Urban List Guide To New Zealand

Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement are bringing Flight of the Conchords home for their first national tour in 14 years.

With magnesium pools and dry cedar saunas, Sink Bathhouse is a place for recovery, yes, but also a space to find community connection. 

The new 'supper house' aims to serve the community however it needs it, with an English and French-leaning menu, great drinks and a friendly vibe. 

The Flag Poll is asking for the Tino Rangatiratanga flag to be raised on Waitangi Day 2027 on the Auckland harbour bridge and kept there permanently. 

Zara Larsson is bringing her Midnight Sun Tour to Auckland for two nights of big pop hooks, choreography and singalongs that are guaranteed to leave you a little hoarse on Monday morning.

Wellington restaurant Supra quickly grew out of its tiny former home. Now it has a new space on Tory Street and a brand new bar to boot. 

The iconic band will take to the stage in the Auckland Domain with special guests Ocean Alley. 

With high-end golf simulators, food from Candela's Matt Ross, and DJ nights curated by Ned Gow of No Cigar, The Wyndham Club wants to become a destination for all walks of life. 

Expect bangin’ beats, a little mystery, a few tricks and a whole lot of treats with nights fuelled by Kraken Black Spiced Rum. 

Olivia brings The Art of Loving Live to Tāmaki Makaurau on Saturday 17 October 2026, becoming the first artist to play the newly refurbished Bowl. Here’s everything you need to know before heading out.

There are hotel restaurants, and then there are restaurants that just happen to be inside hotels.

This Wellington cafe is so much more than just a spot to refuel; it's a community hub, a place that encourages you to truly become a local. 

Jesse Woolston's interactive artwork The Infinite Constant Front draws inspiration from landscapes, oceans, weather and natural systems in Aotearoa. 

The team have turned the former Bonita space into a new sandwich shop serving everything from chicken caesar salad to fish and chips inside sliced bread. 

In our opinion, you can never have too many streaming services, and Apple TV is a must-have. Packed with all-star casts and binge-worthy shows, it's the perfect addition to your watchlist.

 If your idea of a good night involves screaming Stick Season alongside thousands of strangers, Auckland is about to deliver. Noah Kahan is bringing The Great Divide Tour to Spark Arena this Friday 9 and Saturday 10 October, with special guest Michael Marcagi coming along for the ride. Clear your calendar, warm up those vocal cords and prepare to feel a few things.

Far from the Tex Mex-style Mexican food that has become prolific outside of Mexico, Apapacho is bringing the soul and depth of flavour of this vibrant cuisine to Wellington. 

Set to evoke the spirit of the elegant eateries in department stores in cities like London, Paris and New York, Lottie's has a distinct international feel 

It's finally here. The line-up for one of the best festivals of the summer has finally dropped. We've got the inside line on who is playing Laneway Auckland 2027. 

Construction is underway on the Auckland Surf Park, a major new surfing and wellness destination taking shape across 54 hectares in Dairy Flat. 

New Zealand’s biggest city is made for a long weekend, here's how to do it right.   

Londo's Bob Fairs will be partnering with Pici's Jono Thevenard to cook a six course meal as part of Auckland Feast festivel in November. 

Jack Cashmore will bring his two-hatted restaurant from the central North Island to Auckland's Kauri Bay for two nights as part of the Auckland Feast festival. 

Just three months after closing its doors, Rosalia's is set to reopen with its former head chef at the helm. 

It’s a well-known fact that we here at Urban List love our pooches and so we’ve rounded up some of Auckland’s best dog-friendly parks because—let’s face it—your dog’s already peed on all the trees at your local. So, treat your pup and take them to the best dog parks in Auckland.

Fun fact: did you know Dachshunds were bred to burrow after badgers? Or that Labradors were built for retrieving in cold water? Yeah, neither did we.

The secret’s officially out: Dunedin and Waitaki have been named among the world’s top destinations to visit in 2027 by Lonely Planet.

Opening up Sydney's West for Kiwis looking to get away, Air New Zealand will be kicking off non-stop flights on 26 October 2026 to Western Sydney International Airport.

From Queenstown stunners to tempting Taupō stays and a cosy Lake Hawea cottage, Urban List has been sniffing out some seriously good lakefront contenders for your next NZ vacay.

Sport is basically a religion here in Aotearoa, and meeting your mates to share a drink and yell sports-themed profanities is a rite of passage. And when you can’t make it to a game, there’s no better way to experience nail-biting sport than with a drink in your hand and plenty of people to create the vibe. 

Taking your pup for a walk is all very well until you realise you’re in a park that’s a no-go for pooches. Talk about barking up the wrong tree. Luckily, there’s a whole lot of dog-friendly walks you can waltz along to your heart’s content, your fur baby by your side.

Moving into a coverted heritage building on Cambridge Terrace, Drifter will add a new string to the capital's hospitality bow. 

The Fray is bringing their Summer of Light tour to Australia in 2027, and if you missed your chance to see their totally sold-out 2025 tour, you’d better register for pre-sale ASAP.

The much-loved Kiwi band will return for a full tour of their home country for the first time in 14 years. 

Auckland bartender PJ Renaud has won the 2026 Jameson Black Barrel Bartender Series.

Check into lakefront luxury with mountain views, all-day dining and alfresco hot tubs.

Businesses around Auckland's new CRL Stations have spent years enduring construction, dust and road closures. Now, as the city prepares for the new underground train system to open, we chat to business owners near the stations about what they're expecting to change. 

If your winter has been spent scrolling wistfully through everybody else’s Euro Summer because you snoozed on snagging flights last year, this is your opportunity to right that wrong.

Your curated itinerary through Ōtepoti Dunedin's best events, tables, stays and streets.

The arrival of the Te Ara Tupua has made getting from Wellington to Lower Hutt much, much easier. Here, Nick Iles outlines all the delicious reasons to make the journey to the Hutt. 

Sombr season is officially making its return Down Under, with the breakout pop star announcing a run of arena shows across Australia and New Zealand in April 2027.

Clear your February calendar—a massive new two-day celebration of Aotearoa and Pacific music is taking over Mount Maunganui in 2027.

We’ve pinpointed all the Ōtepoti Dunedin filming locations from the new Netflix series East of Eden (which really should be called East of Dun-Eden, tbh).

Bex Jujnovich gives us the honest version of what weeknights look like in her house. 

With winter’s indoor-socialising era officially upon us, hosting at home no longer needs to look like a Pinterest board brought violently to life. And we’re here to show you that the best hosts aren’t necessarily the ones making everything from scratch.

Whether payday is a distant memory or you simply don’t want to spend your life savings on a meal, don’t go running for those two-minute noodles just yet. There are plenty of cheap eats in Auckland that are minimal on coin but maximum on deliciousness.

Father’s Day is just around the corner (6 September if you’re wondering) and while not all of us have a father we almost certainly all have someone who’s unabashedly cracked dad jokes with reckless abandon.

Air New Zealand has just announced bookable lie-flat sleep pods for Economy travellers, and we’re losing our minds.  

New Zealand's leading local restaurant guide has just launched its 2026 awards—here's all the winners, from the lauded three hats to restaurant of the year. 

More than a century after the Titanic embarked on its ill-fated maiden voyage, one of the world's most famous ships is resurfacing in Auckland through a major international exhibition.

We live for new openings (especially the kind that involves food) and know you do, too. Fortunately, Auckland is the city that just keeps on giving when it comes to new restaurants, bars, cafes and bakeries—we really are a lucky bunch.

Auckland, prepare accordingly: GRAMMY-nominated DJ and producer Dom Dolla is heading to Auckland Domain for his biggest-ever headline show in New Zealand.

After a decade of construction, years of disruption and plenty of anticipation, Auckland’s City Rail Link finally has an opening date.

The Tiny Home movement has taken the world (and our hearts) by storm, and the best tiny spaces can take your New Zealand getaway to the next level.

Our furry friends are like family, so it pains us to leave them with others while we vacay in New Zealand—we just need the best pet-friendly stays so they have as much fun as we do.

We’ve rounded up ten of the most romantic restaurants in Auckland so you can take the guesswork out of where to go for the most romantic date night. 

Nelson is looking to make one of its biggest community investments in a generation, with plans moving forward for a new Community Hub, Library and Civic Space in the heart of the city.

If there’s one genre we can’t get enough of for a binge session, it’s crime. From gripping detective dramas to chilling serial killer series, these top Netflix crime shows will have you hooked.

Kick back and dive into the best Disney+ has to offer in Australia and New Zealand for 2026.

From stunning honeymoon destinations to eco retreats, super swish villas and spots perfect for the whole family, Fiji’s Airbnb game is strong. 

New Zealand takes its pies seriously, and the results of the 2026 New Zealand Bakels Supreme Pie Awards are officially in.

New Zealand Fashion week is returning for 2026, and we've rounded up all the shows and events we're nabbing tickets to. 

Be nice to each other, because hot new extra Olivia Dean tickets just dropped across all her Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Auckland shows this spring. 

Women make up over half of Aotearoa’s population. But, according to Westpac, less than a third of our businesses are owned by women. 

Celebrating all things funghi, the inaugural Auckland Mushroom Festival is bringing informative talks, great food and lots of fun to Karangahape Road this month.

Does life feel so hectic right now that you’re missing out on those magical moments with your special someone? Check out these romantic getaways and magical retreats within driving (or ferry) distance from Auckland.

We sat down with the couples behind 12 of our favourite eateries in Tāmaki Makaurau to find out how they met, what it’s like working together and where they love to go for date night.

“Everything I've ever written has had to be autobiographical. Otherwise I really struggle.”

For the month of August, Visa Wellington on a Plate turns the capital city into a gastornomical adventure. From pop-ups from acclaimed internatonal chefs like pitmaster Rodney Scott, to Auckland's Pici popping up in Poneke for two nights, outlandish themed dinners and intimate meals with growers and makers, WOAP once again brings all things wonderful to Welly. 

Arts and culture capital of Aotearoa, Te Whanganui-a-Tara is packed with an epic lineup of things to do.

Laufey is set to make her Aotearoa debut on Wednesday 12 August and, if you haven’t yet secured a ticket, you’d best snap one up, stat. And we have three passes up for grabs, thanks to Visa. 

From rolling valleys to dense native forest and cliffs overlooking black sand beaches, we've found the most jaw-dropping Airbnbs across New Zealand that you can book for a getaway.

Seeking an uber romantic spot in New Zealand to take the other half on a trip away? Urban List has rounded up the best stays so you can get that love shack booked right in.

Get ready to soak up the luxury at the best Airbnbs in New Zealand with outdoor baths and hot tubs. 

Forget the tourist hubs and ski slopes—these are the secret spots worth planning your trip around. 

From tiny huts in the forest to a luxurious private retreat and accommodation in an actual boot, Aotearoa has an abundance of Airbnbs with fireplaces for the cosiest weekend away.

There’s loads to do in the Garden City—and while you could check into a hotel, sometimes you’re in the mood for something with a little more character.

Whether you’re in town to hike, ski, wine-taste, or golf, here are the best winter accommodation options to level up your stay in Wānaka.

Cosy winter escape calling? We've rounded up a list of the best Airbnbs in Queenstown to make that dream ski trip a reality…

Jump on the true crime bandwagon, hit play, and start bingeing these must-listen podcasts.

We all know the hunt for the next Netflix binge never ends. To make your search a little easier, we at Urban List have rounded up a slew of the best Netflix Series available in NZ right now. Grab the snacks and get comfy, here are the best shows on Netflix NZ.

Buttering up the popcorn and firing up Netflix has got to be our favourite thing ever. If you’re anything like us we know you don’t relish in spending hours scrolling for something half decent to kick back to.

Let's give it up for Australian talent. There's no denying that a whole heap of the best fashion labels right now are Aussie born and bred.

Self-care is getting steamy and it's set to stay that way. Here are the best infrared and traditional saunas to work up a sweat at in Tāmaki Makaurau. 

Cue the Macklemore flashbacks. It's clear that thrift shopping—correction, op shopping—is f**kin’ awesome. Especially in Auckland, with the best op shops per capita, so we say. 

Two of Auckland's most-loved restaurants are coming together for two days of exceptional food and even better vibes. Expect duck fat tortillas, big flavours and a great meal. 

Matariki is here and it's time to feast. 

Whether you’re after a traditional Vietnamese ham, or a crispy crackling lid—let this be your guide on where to find the best banh mi in the city.

This one-off event is one to be experienced rather than documented. It’s been created around a simple idea: if every moment is unrepeatable, perhaps we should treat it that way. 

It's been hotly anticipated for months and, as of tonight, New Zealand's first Michelin Guide has officially dropped. Here are all the restaurants to win stars and Bib Gourmands.