10 Of The Best Things To Do In Auckland This Weekend

There's nothing I relish more than a luxurious long weekend and if you're hitting the road—enjoy—but if you're hanging around Tāmaki Makaurau you can rest assured knowing your lineup is just as slick as ever. 

From all the Matariki celebration and the glorious return of one of the most iconic clubs in the city, to divinity on a plate. (And, boy, does it slap.) Dig in. 

Here are 10 of the best things to do in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland this long weekend. 

Jump to: 

• What’s On This Friday
• What’s On This Saturday
• What’s On This Sunday
• Things To Do All Weekend

What’s On In Tāmaki Makaurau This Friday

Usher In Māori New Year With Hautapu Ā-Motu 

There’s a whole lot of gorgeous ways to celebrate Matariki this year (check it out here) but witnessing Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei's annual Hautapu ceremony just hits different. The ceremony kicks off at 5.30am so be sure to rug up warm, and if you’re heading in from the CBD, you can hop on the Tāmaki Link without paying a cent, thanks to AT Transport. 

The Details

When: 10 July 2026
Where: Takaparawhau, Bastion Point, Ōrākei
Cost: Free
Find out more here.

Party Like It’s Neck Of The Woods’ Last Dance (Except It isn’t And We’re So Relieved)

It looked like we’d lost Neck Of The Woods for a moment there but, thanks to some serious community rallying (with the folks at Nympho leading the charge), the iconic Karangahape Club won’t be becoming a relic of a bygone era just yet. Fittingly, they’re throwing a Matariki party called Hoki Mai to usher in the new year, and their new chapter. 

The Details

Where: Neck Of The Woods, 155 Karangahape Road
When: 10 July 2026
Cost: $22
Find out more here. 

Partake In The Holy Trinity 

Champagne, lobster mayo fries and freshly spun house has got to be a divine unity. Make the bubbles Veuve Clicquot (and bottomless) and there’s only one place to be this Friday. Alert the group chat and reroute your catch up—you’re headed to Regatta Bar. 

The Details

Where: Regatta Bar & Eatery, The Strand, Main Beach, Takapuna
When: 10 July 2026
Cost: $99
Find out more here. 

Mess With The Bull, Feel The Rush 

When the clock strikes 10pm, panic—you’re late to Bullrush and you better pray there’s no lockout. But seriously, get your act together and skip on over to Basement Theatre to see some of Tāmaki Makaurau’s most hilarious people doing ridiculously impressive and bizarre things, all in the name of eliciting a giggle. Dubbed ‘Bullrush’ you can never quite know what to expect, except that it’s going to be one helluva vibe. 

The Details

Where: Basement Theatre, Lower Greys Avenue
When: 10 July 2026
Cost: Choose what you pay 
Find out more here. 

What’s On In Tāmaki Makaurau This Saturday

Get All The Pats 

The weekend just got super cute, thanks to local non-profit, Greyhounds As Pets NZ. Gather at Devonport Stone Oven Bakery & Cafe from 10am to meet the greyhounds and chat all things adoption, fostering, and life with these adorable long dogs. Pups and brunch? Say less. 

The Details

Where: Devonport Stone Oven Bakery & Cafe, 5 Clarence Street, Devonport
When: 11 July 2026
Cost: Free
Find out more here.

Snaps At The Ready, See The Addams Family, In The Flesh 

Rumour has it we have to wait until 2027 for the next season on Wednesday. In the meantime, make a beeline for Bruce Mason Centre this weekend for your fix of macabre jokes, confessions and chaos in the Broadway edit of The Addams Family, performed by the Auckland Performing Arts Academy. It promises to have you screaming… with laughter. 

The Details: 

Where: Bruce Mason Centre
When: 10-11 July 2026
Cost: $35-55
Find out more here. 

What’s On In Tāmaki Makaurau This Sunday

Clear Out Your Wardrobe And Make Some Cash

If your wardrobe’s in desperate need of a spring mid-winter clean but you can’t even with consignment fees (or worse, relentless Facebook Marketplace haggling and no-shows), you’re going to want to book a seller space at ReUse Market. Totally free to sell, thanks to the Auckland Council City Centre Targeted Rate, it’s the most low-lift way of turning your pre-loved threads into dollar bills. 

The Details

Where: Victoria Street Car Park, 30 Kitchener St
When: 12 July 2026
Cost: Free
Find out more here. 

Make Your Own Perfume In The Exquisite Sok Studio

Sojenn’s first perfume collection was inspired by the cities and memories that quietly shaped her. Sok Studio began as a small backyard studio in Mount Albert and has since blossomed into its current iteration in Titirangi. The right scent can transform a moment, set a tone, or create a memory anchor to be recalled years later so what better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than creating your own. 

The Details

Where: Sok Studio, 741 South Titirangi Road
When: 12 July 2026
Cost: $179 
Find out more here. 

The Best Things To Do This Weekend

Score A Bargain On Checks Downtown 

Local clothing label, Checks Downtown, is popping up on Karangahape Road with samples, end of lines, and pop up exclusive tees in their signature street fashion meets luxurious fabrication and tailored design style. Spend over $300 and you’ll snag a free sale tee to add to your haul. 

The Details

When: 7-12 July 2026
Where: 225 Karangahape Road (old Crushes shop)
Cost: Free
Find out more here. 

Immerse In Forever Tomorrow: Chinese Art Now

Dive down a rabbit hole of Chinese contemporary art in this mixed media exhibition, combining photography, digital works and a seemingly sentient giant sculpture. Tracing the fascinating evolution of art in China and presenting works that comment on rapid change and societal shifts, Forever Tomorrow: Chinese Art Now, is unlike anything you’ve experienced before. 

The Details

When: 2 May-23 August 2026
Where: Auckland Art Gallery, Wellesley Street East, Corner Kitchener, Auckland Central
Cost: $22.50-32.50
Find out more here. 

Want more? Check out: 

• All The Essential Food News (So You Can Be In The Know And Eat It Too)
• What's On In Auckland This Month And This Year
• The Best Ways To Celebrate Matariki In 2026