Ōtautahi is an absolute gem of a city—there’s not a lot it doesn’t have. Beaches? Yes. Arts and culture? Absolutely. Outdoor excursions? You bet. A bunch more fun stuff? By the bucket load! So go get out there and explore it with our list of 50 of the best things to do in Christchurch.
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.
Whether you love getting amongst the arts, prefer to eat your way around town, or headbang into the night, Ōtautahi's got something for you. Here are the best events happening in Christchurch in 2025.
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.
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.
With the colder nights calling for a tipple that warms from within, what better way to celebrate New Zealand’s Rum Month than with some tasteful takes on well, rum.
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.
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.
Matariki a.k.a. Māori New Year is just around the corner (Friday 20 June to be exact). A time of reflection and new beginnings, Aotearoa is busting out all the stops with a treasure trove of ways to celebrate.
Dubbed The Tron, Hamilton is a vibrant city with countless experiences to uncover. From adventurous activities and epic eats to natural wonders and zen retreats, there’s something for locals and visitors alike. Here are the very best Hamilton attractions.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The warmer weather is here, and that means it’s the season for lavender to bloom. Here are the best farms across New Zealand where you can stroll amongst the fields, take a picture for the gram and pick your own lavender. Hot tip: pop a few flowers into your next glass of champagne.
Renowned for serving up the best in spirit-stacked sips, creative mastermind, and a-lister in the bartending scene Alastair Walker is set to hit Ōtautahi to host an epic night of all things shaken and stirred.
Whether it’s Mother’s Day, a special occasion, or you just wanna spoil someone (but also yourself!), high tea is always the answer. Lucky for us, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland has no shortage of spots serving up a swanky high tea with alllll the treats, including tea, cake, and if you're lucky, a cheeky glass of bubbles.
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.
We caught up with Hāmiora Bailey, director of Auckland Pride 2025 to pick their brains on the festival and all their favourite spots in the Tāmaki Makaurau.
Grab your tickets to this free family-friendly event filled with fireworks, local dance and drum performances, lion dancing and beautiful lanterns lighting up the grounds. With over 60 food stalls and lines out the door each year—we’ve rounded up our top food picks while enjoying the sights and lights.
Renowned for his ability to serve the best Kiwi cuisine, ex-MasterChef New Zealand judge Simon Gault has built his reputation through a love of pushing boundaries and celebrating local ingredients.
Sunflower season is short but sweet and while there might not be an abundance of sunflower farms in Aotearoa, there are five magical spots you’ll definitely want to visit.
A rite of passage for many, we’ve got a tonne of descriptors for Gisbone’s Rhythm & Vines festival—namely, good vibes, good tunes and good company. This year we’re adding ‘healthy’ to that list (and we’re as surprised about it as you are).
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.
Legend has it that at summer’s end or ‘Samhain’—the inspiration behind Halloween traditions—the veil between the world of the living and the underworld is at its thinnest. The dead will walk.
Get amped up for the most wonderful time of the year. We’re talkin’ New Zealand’s festival season. Across the country, lads and lasses will be locking in tickets to some of the best festivals our country has to offer, all promising an epic mash-up of beats, vibes and all round good times.
This week, and every week henceforth, we encourage you to go beyond learning how to order your coffee in Māori in exchange for a free brew at work, and do something to create a lasting impact for yourself and te reo Māori.
Calling all snow homies, holiday heroes, music-mad, and just plain festy frothers—epic destination festival, Snow Machine is next week. And. You. Don’t. Want. To. Miss. Out.
The centrepiece of Auckland’s food events is officially back on the radar: Restaurant Month is here. We’ve never been so grateful to for having 31 whole days.
Those in the know frequent Auckland CBD’s best-kept secret: Panacea. The intimate cocktail kitchen can be stumbled upon up an unassuming flight of stairs on O’Connell Street.
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:
Forget what you know about the Southern Lights. Aurora Australis? Please…we have something much more exciting for you! Come Queen’s Birthday weekend, Queenstown’s waterfront is set to transform into a magical forest wonderland, lit up with interactive light sculptures and illuminated art installations.
At long last, women’s sport is taking centre stage and we are here. for. it. As we head into the cooler months, all eyes are on our Black Ferns and their highly-anticipated 2024 test calendar.
International Women’s Day (IWD) is on the horizon—8 March to be exact. This year’s theme is Inspire Inclusion which is as much about encouraging women to be prepared to take up space as it is educating others on the value women can bring to all spheres of life.
So, you’ve put up the tree, locked in the menu for the big day, and sorted an outfit for the work party. Wondering what else to add to your Christmas bucket list this year? If a series of holiday markets hosted by the city's premier shopping destination sounds like your cup of festive tea—then listen up.
Spring has sprung—the season of new beginnings as nature wakes up. With it, we’re treated to longer daylight, blossoming flowers, and balmy weather allowing us to be out and about. And there’s no better way to celebrate the magic of the season than a lush garden pop-up at Azabu Mission Bay.
There's nothing quite as good as a long weekend, and this one is no exception. With the weather warming up, there's no need to head out of the City of Sails to feel like you're on holiday. With stunning beaches and plenty to do, some of our favourite bars, restaurants and cafes are remaining open, so there's no need to miss out.
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?
The FIFA Women’s World Cup has kicked off in New Zealand. Held every four years, the event showcases talent from 32 countries—making it the largest women’s sporting event in the world.
Takapuna Winter Lights will be lighting up the shore over four nights this July as part of the Elemental AKL festival and this year promises to be bigger and better than ever.
After taking Auckland and then Christchurch by storm, entertainment masters Funlab has announced that its biggest (and best) Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq AND Holey Moley will be opening right in the heart of Wellington.
If you’re in the mood for a little (or a lot of) amazing animal action, we’ve got you covered. Here are 15 of the most amazing places to see animals in Auckland.
For all the dog-owners out there we know how frustrating it can be not being able to bring your dog anywhere and everywhere. We’ve sniffed out the best things you can do with your furry companion in Auckland so you have all of the options.
Not a fan of excessive eye contact on the first date? Sick and tired of eating with your eyes and not with your stomach? Or simply looking for a dining experience with a little more excitement? Well, look no further (pun intended...)
Green does not mean boring, folks. And, proving they know what’s what when it comes to all things good, The EcoFest Festival is returning for a month-long party of all things seriously eco!
Don’t waste your calories on shoddy fare. It’s a new year, and a new you. And that new you downright deserves to be fuelled by the finest the city has to offer.
“Frosé Your Way” has been dreamt up by everyone’s favourite rooftop bar Dr Rudi’s and will even feature a garnish wall so you can customise your drink to perfection.
Auckland crew listen up! In some hugely exciting news, it’s been revealed that Ponsonby is (finally) getting a cinema complex all of its own for the first time in more than 50 years, and it’ll be of the luxury boutique variety that we absolutely stan.
With three new flavours to choose from, the Magnum crew have taken your favourite classic flavours and worked them, flipped them and reversed them to create supercharged remixes you need to try.
Celebrate New Zealand's playground of secluded beaches, vibrant festivals, rewarding hikes, and some of the world’s best vistas with a refreshing Ultra Low Car Steinglager.
We’re a tiny bit (read: a lot) obsessed with the work of Tom Gould. Born in Aotearoa and based in New York, the director-slash-photographer has won the world over with his emotive visual storytelling.
Love doesn't have to cost the world—no really, it doesn't, as this list of 50 date ideas for under $50 shows. From stargazing to strawberry farms, museums to mini golf, and ice skating to ice cream crawls, there are plenty of cute, fun and outright romantic ideas for you and your beloved to get amongst.
Ever wanted to hear Calvin Harris' One Kiss in C Minor with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra? Yeah, us neither, come to think of it. But it does sound like one awesome mash-up.