Friends are great. Always there to listen and advise, help you pick out killer outfits and approve romantic partners. And, although you probably don’t need much to entertain yourself with a gossip session, sometimes it’s nice to celebrate your friendship with new experiences. And besides, Netflix and chill will still be there when you’re done.
Friend bonding is a must, so we’ve compiled a list of 50 friend-date ideas to try in this beautiful city of ours. From getting out in nature and rejuvenating spa treatments to classic coffee shop catch-ups, daytime raves, boozy pub crawls and adrenaline-fuelled go-kart racing. These Auckland-based adventures are a must.
-
Make It Official | If you haven’t brunched together, are you actually friends? Luckily, Tāmaki Makaurau is basically the brunch capital of Aotearoa (no shade, Wellington) so there are plenty of delicious options to choose from.
-
Get A Little Boozy | Brunch’s saucy sibling, sometimes only a bottomless brunch will suffice.
-
Undertake A Scavenger Hunt | Think you know Auckland? See a whole new side to Tāmaki Makaurau with a next-level scavenger hunt.
-
Play With Balls | Bowling is one of the best things to do with your bestie. You can level up your skills, let off some steam and there’s plenty of time to chat between turns.
-
Pop Some Tags | Yes, that’s a 2012 Macklemore reference but besties will never burn a throwback and what’s more nostalgic than op shopping?
-
Get A Bit Fancy | There’s always a reason to celebrate with your bestie (your glorious friendship, for one!) so when you feel like being extra dress to the nines and hit the roof.
-
Run Away And Join The Circus | You might have pinky sworn you’d one day do it, well, that day has finally arrived. Grab your BFF and hightail it to Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq for a night of dodgems, VR games, circus-themed cocktails and prizes galore.
-
Or Actually Join The Circus, For Reals | Try your hand at becoming acrobats, sliding through silks and contorting like it’s nobody’s business at Dust Palace.
-
Strike A Pose In An Om-believable Setting | If yoga’s your thing dare to step outside the studio taking your flow into the clouds with Yoga in the Sky or adding a creative flourish with Yoga and Art Immersion.
-
Cut Some Shapes | Whether it’s a morning rave or at Da Club storming the dancefloor with your besties is second to none.
-
Hit The Road | Roadies are a great way to spend time with friends and there are some exceptional day trips that are easy to get to from Tāmaki Makaurau. Alternatively, hit the road to nowhere in particular.
-
Live It Up On Island Time | Pop across to Waiheke Island and sip and feast, zip through the trees and explore the best wineries around, soaking up the harbour views on the ferry trip.
-
Or Jump On A Flight To Great Barrier | Already done Waiheke? Jump on a plane and spend several days exploring Great Barrier Island. From hiking and hot springs to motu bikes and funky Airbnbs, there’s so much to get stuck into.
-
Treat Yo’Selves To Ultimate Luxury | Pamper your bod (and mind) with a totally indulgent trip to one of Auckland’s best day spas. A relaxing massage, facial or manicure (or all of the above) is always a good idea.
-
Conquer Peaks | Simple but totally awesome, lace up and explore Tāmaki Makaurau's stunning volcanoes.
-
Go Off-Grid | For something a bit more than a roadie, and with a bit of mystery to boot, book yourselves into Unyoked, one helluva nature escape.
-
Wander Through Magical Settings | Stroll along one of Auckland’s best beaches or explore a forest or park. You’ll be stunned by the beautiful coastlines, caves and waterfalls.
-
Get High | High tea, that is. Regale your bud with tales from the week over a tower of dainty morsels, pinkies up.
-
Game On | Go head-to-head at paintball for an exhilarating (and perhaps terrifying) catch-up. Not recommended if your mate is a trained sniper.
-
Rock The Wall Together | Take your friendship to new heights at one of Tamaki Makaurau’s best indoor rock climbing gyms.
-
Hit All The Places | Plan a progressive dinner hitting all your favourite restaurants and bars in one rip-roaring night.
-
Take The Plunge | Go for a swim at your local swimming pool. Get a bit of exercise, lounge in the spa and sauna, and splash around with your friends.
-
Play Mario Kart IRL | Slide your way through sweeping curves, overpasses and underpasses, blowing off steam and showing off your go-carting game (or lack of). Blastacars and Extreme Indoor Karts are just some of the venues on offer.
-
Get Illustrated | Nothing says BFF like identical love heart tattoos on your ankles. #sorrymum
-
Go Tropical | Book a vacay to a tropical island paradise and catch up over cocktails on a jaw-droppingly beautiful beach. With Fiji and the Cook Islands so close by you’ve got a very difficult decision to make.
-
Camp Out For A Table At Honeybones | Some seriously tasty kai comes out of the Honeybones kitchen but they don’t take bookings so you’re going to have to plan your arrival super strategically or be ready to wait in line, but who better to pass the time with than your bestie?
-
Huck Axes | Throwing axes might just be the best mate date around. At the very least it’s an epic way of releasing stress while having a total ball with your bestie. Viking costumes are not required but 100% encouraged.
-
Turn Back Time With The Dance Battle Of The Century | Challenge your friend to a dance machine battle at the Timezone for a taste of the 90s. Document the antics with a cute snap from the photo booth.
-
Seek Out Cocktails | There are some seriously wicked Happy Hour specials around Auckland, it’d practically be rude not to get amongst. And live music makes for the perfect chaser.
-
Be A-Mazed | Check out Odyssey Sensory Maze for a sensory overload. Work your way through challenging spaces full of quirky physical obstacles, optical illusions, scents and sounds, and possibly the realisation the pair of you have claustrophobia.
-
Sunbathe | Your partner might not have a romantic bone in their body but your BFF will 100% appreciate the romance of watching a sunset, or sunrise in Tāmaki Makaurau.
-
Discover Hidden Talents | If you and your mates were those kids who were always getting told off for staying late in the art room then Paintvine could be your perfect mate date. Find your flavour—be it drag, watercolours or neon glow—and get ready to unleash your creativity with this easy-to-follow guided paint evening. No prior experience necessary.
-
Stage A Photoshoot For The ‘Gram (Or Just ‘Coz) | Seasonal candids can be a breath of fresh air in a feed or on the wall and we can think of no better setting than one of Tāmaki Makaurau’s gorgeous gardens.
-
Channel Your Inner Child | Revisit your favourite childhood rides at Rainbow’s End (log flume, anyone?) and check out the new additions too.
-
Wetsuit Up And Take The Leap | Piha Canyon is packed with caves, rock pools and cascades all perfect for abseiling and canyoning. For the adventurous besties, this will be a mate date to remember.
-
Hit The Rink | Don some skates and dazzle the crowd with a synchronised triple-axel-550 at the hallowed halls of Skateland or, like, just try not to bail.
-
Laugh Out Loud, And Not In The Ironic Way | Laughter is certainly the best medicine and the perfect way to de-stress from all those adult responsibilities. For a fun night out with your pals get along to Big Wednesday at The Classic or Snort at Basement Theatre.
-
Dodge, Dip, Duck Dive… And Dodge | Take on your pal in a ‘friendly’ game of dodgeball at one of Tāmaki Makaurau’s epic indoor trampoline parks. Head to Gravity NZ, Jump or Uptown Bounce and experience foam pits, zorb balls, obstacle courses and more.
-
Eat Your Feelings | True BFFs are there for you when life gets hard. Whether it’s a breakup or a stressful job they’ll do whatever it takes to help you feel better again, especially if that involves some cathartic lashings of dessert.
-
Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway | If the thought of heights leaves you both feeling a bit woozy, head to Tree Adventures or Rocket Ropes and put that fear of heights to rest by overcoming a series of obstacles like slip knots, flying foxes, free falls and giant swings.
-
See The Waitematā Harbour Via Kayak | A guided paddle around the City of Sails is a magical experience and who better to share that with than your bestie? Paddle to Rangitoto, Riverhead, Motuihe or Motukorea, or go all out with a multi-day expedition to the Cavalli Islands, or even Great Barrier.
-
Or Opt For Some Serious Horsepower Instead | If you prefer to travel with a bit more speed jump onto the Auckland Adventure Jet for a hair-raising mate date like no other.
-
Speaking Of Horsepower | Discover the thrills of horseback riding at Muriwai Beach Horse Treks, Tasman Rides in Helensville or Waiheke Horse Tours. Trek through farmlands, forests and beaches drinking in the stunning views.
-
Spend An Afternoon In the Woods | Join Danish botanical artist Mamakan in a tiny forest in Hunua to learn the art of foraging. Part art installation, part cooking lesson, part nature gathering this event is perfect for connecting with your best bud in nature.
-
Take On A Waterfall | Get your adrenaline pumping at Vector Wero rafting down a 4.5-metre waterfall but if you prefer a more calming rendezvous with rapidly cascading water, you might like to hike to one instead and observe from a safe distance.
-
Scream Yourselves Silly | Breathwork can do wonders for mind and body and Spookers is basically the O.G. with every session guaranteed to get your lungs (and vocal cords) going. Muster up your courage, link arms and step into the twisted worlds of The Haunted House, The Woods, Disturbia or The Fog.
-
Putt It Out | Have a par-tee for two at Tāmaki Makaurau’s multi-sensory neon labyrinth, Holey Moley, putt-ing your way to victory. Yarn over cocktails from the Caddyshack afterwards.
-
Sissy That Walk | If you're stans of Ru Paul’s Drag Race, your perfect mate date could be a night out at Caluzzi. Packed full of talent, shade and glitter for days, this is top-notch drag realness.
-
Get A Bit Cosmic | Expand your astronomical knowledge at New Zealand’s largest planetarium theatre—One Tree Hill’s Stardome Observatory. With a range of shows, there’s plenty to get amongst, from educational displays of planets and constellations to artsy light shows set to Pink Floyd.
-
Discover The Stories Behind Tāmaki Makaurau’s Street Art | Our city is teeming with magnificent murals and stunning street art. Arrange a private tour for you and your BFF with Street Artearoa to get the lowdown on each artwork.
Got a more soulful mate date in mind? This could help.
Image credit: Toa Heftiba, Jorge Saavedra, Tyler Nix, Nicolas Weldingh, Harli Marten, Christian Bowen, Anirudh.
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.