10 Of The Best Things To Do In Auckland This Weekend

Next week is a short week, thanks to Matariki, so there really is no excuse not to make the most of this weekend, and boy is Tāmaki Makaurau pulling out the stops to keep you busy. 

Do you like to spend your weekend front left? Head to Whammy Bar on Friday to check out the next generation of musical talent in Aotearoa, or listen to The Neighbourhood belt out their alt rock tunes at Spark Arena on Saturday. 

Fancy splashing some cash? Grab yourself an absolute steal at the Georgia Jay sample sale, or browse local makers at Freida’s market. More of a culture vulture? Grab tickets to Constellations at Q Theatre, or get your groove on at Dangerous Goods at The Civic Theatre. 

However you like your weekend, we’ve got you covered with the best events in Auckland from Friday til Sunday.  

What’s On Friday

Support The Next Gen Of Music Artists At Pass The Mic At Double Whammy

We’re hardly short of musical talent here in Aotearoa. We have a knack for producing seriously great musicians; some that go global, and others that remain proper local legends. It’s getting increasingly difficult to break out onto the scene, though, partly thanks to continual cuts for grassroots venues and a general lack of support for the arts. That’s what makes events like Pass the Mic so great. Come and watch 15 of Auckland’s best up and coming artists compete for the chance to head to Sydney to compete in the grand final where a prize of $50,000 will be up for grabs. 

The Details

Where: Double Whammy, 183 Karangahape Road

When: Friday 3 July, 9pm-1am

Cost: From $12

For more information, click here. 

What’s On Saturday

The Early Bird Catches The Worm At ALBA AM Boogies 

Does the late night nature of a rave put you off? Are you more of a dawn than dusk person? Well, dust off those dancing shoes and get ready, because boy do we have the party for you. This Saturday, to celebrate the launch of their non-alcoholic margs, ALBA are throwing a party at Hardcore cafe on K Road (yes, the one with the incredible minimalist interiors and star shaped stainless steel tables). Tunes will come courtesy of Divine by Christelle Ridon and free cookies will keep you fuelled. 

The Details

Where: Hardcore Cafe, 510 Karangahape Road

When: Saturday 4 July, 8-11am

Cost: Free

For more information, click here. 

Splash Some Cash at Freida Market

Grey Lynn’s go-to spot for great drinks and even better live music is opening up a little early on Saturday for the winter edition of Freida’s Market. Expect a curated selection of vintage clothing, jewellery, ceramics, art, homewares, and independent local makers. Fuel your shopping with Johnny’s now-famous Fat Fish Fritters, and lock in your goals for the month with a tarot card reading. 

The Details

Where: Freida Margolis, 440 Richmond Road, Grey Lynn

When: Saturday 4 July, 10am-1pm

Cost: Free

For more information, click here. 

Grab Your Sweaters, The Neighbourhood Are Playing At Spark Arena 

It is, fittingly, sweater weather, and the band who penned that extremely seasonal song are coming to Spark Arena for one night only on Saturday. This is the Californian-made, alternative rock band’s first time playing in NZ, so round up your millennial pals and take a time machine back to the golden era of 2013. 

The Details

Where: Spark Arena

When: Saturday 4 July from 7pm

Cost: From $109.90

For more information, click here. 

What’s On Sunday

Chase Your Sugar High At Side Scoop At Pici 

Ice cream fiends in Tamaki will have Side Scoop well on their radar by now, but let us introduce those of you yet to discover these sweet treat savants. For a few years now, Side Scoop have been changing the ice cream game one pop-up at a time, with flavours like chrysanthemum and candied red date, toasted coconut sour cherry, and earl grey. This weekend they’re back at Pici for Double Parked, a celebration of the incredible pairing that really shouldn’t work but somehow does: ice cream and wine. They’ve also said it might be their last collab in a while, so get in while it’s, er, cold.  

The Details

Where: Pici, Shop 22, St Kevin's Arcade

When: Sunday 5 July, 4.30pm until sold out

Cost: Free

For more information, click here. 

What’s On All Weekend

Nab A Great Deal At The Georgia Jay Sample Sale

There are few things we love more than shopping, but one of them is shopping that allows you to tap into girl math, aka, a really good sale. So, if you need us over the weekend, it’s likely we’ll be at the Georgia Jay sample sale. Started in 2015, Georgia Jay makes beautiful bags in Auckland, with a focus on functionality and design. The sale will feature archive styles, showroom samples and studio exclusives at great prices. If you see us with a cute new accessory next week, you know why. 

The Details

Where: Georgia Jay Studio, 191B Symonds Street, Eden Terrace

When: Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 July, 10am-4pm

Cost: Free

For more information, click here. 

Dangerous Goods at The Civic Theatre

Didn’t manage to get to Cabaret Festival last weekend? Never fear—the revelry continues into this weekend. Our pick of the bunch? Dangerous Goods at The Civic Theatre. This is a show that has it all, an absolutely all-femme cast who count circus, aerials, drag, burlesque, and powerhouse vocals among their repertoire. Expect a mind-blowing performance of high kicks, jaw-dropping moves, and a damn good time. 

The Details

Where: The Civic Theatre

When: Wednesday 1 July - Sunday 5 July

Cost: From $35 

For more information, click here. 

Tick Off A Few Michelin Guide Restaurants 

You may have heard, but New Zealand’s first ever Michelin Guide was unveiled this week. With a jaw-dropping 15 restaurants receiving stars, alongside more than 30 being awarded Bib Gourmands and over 100 more featured in the guide as a whole, it’s safe to say it was a pretty stellar representation of New Zealand’s dining scene. For the first time ever, you can walk out your front door in Auckland and go and eat at a Michelin starred restaurant. So, why not make the most of it? If you can’t make it to one of the five one star restaurants in Auckland (Tala, Ahi, Paris Butter, Mudbrick and Tantalus Estate) then why not try a Bib Gourmand? Tempero, Osteria Uno, and Cazador are just some of the 13 to be awarded.  

The Details

Where: Across Auckland

When: Whenever you like

Cost: TBC

For more information, click here. 

Get An Alternative Perspective On Matariki At Constellations At Q Theatre

Nick Payne’s multi-award winning play Constellations first premiered on the West End in 2012. Since then, it’s had a couple of Broadway runs—hello Jake Gyllenhaal— and has been staged around the world. This month, it comes to the Q Theatre with a distinctly Aotearoa twist. Director Nī Dekkers-Reihana takes this heartbreaking, gorgeous, timeline-spanning love story and stages it under the stars of Matariki, weaving te ao Māori through the production. 

The Details

Where: Q Theatre, 305 Queen Street

When: July 2 - July 19

Cost: From $25

For more information, click here. 

Visit Dinosaurs After Dark 

There are few reasons to truly celebrate the short days and long nights, but this Jurassic Park-coded evening at Auckland Zoo is definitely one of them. The zoo’s Dinosaur Discovery Track has recently reopened, complete with extremely realistic animatronic dinosaurs. Head there from 5.30 for an atmospheric experience of this newly reimagined part of the zoo and, for those looking to get their groove on (or tire out the kids a little more) there will be a silent disco in the Dinosaur Tent, too. 

The Details

Where: Auckland Zoo

When: 3-18 July, 5.30-8.30pm

Cost: From $9.50 for members

For more information, click here.