Free Admission
Pons Central is putting on an Xmas market with NZ-designed homewares, fashion, jewellery, skincare, toys and just about everything else on offer in their Sapphire room. Once you're finished, cruise through the many eateries below.
Witness A City Christmas Classic
From 1pm | Queen Street | Free
Image credit: Farmers Santa Parade | Website
Quite possibly the merriest day of the year besides the big day itself, Farmers Santa Parade is as quintessential to the Kiwi summer calendar as chips and onion dip. This Sunday, from 1pm, the 92nd edition of this beloved day out will be taking place, with grand floats, lively marching bands, treasured characters, dazzling costumes, and The Enchanted Woodland float, a whimsical fairytale scene of mushroom houses, butterflies, and woodland creatures. AND a special trans-Tasman appearance from everyone's favourite Blue Heeler...
Check Out This Global Hip Hop Icon
From 8pm | Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall | $$
Image credit: Loyle Carner | Facebook
One of the true dons of the game in a beautiful venue for under $100. I don't think there's too much more to say than thank you, Loyle Carner, for gracing our shores with your sultry, smooth musical genius.
Get Amongst The Football Frenzy
From 3pm | Go Media Stadium | $-$$
Image credit: Auckland FC | Supplied
The next two weekends herald home games for the city's favourite football club. Auckland FC will be taking on the Newcastle Jets this Sunday, at a whanau-friendly 3pm. Then next Saturday, December 6, it’s the big one, the clash of the cities, the wise old man versus the up-and-comer, the upstart versus the status quo—it's the return of the Wellington Phoenix for derby day. Both are perfect chances to have an outing with the crew, get the little ones down there early to enjoy the inflatable slide, face painting, mini football and for the Newcastle Jets game, to meet Father Christmas and his elves. Oh, and of course, the already beloved tailgate—BYO sossies before firing up for the game itself.
All Weekend
Attend A Secret Housewarming Rager (Or Attend All Three)
From 12pm | Secret Venues | Free
Image Credit: Lab54 | Supplied
If you didn't already know, IKEA is coming to town. Yes, that's a fact, and before they throw open their big blue doors on 4 December, they're first throwing three secret Kiwi housewarming
parties all weekend across Auckland. In collab with UK pop-up party innovators, Lab54, it's three parties, three secret locations, celebrating three different aspects of Kiwi life, namely a house party, garage party and beach party. And it's all free. How good.
Follow The Yellow Brick Road To This Youth Theatre Gem
Various Showings | Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, Aotea Centre | $$
Image credit: NYT | Website
National Youth Theatre's yellow-brick whirlwind touches down for three nights only at the end of this week. Dorothy, Toto, and the gang in technicolour glory, with Kiwi flair and a live orchestra. Click your heels thrice to grab tickets... or click this link.
Check Out Another City Christmas Classic
All Month | Aotea Square | Free
Another classic for the Kiwi Christmas calendar (in the big smoke) has to be Christmas in Aotea Square. For most of the month, the square transforms into an extravaganza of holiday cheer, where you and the whanau can get down and enjoy it for free. All the info here.
All that weekend planning left you hangry? Check out The Feed.
Mainj image credit: IKEA x Lab54 | Supplied
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