U:L By You

Nothing beats good food and breathtaking views, so why not combine the two and head out for a picnic. We've taken the hard part out of your picnic organisation and put together a list of 16 of the best spots you can set yourself up at around Auckland. 

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.

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. 

For a night out feeling fancy, a sweet pick-me-up or a tasty bite to get you through your day, Parnell won’t disappoint. Arguably the most stroll-worthy suburb in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, it's packed with restaurants, cafes and bars that know a thing or two about really good kai.

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. 

Small in size, big on adventure, indulgence and memories.

We’ve found accommodation options to suit all travellers and holiday goers—from eco-lodges to luxury retreats and apartments with stellar views.  

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.

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

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.

As Kiwis, a love of pies is practically in our DNA. These hearty pastries have been keeping us fuelled for generations and are the perfect meal for lunch, dinner, or even a cheeky brekkie.

Chocolate may get most of the attention at Easter, but it isn't the only treat we're coveting once the season for bunnies, eggs and unabashed gluttony rolls round. Yip, that's right fam—we're talking about hot cross buns, or HCBs.

Whether you're a margherita purist, a meat lover or into a serious deep-dish, we’ve found the best pizza in Auckland for you to devour. These joints offer fresh, quality ingredients that can make the experience feel almost healthy (almost). 

The only thing worse than staying in on Sunday is being lumped with the responsibility of having to find a good restaurant that’s open on Sunday night. While usually a thankless task we've scoured all our favourite eateries to put together a list of where to eat in Auckland on a Sunday night. 

They say that dogs are like their owners—who’s to say your pooch isn’t also partial to a low-fat puppaccino and a catchup with the crew? 

If there’s anything better than great food, it’s great food that’s cheap.

We’ve done the research and these are all the best places to float in New Zealand. 

We’ve rounded up our top picks for Auckland’s best barbershops, that will leave you looking a little less Shia Labeouf and a little more Ryan Gosling in no time.

There’s nothing better than strolling through a buzzing market with a coffee in-hand and a basket jam-packed with fresh produce and quirky finds. Total bliss, right?

If we could only eat one dish for the rest of our lives, there's a good chance it'd be fried chicken.

Long and unjustly discriminated as the smuttiest of spirits, vodka is both the queen of classy and the king of trashy - and we should know - here at Urban List we are fine connoisseurs of the occasional vodka vocation. So before we crank into the boom of Summer, we’ve rounded up 12 of New Zealand's best vodka brands.

As far as baked treats go, cookies are king, and we don't discriminate.

Espresso martinis are like the grown-up version of a coffee, a harmonious yet powerful blend of alcohol and caffeine that will see you through the night (and potentially into the next day).

Planning a trip to Nelson but don’t know where to stay?

Let’s face it, us Kiwis are an intrepid bunch. We love travelling to the far corners of Mother Earth in search of beauty and adventure. But the grass is not always greener—New Zealand is filled with natural wonders that will take your breath away.

It’s no secret it’s super expensive to eat out in Copenhagen. So, we thought it was necessary to list some of our favourite cafés, so you can spend your dollar (or krone) wisely and avoid food regret on your travels. You’re welcome.

New Zealand is renowned for its stunning scenery, natural beauty, wondrous escapes and being one of the best places to look at the Southern Lights.

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. 

Make more conscious gifting decisions this Christmas.

Hot yoga is known to help curb your stress, stretch your muscles, focus your mind and is definitely more intense than a room-temperature class. Keen to give it a go? Check out our guide to Auckland’s best hot yoga studios. 

We all know how important good sleep is, just like we know how important quality bedding is for obtaining that sleep nirvana. Since it can feel a little daunting to navigate the many options on the market right now, we’re here to help. Whether it’s cotton or silk that tickles your fancy, we’ve got something for you!

Ask an Aucklander what their favourite food is and chances are dumplings will rank pretty high—and we can’t get enough of these tasty little morsels ourselves. 

In celebration of the upcoming holidays, we asked some of our fave ice cream purveyors around the country which New Zealand beach gets their vote. Read on to see where these ice cream legends love spending their free time.

We sought the help of some of our favourite travel bloggers to clue us in on the places that don’t get the love they deserve and boy, did they deliver.

It’s hard to spark romance when you’re picnicing with every other human in Tāmaki Makaurau, especially when your thunder could be stolen at any moment by a cute Frenchie pup in a bandana. So (and we hope you’ll forgive us if we give up your secret spot) we’ve decided to spill the beans and reveal 16 of the best hidden picnic spots in and around Auckland.

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

Jumping in your car, blasting the tunes and taking in some epic scenery can be soothing for the soul. From craggy coastlines to lush forests and bush, our capital city has a number of drives to hit the road for. 

With the city’s most beloved bakers now offering contactless delivery, you can keep supporting local from the comfort of your own home and stock your kitchen with boxes of doughnuts. Here’s the list of those making level 3 a little sweeter.

With no shortage of sensational routes, lace up your running shoes and enjoy our picks for the12 best running tracks in Wellington.

So we’re locked down and you’re pretty confident you have all you need. But what’s this? The repeat prescription you got six months ago is dwindling and you’re definitely not keen on joining the queues at the pharmacy. Fear not, for a whole raft of pharmacies are now offering to deliver their products and prescriptions direct to your door, anywhere in New Zealand.

From late night eats to gorgeous gondola rides and delicious cocktails to live gigs, Queenstown is an epic city around the clock. Here are the best things to do in Queenstown at night.

Yo Ho, Ho! (and a bottle of rum). Rum has come a long way from being just a pirate’s tipple, to one of the most beloved spirits worldwide. With International Rum Day right round the corner, and with the assistance of the terrific team at Cove 27, we’ve rounded up some of the best artisanal New Zealand and international rums, so go forth and tipple.

Whether you’re planning a big birthday or a special shindig, only the best will do. Because we’re about nothing but the best, we’ve got you covered!

Fun fact: Having pot plants around your home can benefit your breathing, increase your immunity, deter illness, and boost your overall mood! Plus they look nice and add 10+ adult points to your home. We’re sold!

From the top to the bottom of New Zealand, turquoise waters gush across native bush and create some of our most breathtaking landscapes and the best Instagram pictures.

It’s not always straightforward being vegan. When you’re not cooking at home, it can be tricky to find somewhere that will cater to your plant-based diet. Even in your own town or city, it takes time to discover the cafes and restaurants that serve up the best vegan dishes (that’s if they cater to vegans at all). And this gets even harder when you travel somewhere new.

Pivot those holiday Euros into making some beautiful memories right here at home with these epic New Zealand escapes.

To celebrate, we’ve collated the 10 Aussie Airbnbs that are on Kiwi’s wish lists—to inspire you when you’re planning your trans-Tasman trip.

Your wedding day is quite possibly the most special and exciting day of your life. You get to lock in forever with your loved one, eat all the food, drink all the wine and dance the night away with an assortment of your favourite people. Honeymoons, however, are the icing on the cake and New Zealand just so happens to be one of the best honeymoon-ing spots in the world.

Get ready to take your stargazing up a notch with the best places to stargaze in New Zealand. 

Whether it’s the reflection lakes of Wanaka or the emerald green waters that crater the Tongariro Crossing, Aotearoa is home to some amazing bodies of water. 

Lucky for you ice cream lovers, the locals in Mount Maunganui and Tauranga sure know how to create delicious ice cream in every flavour under the sun. Freshly made waffle cones, whipped cream and chocolate sauce, optional. Here are our picks of the best ice cream shops in The Mount and Tauranga.

Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight…Aucklanders, while the South Island may be famous for its skies, we’re pretty damn lucky too. 

Is The Little Mermaid your homegirl? Do you have dreams of befriending a flounder and brushing your hair with a fork? Well, Ariel, do we have news for you: you can make all your mermaid dreams a reality with snorkeling!

There’s a lot that goes into excellent fish and chippies. Done right— just-caught-straight-off-the-boat fish with a golden batter, a squeeze of lemon, served with crunchy yet fluffy potato chips—and it’s a culinary masterpiece. When it’s done wrong, the end results can be well, ho hum—think stodgy, grey, and heaven forbid, soggy. We wore loose shorts and licked our greasy fingers eating our way around Tauranga and the Mount to bring you the very best places to get fish and chips. So without further ado, here they are.

One of the best parts about Auckland is the fact that writing a list of the best beaches within a region is absolutely possible. We tend to forget other countries that don’t have this advantage and we need to pay some respect to the blessing.

Who says you can't work out and have fun? If you are looking for a workout that combines strength training, agility, stability, yet a conventional run or workout routine at the gym just doesn't quite get your adrenaline rushing, look no further. 

The Coromandel Peninsula, home to some of the country’s most idyllic beaches, native flora and relaxed seaside towns, is the ideal place for a weekend—or midweek—getaway. From quirky Airbnbs to breezy villas and bougie coastal homes with panoramic views, we’ve done the research so you don’t have to. Here are the best places to stay in the Coromandel.

Coffee, cream and a dash of booze—what isn’t there to love about the faithful Italian dessert?

The Auckland street food is changing every year with new faces and dishes to tempt your taste buds. Whether you’re craving tacos, Indian, hot wings or just dessert, we’ve scoured the food truck scene in conjunction with the legends at The Food Truck Collective to bring you 10 of the  most delicious food trucks you need to hunt down this spring.

No one can deny that New Zealand is gifted in the looks department. From rugged, rolling hills to breath-taking beaches and waterfalls, here are Auckland's best scenic drives.

From the shores of blue-jewelled lakes and idyllic coastline spots to elegant buildings and rustic barns, here are 11 of New Zealand's most beautiful wedding venues where you can marry the love of your life. We’ll raise our (champagne) glass to that. 

Move over monopoly, escape rooms are our new favourite way to get competitive and tackle some good old fashioned problem solving with our friends. Here are the best escape rooms in Wellington. 

We headed out around Wellington to document some of our favourite stargazing places, capturing the beauty of the cosmos as gorgeously documented in these stunning photos.

COVID-19 may have meant goodbye to this year's Euro-trip, but it's now the perfect time for us to explore our beautiful country without the 3.5 million-plus tourists that visit each year. We've put together a list of well-known (and a few more secret) spots around the South Island you need to check out now that tourist numbers are down—and the best part is, a lot of these places are free.

There are times in life when you just need to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and treat your body and mind to a little TLC.

Stuck on where to go for a run in Nelson? Lucky for you, we’ve got you covered with these running tracks to get you motivated. Freshen up your run with a new route—but stay within your bubble.

Lace up your Sneakers, chuck on a good podcast and head outdoors to one of the best running tracks in Queenstown.

It’s all in a name: Bay of Plenty. While most of us fly through the North Island en route to the tip or tail of the country, It's the very heart of Aotearoa that has some of the most arresting views. 

Your wedding day is a celebration of the two of you—so don’t feel pressured to walk down a path that’s been strolled down many times before. If you’re after a unique place to have your wedding, you’ve come to the right place. Here are eight of New Zealand’s out-of-the-box wedding venues, sans industrial chic warehouses.

Nothing makes one feel freer than flying a line, lonesome or not, into one of New Zealand’s many beautiful fishing spots. And while the country itself is known for its ocean offerings, it’s the east coast that’s piqued our interest. 

A small town on New Zealand’s rugged west coast in the North Island, Raglan is known for its black sand beaches, laid-back locals and rolling blue waves that draws in surfers from all around the world. It’s the kind of place where you’ll come for a few days and could end up staying a few weeks. Here are our top things to do in Raglan.

What better way to get a glimpse of the world famous New Zealand scenic landscape than a bird’s eye view from your very own parasailing seat? The weightless feeling of being securely strapped in hundreds or thousands of feet in the air is second to none. 

Adrenaline junkies, listen up! We’ve got just the list for you. Test your stealth, aim, and courage with a ‘friendly’ game of paintball with friends, family, or co-workers — because let’s admit it, it’s always fun to belt your friends with a paintball or two, all in good nature of course. We’ve rounded up some of the most adventurous and spookiest places to play in Auckland. Lock & load… 

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream. Well, scream no more, Hamilton. Delicious ice cream is abundant in our fine city and beyond. 

Equal parts sun, salt and sand, it’s no wonder surfing is a favourite Kiwi pastime. There’s nothing quite as exhilarating as cutting through a wave or riding inside a barrel, escaping its grip just in time, before it comes crashing down over your head. 

With bright blue skies, scorching temperatures and sultry nights there’s no better way to enjoy the summer than escaping the city for a little while and basking in the glory of Mother Nature. In our beautiful neck of the woods, we have some of the best views in the world—so dig up that old tent, find your best swimmers and stock up on the lollies because we’ve found the best camping spots in Christchurch.  

We get it, finding the perfect hairdresser can be a lifelong journey. Trusting someone to work their magic on your hair is a decision that requires dedicated research and often referral. It’s a journey we take quite seriously here at Urban List so whether your hair’s in need of some serious TLC or you’re just wanting a trim, we've found the best hairdressers in Queenstown. You're welcome.

Whether you pulled them, picked them or swiped them it’s time to test their mettle. Here are the best places in Auckland for that awkward first date.  

Leave it to the pros, these are the best hairdressers in Dunedin.

​Lacing up your walking shoes is one of the best ways to explore Hamilton and the Mighty Waikato. The region features an abundance of breathtaking vistas with staggering mountains, lush bush, tranquil springs and—of course—the iconic Waikato River.

Whether you’re #shreddingforsummer, looking for the hottest new workout trend, or are a weekend warrior needing a new challenge, you’re in luck, because Auckland is home to some of the best indoor and outdoor places to get fit and have fun at the same time.

​Sitting pretty in the Hawke’s Bay, Napier is a city with charm. It’s known for its iconic Art Deco architecture, outdoor adventures, and surrounding countryside brimming with orchards and vineyards.