10 Of The Best Things To Do In Auckland This Weekend
Alice Rich
Contributor & Former Editor | Urban List NZ
There are so many ways of moving your body this weekend, whether it's clad in latex at the sort of Church I'd actually consider going to, in a park surrounded by giant bubbles, or in the all-hallowed group fitness halls of Les Mills (and the latter two are for free). And that's all totally fitting given its Mental Health Awareness Week. Also on the agenda: a giant plant market, a giant warehouse sale you'll want to hit if you're into scents and beauty, and the chance to help your favourite hospo joint win a $25,000 tip.
Here are 10 of the best things to do in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland this weekend.
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What’s On In Tāmaki Makaurau This Friday
Strike A Pose
The week has been drenched in dance and, this weekend, Tempo Dance Festival’s offering ramps up even more. For all those who identify as creatures of the night, Bodies: A Club Night is a dance floor that beckons, it’s an invitation to be you and only you. And the lineup’s packed to the hilt with talent, including performances by Prowl Productions, The House of Coven-Aucoin, Kerith Manderson-Galvin, Projekt Team, Wiseman Zekaria Mataiti, DJ Benda, DJ Amero, DJ Happyfeet, Kuini, DJ Amero, Matua Myke, A$AP, and Escarlata Dance Collective.
The Details
Where: Cassette Nine, 9 Vulcan Lane
When: 9.30pm-late
Cost: $19-25+
Find out more here.
Discover A Bold, Joyful Exhibition That's About Loving Yourself
This Friday is the opening night of Brazilian-born NZ-based artist Maico Camilo’s solo exhibition Unapologetically Dazzling. Revelling in a neon colour palette, dense impasto texture, and high octane emotion, the show is about “the freedom in allowing yourself to be seen and in not trying to make everything fit neatly into a box.” Sounds like something we all could do with more of.
The Details
Where: Turua Gallery
When: 16-28 October 2026
Cost: Entry is free
Find out more here.
What’s On In Tāmaki Makaurau This Saturday
Get Yourself To Church
Sacred annual queer Halloween ritual, CHURCH, is in session, returning for another utterly saucy affair where you can don whatever latex, gothic, or otherworldly threads you like (with plenty of glitter, naturally) and sweat out your sins on the dance floor, all the way through to 4am Sunday. On the cards: freshly spun beats curated by Marjorie Sinclair, performances and special guest artists, and prizes for the most “devastatingly unholy” ‘fits. Sounds like a vibe.
The Details
Where: Neck Of The Woods, 155 Karanaghape Road
When: 17 October 2026
Cost: $30-35
Find out more here.
Tour Around Auckland’s Best Bookshops To Win A Stack Of Summer Reads
This weekend’s your last chance to get in on the 2026 Auckland Bookshop Tour, which might just be the most wholesome form of crawl, period. Set over 12 days and 17 bookshops with $425 worth of book tokens up for grabs, pick up your map from one of the listed bookshops, make any sort of purchase (whether a book or otherwise) from at least two of the listed bookshops to be in with a chance to win.
The Details
Where: Varies
When: Until 18 October 2026
Cost: Varies
Find out more here.
Chuck Your Clothes In An Uber
It’s time for a spring clean (‘tis the season, after all) and if you do have some pieces kicking around in the back of your wardrobe, this Saturday’s the time to flip them. Free from the faff of consignment, between 10am and 4pm you’ll be able to summon an uber to pick up your clothing donations and deliver them to a New Zealand Red Cross Shop without spending a cent. Make a note, too, because in support of the Uber x Red Cross Clothing Drive, Melanie C (a.k.a. Sporty Spice) has donated her Kendall Calling tracksuit and Copenhagen Crystal Dress and both will be for sale at the Red Cross Shop in Albany from mid-November.
The Details
Where: Your place
When: Saturday 18 October 2026
Cost: Free
Find out more here.
What’s On In Tāmaki Makaurau This Sunday
Frolic Through Bubbletopia
Put a lil’ whimsy in your Sunday with giant bubble open play sessions for kids at Little Rangitoto Reserve. Totally free to take part, and with no set timelines–join whenever you arrive and stay for as long as you want–kids will learn how to use the bubble wands to make big, beautiful, shimmering bubbles or can just have a helluva time running around popping them.
The Details
Where: Little Rangitoto Reserve, 71 Upland Road, Remuera
When: Sunday 19 October 2026
Cost: Free
Find out more here.
Buy All The Plants With Reckless Abandon
Maintaining a Pinterest-worthy bedroom is something that demands constant attention and commitment. It’s a CV-able skill, even. And in this era of environmental decimation each of us practically has a duty to cultivate as large a green space as our homes will allow. It goes without saying then that not attending the Auckland Plant Market would be a travesty. So set any notions of self-restraint aside and hightail it to Smales Farm between 9am and 2pm.
The Details
Where: Smales Farm
When: Sunday 18 October 2026
Cost: Entry is free
Find out more here.
The Best Things To Do This Weekend
Cosplay Being A Member Of Les Mills
This week is Mental Health Awareness Week and this year the theme is Belonging Matters. So, the good folks at Les Mills, are throwing open the doors to all their clubs so you can score free workouts all week (and weekend) long. Stop by your nearest and grab a free pass to unlimited free entry to classes, workouts–the lot. Offer is open to anyone who isn’t a member and hasn’t done a free trial in the last three months.
The Details
Where: Any Les Mills club across the motu
When: 12-18 October 2026
Cost: Free
Find out more here.
Unbox An Insane Haul From The Aromatherapy Co.
As a Halloween girlie through and through I hate to say it but if you want to get a leg up on your Christmas list (or you just want to treat yourself) you might like to stop by The Aromatherapy Co.’s epic four-day Auckland Warehouse Sale. Happening on Broadway in Newmarket from 9am to 6pm, the early bird will definitely snag the best deals so don’t snooze on this one. BYO bag.
The Details
Where: 242 Broadway, Newmarket
When: 15-18 October 2026
Cost: Entry is free
Find out more here.
Give Your Favourite Hospo Joint A $25,000 Tip
The AMEX and IDA Foundation’s Backing International Small Restaurants grant programme has reopened with five $25,000 grants up for grabs for eligible small restaurants, cafes, bars or pubs in Tāmaki Makaurau. So if you’re part of our hospo whānau, you might like to seriously consider applying. And if you’re not in hospo but you want your favourite haunt to be living its best life, chat to your barista or your bartender, spread the word, and encourage them to apply.
The Details
Where: Online
When: 2 October-17 November 2026
Cost: Free
Find out more here.
Want more? Check out:
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