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27 Of The Best Airbnbs In New Zealand To Lock In For 2026

From rolling valleys to dense native forest and cliffs overlooking black sand beaches, we've found the most jaw-dropping Airbnbs across New Zealand that you can book for a getaway.

What's On

Epic Things To Do In Auckland This Weekend

You’ve made it—the weekend’s here and she’s a vibe.

Things To Do

Laneway Festival 2026 Set Times: Full Schedule, Stages And Biggest Clashes

Laneway Festival has dropped its set times, and with them, the annual tradition of optimism, denial and eventual compromise.

Features

Amelia Ferrier’s Guide To Hustle, Downtime, And Slowing Down In Style

Ava Wardecki caught up with culinary creative and all-round ray of sunshine, Amelia Ferrier, to chat about what it really takes to live that full-time recipe creator life.

Food & Drink

Here’s How To Shake It Up This Season With Our Ultimate Summer Sip Guide

Your status as host with the most is about to be renewed this summer.

Health + Wellness

The Bathhouse Spa Queenstown

As of 24 December, New Zealand’s adventure capital has officially welcomed a seriously luxe new wellness destination, with The Bathhouse Spa Queenstown now open and ready for soaking.

Food & Drink

The Best High Tea In Auckland

From vintage teacups to bottomless bubbles—here are our picks for the best high tea offerings across Tāmaki Makaurau.

A girl holds a beautiful bouquet over her shoulder at The Botanist. One of Auckland's best flower delivery businesses.

U:L Recommends

The Best Flower Delivery And Florists In Auckland Right Now

There simply isn’t an occasion that doesn’t call for a beautiful bunch of flowers.

Food & Drink

The Feed | The New Zealand Food News You Need To Know

Roll up, roll up. It’s time for this week’s New Zealand food news. Hot off the press (or should we say, toastie press) are all the tasty tidbits you need to know.

Things To Do

Laneway Is Loading: These Are The Sips And Fits You Need In Your Lineup

We’ve whipped up a countdown guide to help you get the most out of Laneway Festival 2026.

Travel

SailGP And Harbour-Side Stays: Our Team’s Insider Guide To An Auckland Long Weekend

We’ve rounded up our crew's tried-and-tested favourites so you can skip the guesswork and dive straight into an epic Auckland getaway.

Travel

From Bucket List To Boarding Pass: 5 Trips To Book In 2026 With Air New Zealand’s New Year Sale

We’ve all fallen victim to the “yeah, soon one day” thought trap.

Things To Do

The Absolute Best Things To Do In Auckland

One of the side effects of becoming the Editor of Urban List is friends and strangers alike are always sliding into my DMs asking for recs (which I dig, by the way—she loves a flex). So I decided I should really be spilling my secrets here, for all of you, too.

Local Escapes

The Best Hotels In Auckland To Check Into Right Now

From boutique to five-star luxury we've scoured town for la crème de la crème, so without further ado, here are the best hotels in Auckland.

Markets & Food Events

The Best Markets In Auckland (Updated January 2026)

Make markets your favourite weekend morning ritual and kick on with mates for the night markets too. Here is our (extensive!) list of the very best Auckland markets.

Things To Do

Ed Sheeran Brings His Loop Tour To Auckland This Week: Here’s Everything You Need To Know

Ed Sheeran returns to Australia in 2026, fresh off the release of his newest album, Play.

The Hideaway best kid-friendly AIrbnbs Australia

Local Escapes

17 Of The Best Kid-Friendly Airbnbs In Australia For Family Fun In 2026

Fancy a weekend at a waterfront beach house with a gated pool? Or sneaking away to the hinterlands for a farmstay filled with horses and cows? You decide.

Travel

JO&JOE

Asia Pacific’s first JO&JOE has landed in Tāmaki Makaurau—bringing bold design, rooftop vibes and hybrid hospitality right in downtown Auckland.

Food & Drink

Where Land And Kai Meet: The South Island City Telling Kiwi Food Stories

In Te Waipounamu's (South Island) largest city, a quiet transformation is unfolding. Ōtautahi Christchurch's dining scene is redefining New Zealand gastronomy—rooted in resilience post-earthquake, regional produce, and a new generation of chefs who are rewriting the rules.

Things To Do

From Pāua Patties To Te Matuku Oysters: These Dining Experiences Are Worth The Journey

Embark on a sensory journey across Aotearoa’s culinary map—connecting the dots between region, producer, and restaurant. It’s not just where to eat, but why it matters and sharing a kōrero with those turning local treasures into global experiences.

Food & Drink

High-End Kiwi Cuisine, Coast To Coast: The Itinerary Defining New Zealand’s Culinary Golden Era

From locally-sourced produce to award-winning wines—it’s time to put Aotearoa under the spotlight, showcasing the magic that happens when multi-cultural culinary creativity meets incredible produce grown in Aotearoa soil.

What's On

What’s On In Auckland This Week, This Month And This Year 2026

As per usual, mighty Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland is pulling out all the stops. Here’s what’s on in Auckland this week, this month, and this year.

Travel

15 Of The Best Airbnbs In New York City (2026 Edition)

From terraces, to romantic pads and upstate treasures, we’ve drooled over some of the most incredible views and designs around the city to save you doing the dirty work.

A bright room looks out onto an impossibly blue sea at Andersons Cove, one of the best romantic getaways from Auckland.

Local Escapes

24 Of The Most Romantic Stays Near Auckland To Book In 2026

Does life feel so hectic right now that you’re missing out on those magical moments with your special someone? Check out these romantic getaways and magical retreats within driving (or ferry) distance from Auckland.

Stacked biscoff pancakes from The Breakfast Club

Cafes

The Best Breakfasts In Auckland And Where To Find Them

Fear not, breakfast-lover—you’re about to have the ultimate list of the best breakfasts in Auckland right at your fingertips.

Someone squeeze some sauce onto a stacked tray of hummus.

Restaurants

The Best Restaurants In Auckland Right Now

At Urban List, we've spent a lot of time thinking about what makes the difference between a good restaurant and Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland's very best.

A view across the deck at HI-SO, one of the best rooftop bars in Auckland.

Bars & Pubs

Auckland’s Best Rooftop Bars To Watch Day Turn To Night

We’ve said it before but we’ll say it again: rooftop bars are the shiz. What’s not to love about sitting sky-high, sipping on a beverage and taking in an epic view? Auckland’s best rooftop bars are dotted across the city and come in all shapes in sizes.

Food & Drink

From Pool Parties To It’s-Complicated: Here’s How To Pair Your Cheese Board To The Moment

Along with the balmy days, summer brings its fair share of unique situations. The same goes for summertime snacking.

Some helps themselves to food at one of the best christmas day dinners in auckland.

Food & Drink

Where To Eat In Auckland On Christmas Day 2025 So You Don’t Have To Cook

Finding a restaurant to eat at in Auckland on Christmas Day isn't always easy (the phrase 'needle in a haystack' springs to mind). Well never fear, 'cos we've done the hard yards for you and found out who's open to play host this year so you can sit back, relax and make merry while someone else does all the work.

Pets

Tinsel, Pud And Tiny Paw Prints: These Are Our Team’s Top Christmas Rituals

It's the most wonderful time of the year—for pets as much as humans.

Food & Drink

The Best Local Christmas Sweet Treats Of 2025

It’s the festive season—or should I say feastin’ season—and if you’re a bit of a sweet tooth who cares more for the pav station than ham this Christmas, read on.

Things To Do

How To Snag Epic Black Friday Deals Without The Spending Hangover

Working smarter, not harder goes way beyond hacks for meetings that should have been an email: it turns out that it works a treat for Black Friday sales too.

Beauty

The New Beauty Products To Shop This Month, According To Our Beauty Editor

Welcome to the most fabulous corner of the internet—Urban List's destination for the picks of the beauty crop. This month, our fave haircare has a glow up, there's new scents galore, indie brands are having a *moment* and a new immersive beauty space.

Local Escapes

Your 2026 Guide To Akaroa

Quaint streets, sparkling harbour views, and a vibe so chill you'll toss up selling everything you own and never returning home: Here's your essential 2026 guide on where to eat, play, and stay in lovely old Akaroa.

Travel

From Wineries To Wild Retreats: Tick Off These Unreal Destinations On Your Next Road Trip

Buckle up—here’s our hit list of New Zealand spots where the journey and the destination both steal the show.

Travel

Australian-Born Boutique Hotel Brand TRIBE Has Opened Its First Aotearoa Stay In Auckland

Auckland has recently scored a stylish new boutique stay, with TRIBE Auckland Fort Street officially opening in the heart of the CBD.

Fam

Why A Disney Cruise Is The Best Place To Celebrate The Holidays At Sea

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

Food & Drink

Water Boy

Water Boy brings the sun and fun all day with big beach energy, waves of chill surf club culture, and a coastal pub menu that’s got something for everyone.

Health + Wellness

Watershed Queenstown

Meet Watershed: Queenstowns’ very own, purpose-built sauna, floating on Lake Wakatipu. Just a stones’ throw from the CBD, it’s officially opening this December.

Santa sits on the Grinch's knee in Christmassy surrounds.

Things To Do

Where To Get Santa Photos In Auckland In 2025

‘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.

Local Escapes

Your Guide To Euro-Style Road Trippin’—Minus The Long-Haul Flight

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

Health + Wellness

6 Wellness Products Our Team Can’t Go Without This Month

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

U:L Recommends

The Ultimate New Zealand Christmas Gift Guide For The Man In Your Life

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.

U:L Recommends

25 Delicious New Zealand Christmas Gifts For Your Foodie Friend

Someone decorates a lovely looking Christmas Tree

Features

Here’s Where To Buy The Best Real Christmas Trees In Auckland In 2025

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!

The Grinch creeps across the window on Franklin Road, one of the best places in Auckland to see Christmas lights.

What's On

The Best Christmas Lights To See In Auckland 2025

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.

The General Collective Lifestyle & Design Market—Christmas Edition, one of Auckland's best Christmas markets.

Shopping

Auckland’s Best Christmas Markets To Visit This 2025 Festive Season

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.

U:L Recommends

24 Sweet Gifts For Mum She’ll Be Stoked To Open This Christmas

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.

From Pristine Beaches To Cultural Cookouts, This Island Paradise Is Even Better Than The Maldives

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.

Food & Drink

Za’atar Bakehouse

It’s that warm, old-school hospitality with a smile from seasoned hospitality professionals that I get right away—yet it also feels like rocking up to a friend’s place, when they ask if I’m hungry yet. Welcome to Za'atar Bakehouse, your new breakfast spot.

Travel