12 Epic Things To Do In Auckland This Weekend

Press pause on the Hallmark flick and put the remote down, because the city is well and truly enjoying a festive moment.

From dawn raves that'll have you partying before your coffee kicks in, to beachside bubbly bashes and chocolate wonderlands, consider this your cheat sheet to sleighing the silly season in style.

Here are 12 epic things to do this Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and all weekend.

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Friday 19 December

Have One Last Morning Rave In 2025

6.30-8am | Neck of the Woods | $

Image credit: Morning People | Instagram

Our fave morning rave is back for a dawn doozy down at Neck of the Woods this Friyay. Chris Keene is the ace behind the decks this time around, with over a decade of experience across production, performance and touring up his sleeve. Expect a high-energy start to your day (and weekend) in a 360 boiler room style set up at Neck. It's the last Morning People for '25, and don't forget to tuck into some Altezano Brothers coffee, All Good Bananas, and Karma Drinks while you're at it. Alcohol free, dress to sweat and #partyfirstworklater.

Balmoral Street Food Market

5.30-9pm | Junk & Disorderly, 164 Balmoral Road | Free Entry

Image credit: Balmoral Street Food Market | Eventbrite

A streetside institution—Blamoral Street Food Market is back again, serving up the deliciousness to round up your week in an oh so tasty way. Over 15 stalls and trucks, so come hungry.

See A Big Wave From Beneath A Dome

8.30-9.20pm | Stardome Observatory & Planetarium | $

Ever wanted to know what getting amongst those behemoth waves is really like? Big Wave: No Room for Error is an all-new fulldome show at Stardome. Award-winning photographer and filmmaker Bo Bridges captures the fine line between triumph and destruction in this 60-minute documentary, as you go inside the world’s heaviest waves in Portugal, Hawaii, and Tahiti and into the minds of the fearless few pushing surfing to its limits. Yeehaw.

Boogie With The Very Best

9pm-3am | DOUBLE WHAMMY | $$

Image credit: Collekt House Group | Instagram

The grass-roots groovesetters over at Collekt House Group are back behind the wheels for another legendary SETS & SAILS throwdown showdown. They’ll be indulging in all that is electronically intimate and sonically rich at DOUBLE WHAMMY this Friday, with the event back for its 6th year with 2 internationals and 10 local artists across 2 stages. Yeeeeew.

Saturday 20 December

Go Browse The Final Pons Central Vintage Market Of The Year

10am-4pm | Ponsonby Central | Free Entry

Image Credit: Ponsonby Central Vintage Market | Instagram

For the vintage vultures, get your mitts on some seriously cool finds at the final Ponsonby Central Vintage Market of the year. Unearth a treasure trove of pre-loved goodies, from retro threads and funky furniture to quirky homewares and handmade art at this bona fide Saturday classique. Doors fling open at 10am, entry is free, and the rummaging goes 'til 4pm. Make a day of it and refuel at one of Ponsonby Central's many gorge-worthy eateries afterwards—'cause treasure hunting is hungry work.

Get Down To The (Two-Legged) Races

1.30-9pm | AUT Millennium Stadium | Free

2025 has been the year of the runner. Seriously. So why not finish it off in style with a night of racing up at AUT Millennium? LSKD are putting on a 'Night of 5s'—an epic community-focused night featuring both solo races and team relays. For fun, for glory or just for the vibes, all are welcome and here are the deets.

Covert Big Comedy Christmas

7-8pm | Covert Theatre | $

Covert Theatre's latest is a Christmas-themed bag of laughs, courtesy of The Improv Bandits and special guests. Good jokes, great vibes and a licensed bar to get you on your merry way.

Fill Yourself With Christmas (Musical) Cheer

Saturday 7.30-9.30pm & Sunday 3-5pm | Auckland Town Hall | $

The Auckland Philharmonia is doing what it does best by bringing the joy of Christmas through a musical celebration. ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas’, ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You', ‘It’s Beginning to look a lot like Christmas’, ‘Joy to the World’... yep, allllll the classics. And for just 20 bucks.

Sunday 21 December

Check Out This Next-Level Christmas Afternoon Tea

Slots At 12, 2 & 4pm | truth/dare | $$

Image credit: truth/dare | Supplied

It’s the season of sparkles, and what better way to bring in Christmas early than to get a spot at truth/dare’s Season of Sparkles afternoon tea collab with NZ Pastry Chef of The Year Kenji Yoshitsuka (Head Pastry Chef at Advieh, Intercontinental Auckland). Sponsored by Piper Heidsieck, sip on champagne on arrival, followed with a bespoke celebration cocktail from truth/dare’s mixologist magician Theodore Ian Tjandra, savoury delights by truth/dare chef Yovin Sius and sweets from Chef Kenji. Expect fluffy shokupan with scampi and chilli, savoury corn mille-feuille, black sesame financiers with sesame brittle, as well as gin and yuzu macaron to name a few treats from the menu. Tickets are $90 per person with three sittings this Sunday (12pm, 2pm and 4pm). DM or email truth/dare to secure your spot, stat. - Vicki Young

Head To Waiheke For A Beachside Long Lunch Meets DJ Party

Sundays 3-6pm | Ki Māha & Mudbrick, Waiheke | $$/$$$

Image credit: Veuve Clicquot | Supplied 

Make your way over the water to Waiheke, where Veuve Clicquot is bringing elevated summer moments to Ki Māha and Mudbrick. Soak in the sunshine and good vibes at Ki Māha’s Sun-Day Sun Club from 3-6pm, every Sunday (from this Sunday) with roaming champagne trolleys, signature seafood towers, and live DJ sets. Then make your way over to the Clicquot Terrace at Mudbrick for golden hour, with views over Tīkapa Moana. Jump on their socials to check out the range of events thanks to this iconic champagne house. - Vicki Young

All Weekend

Go Peep Through Whittaker's Xmas Window

'Til 22 December | 188 Ponsonby Road | Free

Image credit: Whittaker's | Vicki Young

The Whittaker's Christmas Window is officially open (from 6-22 December) on 188 Ponsonby Road in Tāmaki Makaurau. With a peek behind the scenes at a whimsical Chocolate Pod factory created by Whittaker's and a creative collective of talented people (Think Packaging, AO Studios, Watermark Creative, Bootleg Design and Bastion Shine), step into a moment of Christmas wonder with the paper creation of Whittaker's Chocolate Pods coming to life. Pop by on your walk through to the Franklin Christmas lights, and pick up a few treats of your own while you're there. - Vicki Young

Visit A Museum Covered In Lights

8-11pm | MOTAT | $

Image credit: MOTAT | Website

With another Christmas coming up, MOTAT are coming through once more with all that glitter and gold. This beloved festive spectacle turns the museum grounds into a wonderland of sparkling lights, heritage tram rides, carol singers, outdoor games, and visits with Hana Kōkō Santa in his workshop. Treats from the food truck market, picnic in the Historic Village, and even operating steam engines under the lights. Running select nights from 8-11pm. Tickets required; under 5s free.

All that weekend planning left you hangry? Check out The Feed.

Main image credit: Coca Cola Christmas in the Park | Website

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