If you were savvy enough to take a cheeky Friday off and turn this weekend into a four day-er, we applaud you. If not, rest easy knowing this weekend's got a wicked lineup in store for you regardless. From transcendental D&B to canned food that challenges the laws of physics. Take up your knitting needles, walk among giants, and tuck into bottomless yum cha as designed by you. All this and more. Dig in.
Here are 13 epic things to do in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland this Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and all weekend.
Friday 26 April
Flex Your Art Skills
Swap your screen for a pencil this Friday and try your hand at live drawing at the Auckland Art Gallery. The sessions are a great way to shake off any work day tensions by flexing your creativity. You’ll be guided by observational drawing tutor, Abbey Lyman, and drawing materials are provided (but you’re welcome to bring your own provided they’re dry).
Feast On Tāmaki Makaurau’s Tastiest Food Trucks
You know the drill, The Food Truck Collective is turning it out this weekend, bringing their Food Truck Dinner to Collins Park in Greenhithe. Lineup includes Smoking Shack, Manila Eats, Vege Pulse, Brooklyn Dogs, Lalele Organic Gelato, Double Dutch Fries, Taste Of Rwanda, and Sweet As Crepes, plus the ever-popular Crate Bar.
Saturday 27 April
Soundbathe In Imanu
If IMANU’s ever graced your eardrums you’ll already know getting a ticket for their Pointers pop up this Saturday isn’t a choice—it’s straight up essential. Materialising on the drum & bass scene in 2019, IMANU has already carved out one helluva niche with part technical brutalist part dreamy soundwaves. Adding to the lineup is special guest Fairbrother plus live sax from Isdale, supported by Neek B2B Dlto, Cygnus, Big Ben, and Ashh.
Time Travel Through Tinned Goods
If you’re looking for a change of scene, you’ll do well to peer into the collection of biscuit tins currently on show at Studio One Toi Tū. Salvaged from dumps and charity shops or otherwise acquired by experimental artist, performance designer and deviser Sarah-Jane Blake, these Tinned Goods might as well be portals into other realms. Swing by and stay a while.
Knit Up A Storm
Crushing on Karangahape darling Crushes? Us too. But did you know they have a mighty fine Social Club? This Saturday from 10:30am-12:30pm that very same club is hosting a knitting club in Crushes’ event space above the store on Karangahape Road. How gorgeous. BYO knitting project (or crochet, or macramé…) and get amongst. Entry is free but registration is recommended.
House A Burger And Do Good
If you haven’t heard, Jo Bro’s Burgers are collabing with Ponsonby Social every weekend in April to flip burgers for mental health. Stop by to fill your puku with all your Jo Bro’s faves plus limited edition burgs dreamt into existence by food royalty Ben Bayly, Lucas Parkinson, Michael Meredith, and Sean Connolly. All profits will be donated to the Sir John Kirwan Foundation to empower our young people with better mental health.
Sunday 28 April
Walk Among Kauri 18m In The Air
Take a walk through a forest canopy this weekend—as of this Sunday, Kauri Glen Reserve in Northcote is officially open. The 60m suspended walkway is made up of a boardwalk and three laminated timber bridges, which protect local kauri against kauri dieback, and weaves through a valley that’s home to trees up to 400 years old.
Wrap Your Mouth Around Bottomless Yum Cha
This Sunday’s your last chance to get in on Huami’s bottomless yum cha. Book in and come hungry. Select a number of dishes—from dumplings and wok-fried rice to five-spice crispy chicken and more—and have at again, and again, and again. Drinks are priced additionally, but, let’s be real, you’re there for the dumplings anyway. A gorgeous arrangement? We think so.
Find The Artistry In Your Yoga Practice
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki’s yoga and art immersion is running from now through to 8 December. Surrounded by an ever-changing array of historic and modern artwork this is a yoga class like no other. Taking place every Sunday from 9-10am and led by qualified yoga teacher, Penny Hacking, you’ll be stretching, strengthening and expanding your understanding of self and life in a stunning setting. Namasté to that.
Forget The World In A Neon Forest
If you’re drawn to neon lights like some sort of disco moth you’re going to froth Arborialis Luminarium. The inflatable, multisensory, neon-labyrinth is the latest work by Architects of Air, a creative initiative headed by designer Alan Parkinson that specialises in ‘pneumatic luminaria’ a.k.a. inflatable sculptures that encourage onlookers to examine light in new ways. Step into this mind-bending kaleidoscope at Aotea Square all weekend, from 9am to 5pm.
All Weekend
Get Starry-Eyed
A ravaging by thieves last year rendered the Stardome Observatory & Planetarium’s EWB Zeiss telescope out of action, until now. $680,000 of restoration later and the powerful ‘scope—which is one of about 25 worldwide—is back in working order. It costs just twenty bucks to gaze into the cosmos and you can snag yourself a front row ticket to the action over here.
Learn A Thing
The temptation to hibernate is strong with the changing of seasons ushering in some dreary days but just because it’s cold out doesn’t mean you have to stop doing the fun stuff. Enter: Tāmaki Makaurau’s inimitable workshops. No matter what the weather gods have in store, you can still have one helluva weekend whipping up all manner of cakes, candles, cocktails, and more.
Get Those Steps In
Spending some time in nature can be exactly what you’re in the mood for as the seasons begin to change and whether you’re after a coastal stroll, a slog up a never-ending staircase, a forest-bathe or an urban jaunt, we’ve got it all. Check out the best the city has to offer or, if you’ve got a pooch in tow, you might like to explore the top dog-friendly walks.
All this weekend planning got you feeling a bit peckish? Treat your taste buds to the latest food news.
Main image credit: Huami | website.
Urban List editors independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. Urban List has affiliate partnerships, and if you purchase something through the links in this article, we will earn a commission from those partners. To find out more about who we work with and why read our editorial policy here.