10 Of The Best Things To Do In Auckland This Weekend

If you're reading this, chances are it's the best time of the week—it's end. 

And this weekend runs the full gamut, from an undead disco and speed-crafting to baked goods, the glorious return of Ecoya's 70% off sale, and everything in between. Have at. 

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

Descend Into A Vampire Disko 

Sharpen your fangs and take the staircase into the belly of Whammy for a Vampire Disko of goth, post-punk, EBM, dark synth pop, industrial and wave, enjoyed among fellow clubbers decked out in undead-approved threads. Expect freshly-spun dark 80s disco treats by DJs Pennie Raven Black, Passion Crypt and Gravedigger, and to make it home before the sunrises (for obvious reasons). 

The Details 

When: 17 July 2026
When: Whammy Bar, 183 Karangahape Road, Auckland Central 
Cost: $20
Find out more here.

What’s On In Tāmaki Makaurau This Saturday

Rummage Through A Celestial Market 

Māori wāhine-led creative kaupapa, Celestial Corner, has curated a Celestial Matariki Market upstairs in the Woman's Pioneer Hall at Ellen Melville Centre. Come through for locally-handmade treasures, chill-out zones and free creative activities, backed by live DJ sets. 

The Details

When: 18 July 2026
Where: Ellen Melville Centre, 2 Freyberg Place, Auckland City Centre
Cost: Free
Find out more here

Don’t Stomp On The Lego Brick

If your childhood was infused with billions of brightly coloured plastic blocks, you’ll want to round up the crew and hit The Ellerslie Brick Show. Here you’ll immerse in decades of lego history, surrounded by jaw-dropping builds without the risk of accidentally stomping on a brick (sheer agony). Oh, and if you get inspired to build something of your own, there’ll be plenty on offer to create your own lego haul. 

The Details

When: 18 July 2026
Where: Ellerslie War Memorial
Cost: $5 per person or $15 for a family of 4, under 3s are free
Find out more here

Discover Nightflock

If you’ve been fortunate enough to discover the whimsy that is NZ composer Claire Cowan’s Blackbird Ensemble, you’ll be ridiculously excited to hear a new era of original music has landed and it’s called Nightflock. Tickets to the group’s debut sold out within six days of the announcement so you definitely don’t want to miss out on their second performance which is promising to be magical, unique and utterly unforgettable. 

The Details

When: 18 July
Where: Pitt Street Theatre, 78 Pitt Street, Auckland CBD
Cost: $45
Find out more here

What’s On In Tāmaki Makaurau This Sunday

Brunch Up, On The Baked Goods Edit 

Parable House is usually closed on Sundays which means it’s firmly on my Saturday brunch rotation. But this Sunday, doors will be open from 8am—for a pop-up with Yumso Bakery by Iro. The menu is yet to be released but if past pop-ups are anything to go by (green grape tarts, honey castella, truffle financier and earl grey dacquoise), it’s giving you raided your rich aunt’s dessert cabinet. Pup and goat-friendly. 

The Details

When: Sunday 19 July 2026
Where: Parable House, 45 New North Road, Eden Terrace
Cost: Free entry
Find out more here. 

Treat Yourself To An Icy Plunge 

SOMM meditation teacher, Jo Pearson, is hosting an ocean swim at Cheltenham Beach this Sunday. Walk, Breathe, Polar Plunge is exactly what it suggests, with a beachside wander and meditation, with a side of Holy F That’s Cold. But no matter how subzero the ocean feels that day, the Ozone Coffee that’ll appear in your mitts afterwards will make it worth it. 

The Details

When: Sunday 19 July 2026
Where: Bath Street Reserve near Cheltenham Beach, Devonport
Cost: Free
Find out more here. 

Flex Your Op Shopping Skills 

Got a knack for hunting down second-hand gold? Put your skills to the test with Fill-A-Bag at Mercy Hospice where you can exchange a crisp ten dollar bill for as many clothes as you can fit in one of Mercy’s bags. This is basically the op shop version of The Hunger Games so brush up on your folding-rolling-stuffing skills, atune your eye and prepare yourself for one helluva spree.

The Details

When: Sunday 19 July 2026
Where: Mercy Hospice, 188 Ladies Mile, Ellerslie
Cost: $10 per bag with additional bags available for $6
Find out more here. 

Whip Up A Zine And Make A New Pal In The Process

The good folk at Crushes have teamed up with the inimitable Auckland ZineFest for a cute speed-friending and zine-making workshop from 11am ‘til 2pm. You’ll fold your own Q&A-style zine (template provided) and then fill it out during chats and refreshments from Almighty. 

The Details 

When: Sunday 19 July 2026
Where: Crushes, 235 Karangahape Road
Cost: $15
Find out more here. 

The Best Things To Do This Weekend

Play It Cool Then Snap Up As Much Ecoya As You Can Carry

Who am I kidding? With 70% off regular retail prices the only appropriate way to respond to a sale this epic is with absolutely no chill at all. Get ready to (gently) elbow everyone else out of the way so you can gift yourself the sweet, sweet scents of Ecoya candles, diffusers, and bodycare. That’s right, you can finally afford to create that atmospheric candlelit corner, bedroom, or other pinterest-worthy space of your dreams. BYO bag.

The Details

When: 17-19 July 2026
Where: Barfoot & Thompson Stadium, 203 Kohimarama Road, Kohimarama
Cost: Entry is 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. 

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