Things To Do

25 Rad Workshops In Auckland Where You Can Learn A New Skill

By Alice Rich
15th Mar 2024

Someone works with their hands, one of the best workshops in Auckland.

Alrighty Aucklanders, it’s back to school we go. We’re not talking about an old stuffy trigonometry class or anything that involves dissecting unfamiliar texts—we’re talking about classes and workshops dedicated to all things fun, frivolous and creative. Thankfully, for those wishing to sink their teeth into learning a new skill, a bunch of workshops have popped up all over Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland with every kind of class imaginable, and Urban List has found the crème de la crème. 

We’ve rounded up Auckland’s best workshops where you can learn a skill or two—from candles and cake to jewellery-making and rongoa Māori and everything in between (no school books, protractors or calculators in sight).

Do A Deep Dive Into Manga And More

Studio Orsay | Ground Floor/18 Stanley Street, Parnell, Auckland

A beautiful, exposed-brick art space in Studio Orsay, one of the best Auckland workshops.
Image credit: Studio Orsay | supplied

A puff of pastels, a slick of paint, and capturing a moment in pencilled monochrome are just some of the magical moments you’re likely to witness at Studio Orsay, a creative studio for all ages.

Open Tuesday through Thursday, as well as mornings through the weekend, their current offering includes sketching; painting workshops that cover composition, colour, and styles; learning how to wield pastels; and all things manga.

Become A Cocktail Master

Bozo Gin & Rum Bar | 309 Karangahape Road, Auckland CBD

The crew at Bozo Gin & Rum Bar sure know how to make one helluva cocktail, so when they announced they’re offering cocktail masterclasses with their mixologist, Ethan, we were very excited indeed.

Each masterclass is one hour and includes a complimentary welcome drink followed by a step-by-step, guided tutorial on whipping up two cocktails of your choice, including essential techniques, straining, shaking, presentation and the history behind each tipple. Reservations are available for 2-8 people. 

Whip Up A Horny Queer Candle

sybs | Various locations 

Tāmaki Makaurau is blessed to be a city full of wonderful people doing epic things and Cam, the candle-maker behind sybs, is one of those people. Keep an eye on their socials for public workshop dates or book a private one for you and your squad (or work crew).

During the workshop, you’ll learn the art and science that goes into each step of creating a sensational candle, from blending a signature scent to the glorious finished product.

Make Like Katniss

Auckland Archery Club | One Tree Hill Domain, Auckland

At some point, everybody considers what they’d do in a zombie apocalypse. And if the pandemic was anything to go by, it’s a matter of when not if. So, if your survival hinges on your ability to wield a bow like Katniss then you better get your skills up to scratch and that’s where the Auckland Archery Club comes in. The volunteer-run organisation hosts give-it-a-go days as well as three-week beginners' workshops that’ll have you unleashing arrows like a pro in no time.

Fling Some Clay

The Clay Centre | 145 Marua Road, Ellerslie, Auckland 

Birds eye view of people toiling away over individual pottery wheels at a workshop by The Clay Centre.
Image credit: The Clay Centre | Facebook

If you’re all about ceramics or have always wanted to learn, you’ll want to get amongst The Clay Centre. From hand-building and wheel throwing to glazing and decorating the centre offers morning and evening classes for beginners through to seasoned ceramicists. Not ready to commit to a weekly course? Their ‘Wheel & Wine’ and ‘Coffee & Clay’ day workshops are a great place to start.

We recommend subscribing to their newsletter so you’re the first to hear when a new class drops—these classes are super popular so you need to sign up as soon as tickets go live to get a spot. If you’re further north, we highly recommend checking out Studio Rūma in Orewa. 

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Paint, Carve And Write Your Way To Your Higher Self 

Corban Estate Arts Centre | 2 Mount Lebanon Lane, Henderson, Auckland

True to its name, Corban Arts Estate has workshops dedicated to every artistic discipline you could dream up. Here you can fine-tune your paintbrush skills with their painting programmes that explore everything from landscapes and portraiture, right through to abstract.

Or, branch out and try your hand(s) at other media types—they have classes covering everything from clay to carving wood. Words more your artistic weapon of choice? Not to worry, they’ve got writing workshops here too.

Delve Into Ancient Knowledge

Rongoa Māori | Arataki Visitor Centre, 300 Scenic Drive, Oratia, Waitakere, Auckland

Titoki Education imparts wisdom about traditional Māori medicine expertise in a four-part Rongoa Māori workshop. The workshop series is run twice a year, in autumn and spring, in Tāmaki Makaurau and other locations around Aotearoa.

Part one covers how to identify particular plants and how to collect them in a way that honours tikanga (customs). Part two focuses on plant harvesting and rongoa preparation while caring for the ngahere (bush). Part three delves deeper into the areas looked at in part two and part four is all about the manufacture and storage of ointments, balms, creams, infusions and more. 

Wrap Your Mouth Around A Pizza... Made By You 

Goode Brothers | Botany, New Lynn & Northwest, Auckland

Tasty gastropub Goode Brothers holds pizza-making classes for adults on the third Wednesday of every month. Not only will you get to make your own pizza, but you’ll also whip up a dessert calzone totally from scratch and get to enjoy an Aperol Spritz while the dough rises.

And if pasta’s more your jam, let us introduce you to the Goode Brothers Pasta School where you’ll level up your pasta and sauce-making (and matching) skills while enjoying a glass of Prosecco. Cin cin! 

Have Your Cake And Eat It Too

Neat Cakes | 218 Dominion Road, Mount Eden, Auckland

A pink cake decorated with the words “Congrats ur divorced” and fresh flowers.
Image credit: Neat Cakes | Instagram

We’re pretty obsessed with Neat Cakes’ swoon-worthy vintage-style, plant-based cakes and we think you will be too, especially once you discover they offer cake decorating workshops. Yep, this is not a drill.

Each three-hour workshop takes place in the iconic Dominion Road bakery and covers the entire cake-decorating process, from colouring buttercream to how to ice a cake and piping techniques.

Everything you need to create a mouthwatering masterpiece is included (including a delicious 4” cake canvas in a flavour of your choice), a bangin’ Neat Cakes apron, and light refreshments. Gluten-free option available. 

Paint A Masterpiece (Or Not) 

Paintvine | Various 

If you prefer to get creative with a bottle of vino, you'll very much approve of Paintvine. This raucous affair is a cult favourite for a reason, each week popping up all over the city in a bunch of stellar bars.

For the uninitiated, it's a relaxed painting and wine experience suitable for everyone, even if you've never picked up a paintbrush before. Each session is helmed by an expert artist who'll guide you through a two-hour step-by-step creation. 

Unleash Your Creativity 

Studio One Toi Tū | 1 Ponsonby Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland

Studio One Toi Tū is your one-stop shop for Auckland workshops relating to anything creative. With the Maori name for art, ‘Toi’, as its namesake, you can be sure to find plenty of wonderful arts and crafts courses here in a range of disciplines.

We’re talking jewellery making, resin art, painting, clay work and everything in between. Not only that, but this iconic Ponsonby heritage building also houses regular exhibitions, to keep you well and truly inspired between workshops.

Fashion Some New Gems 

Anvil Studios | 161 Point Chevalier Road, Point Chevalier, Auckland

If you’re a bit of a magpie and fancy the idea of sporting your very own bling, then enrolling in a workshop or two at Anvil Studios is most definitely in order.

This Point Chevalier workshop offers a range of contemporary jewellery classes for all skill sets and tackles tasks like making wax casts and setting bezels. Not only that, but they’ve also got workshop bench spaces available for short and long-term use, for you to prop yourself into as you create all the shiny goods that you can shake a stick at.

Morph Into A Green-Fingered Goddess 

Babylon | 15 Turua Street, St Heliers, Auckland

A kokodama sits on a gold dish.
Image credit: Babylon | Facebook

Aspiring plant parents will love getting their hands dirty in the interactive classes at Babylon, one of Tāmaki Makaurau’s most gorgeous plant stores. Pull up a pew at their potting bench and spend an afternoon creating Japanese Kokodama, a glorious succulent bowl or how to grow a plant from a cutting.

The Babylon staff are so knowledgeable, it’s a total joy to learn from them and while you’ll definitely leave with new skills, you might also accidentally end up buying a bunch of beautiful new plant babies as well (but is that even a problem?). 

Churn Out All The Dainty Treats 

Milly's | 273 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland

Transforming yourself into a world-class domestic god or goddess has never been easier with Milly’s foodie workshops on the scene. Pick up a piping bag and learn the art of icing with the help of a certified Wilton Method instructor (that means a total cake boss in bakery terms).

From there, you can progress onto all kinds of frosting fabulousness, from fondant flowers to marzipan lace. Better yet, workshops are housed at Milly’s in their dedicated cook school, meaning all you'll need to bring is yourself to create sweet treats. 

Immerse In A Creative Mecca

Uxbridge Arts & Culture | 35 Uxbridge Road, Howick, Auckland

If your mind, body and soul or even your pantry, home or walls need a little sprucing up—look no further than Uxbridge. This mecca of all things creative offers the best Auckland workshops for every skill you could ever need in life.

From fine and applied arts and languages to performance skills, right through to cheese making and the art of the bonsai, sinking your teeth into the various workshops here will quite literally make you a Jack-of-all-trades.

Put A Ring On It 

Workshop 6 | 106 Richmond Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland

Fancy whipping up some bespoke jewels? Workshop6 offers an array of jewellery-making workshops as well as access to bench space and tools if you’ve already got the skills and just need a space to bring your creations to life. Classes range from one day to eight weeks and can cover ring-making, pendants, earrings, metalwork, roller printing and more. 

Get Spiritual 

Alembics | Online & various locations in-person

A bunch of hands pitching in at a distillery workshop run by Alembics.
Image credit: Alembics | Facebook

Learn the craft of distillation with Alembics. You can learn the basic distillation techniques or flower essences (known as ‘hydro sol’), essential oils and spirits. They also offer spirit-specific masterclasses like Gin Immersion and Grain To Glass whisky.

All Alembics workshops are interactive, fun and hands-on so you’ll get a tonne of experience and inspiration, with great discounts available on copper stills if you want to continue the merriment at home. Private workshops are available too. 

Knot Like There's No Tomorrow 

Composed Confusion | Auckland

If you’ve got a Pinterest board that’s bursting with all manner of macramé—from adorable plant hangers to majestic wall hangings—it’s high time you turned that inspo into skill with lessons from supremely talented macramé and fibre artist Marcia Dobson.

Marcia creates stunning hand-knotted macrame works and small batch recycled cord and offers private workshops perfect for a hen’s night or a fun crafternoon with friends.  

Do The Mahi, Get The Treats

Good! From Scratch | 376 Taiapa Road, Muriwai, Auckland

For a farm-to-table experience check out Good! From Scratch, a cooking workshop devised by renowned chef Michael Van Der Elzen. The day will include a tour of the kitchen gardens and citrus orchards, gathering fresh produce along the way, followed by a hands-on cooking class.

You’ll learn a bunch of tips and tricks which could include butchery skills, baking techniques and cooking methods, depending on the menu. At the end of the day, you’ll sit down and feast and come away with a bunch of recipes and some new foodie friends. 

Make Like Thor 

Sweet Axe Throwing Co. | 5 Galatos Street, Auckland CBD

There’s just about nothing sweeter than hurling an axe at the wall provided you can actually hit the target, that is. Luckily, the highly-trained axe-perts at Sweet Axe will have you schooled up in no time and if you really take a shine to it you can join their axe-throwing league and go head-to-head in singles and doubles tournaments like the badass viking that you are. 

Sharpen Up Your Home Cheffing

Homeland | 11 Westhaven Drive, Auckland CBD

Peter Gordon stands at his custom made cookery bench with overhead TV screens.
Image credit: Homeland | Instagram

Chef Peter Gordon is a friendly, highly talented force of nature and Homeland is his inspired creation. A restaurant, cooking school, innovation hub, and community space, Homeland is one of Auckland’s best workshops for epicurean intel.

The cooking school hosts a treasure trove of different workshops featuring both New Zealand and internationally-renowned culinary experts like Sam Low on dumplings, the Tattooed Butcher on lamb, and Singaporean laksa with Connie Clarkson.

Get Rollin'

Babes On Wheels | Various

Community meetup, Babes On Wheels, is a blast for roller skating stans and newbies alike. Meetup deets get posted on their IG account and they pop up at several spots around the city including Silo Park and Empire Dance Studios. The crew can hook you up with some pretty sweet discounts on skates but often there are skates to rent on the day too. Rad. 

Have Your Swords At The Ready

Auckland Swords Club | Auckland Grammar School, 55 Mountain Road, Epsom, Auckland

If swords are more your weapon of choice (or you'd like them to be), you might like to take a gander at Auckland Swords Club ‘Intro To Fencing’. Led by a team of qualified coaches each course takes place over three months. 

You’ll learn etiquette, the en garde position, how to move, attack and defence tactics as well as levelling up your fitness with the option to go on to compete in the open club evenings. So sign up, pop on fighting breeches (or some trackies if your breeches are in the wash) and relive your favourite pirate clashes, just maybe leave the rum and parrot at home. 

Dabble In The Arts 

Lake House Arts Centre | 37 Fred Thomas Drive, Takapuna, Auckland

A little bit of everything fun and creative goes on at Lake House Arts Centre. Over four terms a year, you’ll find a range of workshops that leave no creative discipline untouched. Practise your pencil skills with drawing workshops, embrace the national mother tongue and brush up on your Te Reo, or kit out your kitchen with your handmade ceramics—all courtesy of this art centre’s workshop.

They have rush-hour classes beginning at 5:45pm for those wanting to trade in red lights for resin crafts too, as well as workshops running during the weekday and weekends.

Do All The Things 

Selwyn Community Education | 230 Kohimarama Road, Kohimarama 

Now, if you’re after the motherload of all workshops; a hub with all manner of different courses and classes, Selwyn Community Education might just be a bit of you. With over 600 classes on offer, from arts, computer skills and budgeting, to languages, cooking, personal development and meditation, the hardest part will be deciding where to start. They’ve even got a programme that supports refugees with English and resettlement issues. Legit.

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Main image credit: Annie Spratt. 

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