Ava Wardecki

Decision fatigue? Not on our watch—especially when our plans have *finally* made it out of the group chat and into the city.

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

Euro summer FOMO hitting hard? Not on our watch. No, seriously, we’ve got our alarms set—and our city hitlists stacked—to pounce on the next suite of Singapore Airlines’ special fares for Europe 2026. 

NZFW's 2025 Return was a feast for the eyes—group chats, moodboards and credit card bills too. 

Cue the clacky heels, New Zealand Fashion Week Kahuria is back—finally. Handpicked shows, pop-ups, places to hide inbetween—we’ve got everything you need to stack your day between trips to shows at Shed 10.

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. 

From the top-notch suggestions you sent our way, we’ve rounded up the non-negotiable places to visit in Fiji.

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. 

Just a short flight from Australia's Eastern Seaboard, Auckland is close enough for a quick escape, but far enough to reset your rhythm—this is how to make the most of it in 72 hours.

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? 

We called on you—our tasteful readers—to give us all the goss on what should be at the top of our list on a trip to Fiji.

If you’re looking to woo someone special, celebrate a milestone or perhaps even pop a special question, our handpicked list of the most romantic restaurants in Auckland has your next date sorted. Food, wine, romantic vibes, views—they’re all here.

Forget the total routine overhaul, in 2025 we're making small changes that stack up to a better year. 

​Auckland is a mecca for hair salons and when it comes to choosing “the one”, selecting a hairdresser to entrust with your precious locks is a big freakin’ deal.

There’s a lot to love about music festivals in the Aotearoa summer. Racing between stages, dancing like no one’s watching, and snapping up some epic memories. 

These are the best festivals hitting Aotearoa this summer. 

We’ve all been there. Dashing into the supermarket in sand-crusted jandals, scanning the wine racks for this evening’s sip, onion soup sachets and cans of reduced cream gripped to your chest. 

Smattered across four and a bit floors, Westfield Newmarket is Auckland’s only rooftop dining precinct, shopping, eating and playing to take on such luxurious form. Where else can you window shop a designer bag, mid-pedicure, while being an escalator away from a round of rooftop fresh oysters?

You don’t want to be chained to your kitchen island in a booming pre-drinks party. There’s chins to wag, sunrays to soak up, and gossip to catch up on over a round or three.

It’s time to double-whammy that precious downtime the same way you “write minutes” for meetings that really could’ve been an email. Our trick? Hybrid venues and sleek multi-purpose experiences. Sure, cocktails and burgers are great, but paired with a raging film club or arcade game? That’s where the good stuff's at. 

Enter The Gin Experience aka Urban Botanica’s new choose-your-adventure-style sipping session.  

Juicy, creamy burrata dishes are ripe for the picking in Auckland. Some simple, some jazzed up. Some pocket-sized, some re-imagined as full-size mains. All very, very scrumptious. 

In the season known to wreak havoc on your skin and beauty rituals, it’s all about working smarter, not harder. Here are the holy-grailers to do the heavy lifting for your face, hair and body.

Popping that pretty question can be a nerve-racking time—we get that. What should be a piece of cake, however, is picking out that sparkling little something to seal the deal with. Here’s your definitive list of the best places to shop for engagement rings in New Zealand.

Commissioned by Auckland Transport, pockets of Māori mahi toi (art) are woven through the city centre. What starts as a functional project—say revamping infrastructure—becomes a powerful art project. 

We love wining and dining in Ponsonby at the best of times—but throw in some one-off creations, tasting menus, and special prices, and we really don’t need our arm further twisted. So grab your planner and round up your foodie friends, here are all the best events you need to devour this year at Eat Drink Love Ponsonby 2024:

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

Load up the roadie snacks and delve into the best camping spots within driving distance from Auckland to add your hit list this summer and beyond. 

Auckland institution Ada unleashes an epic indigenous-inspired menu under the leadership of a new head and sous chef.

Here’s where to get the best eyelash extensions in Auckland.

Between free bottomless popcorn, in-film snack deliveries and a Tarantino-approved space, we’ve found the very best of Auckland’s bustling boutique cinema scene. 

Get dreaming up those cheese boards and melty, cheese-laiden winter dishes—here are the best cheese delivery services in New Zealand. 

Is there anything more calming than falling leaves in autumn? Yes, they’re technically dead leafy corpses but they’re still Insta-worthy AF.

From trusty pies to tarts, slices, cakes and even the odd dumpling, here are the tried and true, best banoffee pies in Auckland.

Grab your tent and round up your posse, we’ve found the very best camping spots in Auckland. 

Get ready to give houseparty an entirely new meaning, here’s how to celebrate your birthday in isolation during lockdown.

Loaded hot dogs will always have a place in our hearts. So naturally, when we heard Good Dog Bad Dog has opened up a new space beyond the city centre, our hearts simply sang. 

From fanciful gold facials, to sub-zero shenanigans, through to full body treatments involving beautiful botanicals of the world, we’ve rounded up the most restorative, original, and quite frankly, best spa treatments in Auckland.

Ah, the mighty degustation. Not only is it a chance to sample the crème de la crème of a restaurant’s dishes, it’s probs the only time you’ll be encouraged to eat nine courses in one sitting (those DIY Tim Tam degustations you have at home don’t count).

Kiss goodbye those roots and split ends the environmentally-friendly way, here are the very best of the sustainable salons in Auckland. 

We gotta hand it to the Frenchies, they’ve got it goin’ on.

A beach escape is always a good idea. Wind in your hair, sand on your skin and the sounds of waves crashing is sometimes all you need to reset and recharge. Take that relaxation to the next level and head to one of New Zealand’s lesser-known beach towns where you can be treated to glorious views and waves—without the crowds. Thankfully, our country is practically one big beach, with plenty of under-the-radar beach towns to plant your parasol and swim and sunbathe the days away.

Grab your tent and round up your posse, we’ve found the very best camping spots in Auckland. 

Non-deciduous? Uh-uh! We don’t need that kind of negativity in our lives. Give us falling leaves any day.

Get ready to sweat in sync—here are Auckland’s best group fitness classes.