Say “goodbye!” to March for another year, ‘cause April in Auckland is coming in hot with exciting events all across the city. Kicking off April is the very exciting Easter long weekend, bringing treats galore! This month is guaranteed to have you laughing, dancing and of course eating all the way through, with the start of NZ International Comedy Fest, free flicks and so much more. There’s truly something for everyone this month, so whaddaya waitin’ for? Get planning for another wonderful April in Auckland with all of these things to see and do!
Easter Sunday Brunch | 1 April
Easter is alllll about pushing your stomach capacity to the limit with delish food. At Grand Mercure’s Easter Sunday Brunch, you’ll be doing exactly that. It’s time to hop to it and get to the very top floor of this hotel for this extra special Easter celebration. Surrounded by breathtaking views of the harbour and city, it all starts with a glass of bubbles, followed by lamb, Akaroa salmon, and homemade pappardelle pasta. Cure your sweet tooth with a summer berry mousse, mango pannacotta, chocolate chiboust and even a made-to-order crepe station! This is one Easter feast not to be missed.
Royal Easter Show | Until 2 April
This is about to be one of the best Royal Easter Shows yet! Celebrating Easter for 175 years, Aucklanders young and old flock to this ginormous festival of fairground food, fun and rides! You’ll get to score FREE entry into this wonderland of classic fair food, fireworks and a fluffy animal (or fifty!). Plus, if you go on Thursday you can even get in on their “Friends Ride Free” deal where, yep, you and a friend will ride the rollercoasters, ferris wheels and gravity-defying rides for half the price!
Wine, Cheese and Astronomy | 3 April
This is one unique combo that you won’t want to miss! Head to Stardome for a special extended Night Sky show with an adult touch—with a bit of cheese and wine! Learn about the planets, stars and constellations visible in the night sky at the moment. A perfect date with a difference or a friends night out, you’ll be full to the brim with facts…and cheese, wonderful cheese!
Ramen Night | 5 April
Everyone loves ramen, but you can become one of the few that learns how to cook up this warming comfort food! Join Auckland Seafood School’s Ramen Night to discover the secrets and flavours behind this moreish dish. Think fresh noodles simmering in full-flavoured broth all loaded with seafood, meat, veggies and seaweed all to your liking. With fabulous Kikkoman prize giveaways on the night, impress your next dinner guests with a slurp-worthy Japanese ramen!
Perrier-Jouët Urban Garden Pop Up | 5 April
Botswana Butchery is celebrating the launch of the Perrier-Jouët Urban Garden Pop Up and you’re invited! An evening of canapes and Champagne awaits! Mirroring the boutique artistry and diamond cut style of Perrier-Jouët, this pop up brings elegance and nature together in a brand new space. You’ll be treated to a complimentary Perrier-Jouët Brut for the evening, as well as full range tastings with Brand Ambassador Mathilde Laborde. With roaming canapes and DJ Jarrod Phillips covering the decks, you will be well looked after for a luxurious evening ahead!
The Great Auckland Flash Party | 6 April—7 April
Sunset Tattoo is back with The Great Auckland Flash Party for 2018! There’s an amazing line-up including heaps of Sunset Tattoo regulars, as well as brand new artists from around the world. This two-day event is entirely walk-ins only so get in quick to secure a spot—we hope you’re feeling adventurous, there are hundreds of designs at special flash day prices!
Auckland Go Green Expo & Better Food Fair | 7 April—8 April
Two great shows come together all under one roof! Bring some goodness into your life as Auckland Go Green Expo & Better Food Fair brings together New Zealand’s largest sustainable lifestyle show combining a street eats and food market! There’s eco homewares, food and beverages, supplements, organic products, beauty and so much more! Saturday is even open for a late night with music, a bar and of course a large street food offering for a fun night out.
Dog Day Afternoon | 7 April
Calling all dog enthusiasts and canine friends from all corners of Auckland! Bring your pups, big and small, old and young, to Silo Park’s Dog Day Afternoon. After being a huge hit in 2017, it’s back and better than ever. Celebrating our favourite four-legged friends, you’ll be in the running for ‘Spot’ (pun intended) prizes, a dog agility course, an onsite vet team plus the best part of all: dogs, dogs and more dogs!
Auckland International Cultural Festival 2018 | 8 April
Transport yourself to a café in Moscow, a street market in the Philippines, a carnival in Brazil or all of them and more all in one day! Get to the Auckland International Cultural Festival at Mt Roskill War Memorial Park to celebrate Auckland’s wonderful cultural diversity with a range of new experiences and delicacies from around the globe. Thrill your taste buds as you make your way through the stalls, enjoy live performances, and get amongst the cultural activities for a day all around the globe.
Sabato Market Day | 9 April
Quickly becoming a hot favourite in Auckland’s event calendar, Sabato Market Day knows how to please an Aucklander! This time around it’s all about Easter, with a solid line-up of gourmet food trucks we all know and love, Easter treats, in-store specials, fresh produce and more! Cheesemonger Calum will also be doing a Parmigiano cracking at 12:30pm which is not to be missed—this is one foodie event for all (and cheese!).
Food & Wine Tasting, Degustation Dinner with Huia Vineyards | 11 April
Certified organic wines made from the land with love in Marlborough, Huia Vineyards is a boutique, hands-on producer and they’re coming to town! Indulge in a six-course degustation dinner at The Wine Cave perfectly matched with a range of Huia wines. You’ll be treated to serrano ham and melon caviar, sake-cured Akaroa salmon, Coromandel scallops, tender seared duck breast and caramelized Cambridge apple Crème Brulee to top it all off! Drooling yet? It’s time to round up your foodie and wine-loving friends for a good night out!
Friday Films: Guardians of the Galaxy | 13 April
Silo Park is where you’ll want to be this Friday evening! Kick off your weekend with one of the much-loved Friday Films at Silo Park, where this week you’ll be treated to Guardians of the Galaxy. This is one space odyssey that everyone will enjoy, young and old alike, as Chris Pratt’s breakout role teams up with a collection of space misfits as they go on a hilarious quest to the other side of the universe. Bring something comfy to sit on and a blanket to cosy up in and get ready for an epic adventure under the stars.
Herbal Tea Workshop with Joi Tea | 15 April
Mix up your very own personalized tea at this Herbal Tea Workshop with Joi Tea back by popular demand. Join qualified naturopath, medical herbalist and director of Joi Tea Kohei Iguchi in this interactive and fun workshop. You’ll be taught all about the medicinal herbs and their benefits, a tea tasting session (with snacks!) and blend your own personalized tea to take home and enjoy!
Halsey—Hopeless Fountain Kingdom | 19 April
Hailed as the “voice of the generation” by MTV, Billboard Magazine, and Forbes, Halsey brings her hopeless fountain kingdom tour on her highly-anticipated return to our city. Whether it’s her unmistakable voice, her take-no-prisoners badass attitude or her catchy tunes you just can’t help grooving to, we can’t get enough of Halsey! Get excited as the day finally comes for this incredible show making waves around the world.
Tasting Room: Exploring Italia | 24 April
You might know and love a Pinot Grigio, but have you tried a Montepuliciano? Heard of a Gavi? There are more than 20 wine regions and hundreds of wine varietals in Italy that are still waiting to be discovered at Vivace’s Tasting Room: Exploring Italia event! Join special guest presenter Marco Nordio, explore the mysteries and secrets of this special country that us brought us some of the best wines in the world. Matched with delicious tapas, try ten very different and delicious wines and learn all about them—you might even find your brand new fave!
ANZAC Day | 25 April
In the final year of WW100 commemorations, this year’s ANZAC Day programme is insightful and incredibly important. Set your alarms for the 6am dawn service with the fam, and join Saint Kentigern College’s premier choir Kentoris as they welcome the dawn in the surroundings of the WWI Sanctuary. From uplifting music to poetry and spoken word, the museum will be free to everyone on ANZAC Day with a number of workshops and interactive events on offer.
Best Foods Comedy Gala | 26 April
Hosted by Comedy Fest crowd fave Arj Barker, Best Foods Comedy Gala is kicking off the 2018 NZ International Comedy Festival with a night of side-splitting comedy. The Comedy Fest has lined up a spread of talent showcasing just a little taster of who’s taking part in the month of Comedy Fest antics. Joining Arj Barker on stage includes Dai Henwood, Heath Frankin’s Chopper, Andrew Maxwell, The Fan Brigade, Aunty Donna and so much more!
Friday Films: People’s Choice | 27 April
How did that happen so quickly?! Summer at Silo Park is drawing to a close (sob), so it’s time to choose your final happy ending at this wonderful summer spot we’ve frequented for so many months. Ending this Silo summer season with a bang, make sure you’re ready for this one last hurrah starring your fave food trucks, hoy drinks from Good Karma, specialty drinks from the pop-up Silo bar, and the Friday film as chosen by you. Don’t miss out on saying goodbye to this awesome summer oasis one last time!
PUSS—A Musical Comedy Cabaret | 27 April—28 April
Consider yourself a bit of a crazy cat person? Musical comedy cabaret PUSS might just be the show for you. Directly from starring as Roxy in Chicago, New Zealand Music Theatre artist Nomi Cohen brings her musical comedy cabaret show to The Basement as part of the NZ International Comedy Fest! A Remuera feline once at the top of her game, Puss finds herself clawing her way back to the top again after her tragic downward spiral—will she ever be back in the spotlight? Featuring a range of recognizable hit musical and pop songs, this is one curiously humorous show with an impressive list of awards under its belt that you won’t want to miss!
NZ Spirit Festival | 27 April—29 April
You’re invited to the first ever NZ Spirit Festival of yoga, music, dance, healers and workshops is going down at the Kawai Purapura Retreat Centre on the North Shore! Taking inspiration from festivals in Byron Bay and Bali, this festival is all about transformation and positive change from within. This is a jam-packed three days of live music and entertainment, workshops, massages, readings and delicious plant-based food for a weekend like no other!
Want more?
- Where To Find Crazy-Delicious Treats This Easter
- Things To Do In Auckland This Easter Weekend
- Things To Do After Work In Auckland
Image Credit: Halsey - Hopeless Fountain Kingdom Tour