10 Things To Do In Auckland When It’s Too Damn Hot

Oh hi summer we’ve been waiting for you. We all wait eagerly all year for the warm weather to arrive, and then, when it finally arrives (often too fashionably late in our opinion); we complain that it’s just too damn hot. Well never fear, it’s The Urban List to the rescue, bringing you our picks for what to do when you’re feeling seriously hot and bothered or your mane has you lookin’ like Macy Gray. Cool off and stop yo’ damn complaining…

#1 Browse one of Auckland’s galleries

Auckland has lots of seriously good galleries to explore and make you feel cultured—plenty of which also have stellar AC. Our picks at the moment are photography exhibition Tokyo Bloom by Tim Lambourne at the Allpress Gallery and Karl Maughan’s exhibition at Gow Langsford Kitchener St (til Jan 9th). You’ll recognise Maughan’s colourful flora from Stolen Girlfriends tees, shirts and dresses.

#2 See a film

AKL has some seriously good cinemas to catch a flick and it’s prime movie season with all the studios pull out their big-‘uns for the holiday season. For something slightly more refined, flex your cultured arms across your date’s shoulders at Capitol Cinema or The Lido. The bonus being that both cinemas sell great Carello Del Gelato to cool you down instantly.

#3 Take a cooking class

Yeah we know, you wanna be as far away from the heat when the weather’s misbehaving like this. But Cook the Books’ new location on Williamson Ave is seriously cool in all meanings of the word, with its high-studded ceiling making it a perfect place to learn a few new tricks for your next dinner party when it’s sweltering (and no, ordering Totos does not count as throwing a dinner party). Asian food is also perfect to enjoy in hot, sticky weather (funny that) so a class at Sachie’s Kitchen is also a good bet.

#4 Go and see a show

Get outta the sun under Auckland’s most elaborate ceiling. The Civic is so damn huge that even at capacity this old girl doesn’t heat up too much. There’s plenty on all the time, and the upcoming season of The Phantom at the Opera looks like a solid bet.

#5 Enjoy a beverage or five

For an inner city escape, check out Brothers Juke Joint in Mt Eden with its lofty ceilings and concrete interior, it doesn’t heat up too hard leaving you to enjoy your perfect beer in moderate-temperature peace.

#6 Ice House

Speaking of cold drinks… Ice Bars aren’t just reserved for hen’s/stag nights in Queenstown. The name speaks for itself—Freddy’s Ice House will chill you to your bones in just a moment. Take a break from all that shorts and bikini weather and don a puffa and get amongst the ice sculptures. Granted, its hell’a touristy but it’ll cool you down guaranteed.

#7 Take a bush walk

Sometimes when it’s hot a bush walk is ideal. Head out West and get yourself in under the shady trees of the Waitakeres, or take the walk to Kite Kite falls. The walk’s only just over half an hour so you won’t break too much of a sweat and then take a dip in the falls when you get there.

#8 Treat yo’self

Get outta that awful heat and treat yourself to a treatment at one of Auckland’s great nail salons or day spas. Is it just us or are nail salons generally heated to an average of 10 degrees? Well, complain no more and revel in that roaring AC while taking some deserved time out.

#9 Lick yourself cool

Ice cream is the ultimate in cooling-down treats. Luckily for us we have plenty of quality places to grab a cone—or a cup. See here for our top picks of Auckland’s ice creams. Also be sure to check out two great new openings—Ben & Jerry’s on Ponsonby Road (although the queue may have some people breaking out in a sweat by just looking at it), and the Sky Café, 50 floors up the Sky Tower where you can create your own cold stone flavour combinations.

#10 Hit the slopes

Missing winter, you snow bunny, you?! And for those who are melting outside—how does minus 5 degrees sound?! Powder lovers rejoice as Snowplanet allows you to get out of that sunshine and hit the slopes all year round, no matter the weather. Dish the Ruapehu weather mares and practices your carving (or pizza-ploughing) in any conditions.

Looking for more things to do in Auckland? Here are 50 Things To Do In Auckland For Less Than $50.