12 Epic Things To Do In Auckland This Weekend

It's another stellar weekend in good old Tāmaki Makaurau, and I'm sure you can't wait to get stuck in.

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Here are 12 epic things to do this Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and all weekend.

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Friday 14 November

Find Our Whar A Vaudevillean Is

14 & 15 November | The Civic | $$$

Image credit: WellingtonNZ | Website

Laughs, music and multifarious skills. Ever heard of Vaudeville? Before streaming, TV, cinema, and radio, there was Vaudeville and the bona fide comedic legend that is Bill Bailey is returning to the Chur with a show that celebrates this great tradition. A versatile multi-instrumental, multi-lingual, purveyor of humour and musical prowess—old Billy Boy could lay claim to being, quite possibly, the foremost practitioner of this tradition. But don't take my word for it, go see for yourself.

Celebrate A Decade Of Beautiful Noise 

14 November | Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall | $$-$$$

Auckland's coolest choir is celebrating 10 years of shaking up what choral music can sound like, and they've called in the big guns. Stimmung Choir's anniversary bash brings all 90 members together with a star-studded lineup including Julia Deans, Troy Kingi, Dianne Swann, Jazmine Mary, Paul McLaney, Mikey Havoc, and more surprise guests still to be announced. What started in 2015 with 30 singers has exploded into a 200-strong community of ex-Team NZ sailors, psychologists, jewellery designers, firefighters, and everyone in between (ages spanning early 20s to mid-80s, no auditions required), who've spent the past decade performing rock anthems and choral harmonies across self-produced shows, Comedy Festival collabs, and stages with Ria Hall, Laughton Kora, and Milan Borich. 14 November, Town Hall.

See The Coolest Band In Town

14 November | The Powerstation | $$

Image credit: NO CIGAR | Facebook

One of the best five-piece rock outfits to emerge from NZ in the last wee while is these guys. They also happen to have one of the best band names, too. NO CIGAR deliver what I like to call a distortion-pedalled blend of early Arctic Monkeys and something entirely of their own, rolling indie, surf and alt all into one big leaf of their own. They occupy a versatile space in grass-roots NZ rock that a few breakout bands here are quickly making a niche of. And they're so good they've already sold out their only upcoming AKL show at The Powerstation. Maybe they'll add another one? They are playing Christchurch too...

Saturday 15 November

Party In A Park

15 November | Albert Park | $$$

Image credit: Parklands Festival | Instagram

A multi-stage city centre day fest in this economy? Memories of the good old days—old Laneway and the like—in Albert Park? Parklands Festival is delivering the absolute goods, kicking off the summer calendar in mighty fine fashion on 15 November. Luude, Camo & Krooked, Goddard, Songer, Danny Byrd and more, all throwing it down amongst the palm trees and sprawling lawns of our city's most storied outdoor venues. 

Sunday 16 November

The Latin Market Is Coming To Tāmaki Makaurau This Weekend

Image credit: Uchu Hot Sauce | Instagram (@uchu_nz_)

Pachamama Latino Store is hosting the first of their Latin Market series this Sunday, with all the Latino eats and beats. From Argentinian BBQ, Peruvian ceviche to Mexican baja tacos, plus traditional Chilean dances and Español rock, bring the fam for a fun day out. Check out the Pachamama store while you’re there too. With locally-made Peruvian Uchu rocoto hot sauce from Chef Carolina Noble, as well as Argentine alfajores made by Mariana’s Kitchen in Lower Hutt—they’re both a must-try and pantry essentials in my books. - Vicki Young

Get Hypnotised By This Talented Trio

16 November | Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall | $$

Image credit: NZTrio | Supplied

NZTrio closes out their 2025 programme of string and key wizardry with Hypnotique, a whirlwind of chamber music that challenges everything traditional about the revered genre. Violinist Amalia Hall and pianist Somi Kim, joined by a guest cellist (TBA), tear through works from Lyell Cresswell's virtuosic Moto Perpetuo to Pascal Le Boeuf's jazz-adjacent electronics, Fauré's lush Romanticism, and Schönberg's deeply transcendent Verklärte Nacht. Boundary-breaking, utterly beautiful, and coming to a hall near you this November.

Pack The Tissues For This Poignant One-Woman Show

'Til 16 November | Q Theatre | $$

NZ theatre darling Ellie Smith is back home with an uplifting and poignant new one-woman show—Life on a Loop. This heartfelt exploration of dementia comes straight off the back of a return London season during World Alzheimer's Month at Golden Goose Theatre, and marked Smith's first Aotearoa stage performance in over 15 years. Playing at the one and only Q Theatre, 11-16 November.

All Weekend

Witness A Bilingual Masterpiece

Various Show Times | ASB Waterfront Theatre, Parnell Village | $$

Image credit: Auckland Theatre Company/Tiri: Te Araroa Woman Far Walking | Website

Closing out ASB Waterfront Theatre's 2025 season is Tiri: Te Araroa Woman Far Walking, a groundbreaking adaptation of Witi Ihimaera’s epic tale. Directed by Katie Wolfe and starring Miriama McDowell, this two-part production follows Tiri Mahana, a 185-year-old matriarch, from the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi to modern-day Aotearoa, and for the very first time, the play will be performed in both English and te reo Māori.

Go On A Journey Through American Fine Art

8 November-15 March | Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki | $

A landmark presentation of 52 compelling works from the world-renowned Virginia Museum of Fine Arts opens at Auckland Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki this weekend. Jackson Pollock, Andy Warhol, Rosalyn Drexler and many more make for a major cultural event for Aotearoa New Zealand, including high-quality examples of art born from a variety of styles, movements and mediums. Tickets required.

Indulge In A Staycay, Bubbles, And The Best Caviar Service In Auckland

Until 30 November | JW Marriott Auckland | $$$

Image credit: JW Marriott Auckland | Facebook

The most luxurious staycation to slide into our inbox—and wishlists—is.  True to its namesake, a crisp bottle of France’s best champagne is the centrepiece of the stay. Though, it’s brought to life with some extra indulgences: like Auckland’s best Caviar service. A full tin of Caviar Mafia, a dozen pillowy oysters, trolleyed right in, to enjoy between sips in the comfort of your own suite.

Speaking of angelic extras. The stay comes with a leisurely 1pm check out, valet parking, and breakfast in the most sprawling of Auckland's breakfast buffet. Available until the end of November, this experience goes from $1,888 a pop. Broken down, this is perhaps the best #girlmath in town.

This offer is yours any day of the week. But do get in quick, there’s just the one space kitted out for the occasion until the end of November. Plus, we hear this spring iteration is just the tip of the JW Marriott staycation iceberg. We’re on tender hooks for more—and you should be too.

Head Uptown For This Neighbourhood Food Festival

'Til 16 November | Uptown | $-$$$

Image credit: Uptown Bites | Supplied (Blink @blinkboys)

Uptown in Tāmaki Makaurau is debuting their first food festival, Uptown Bites. Restaurants, cafes and bars at the top of Grafton, Newtown and Eden Terrace are coming together with food deals, free tastings and workshops for two weeks (Monday 3 November to Sunday 16 November). Learn how to make chicken larb (meat salad) and Luang Prabang salad (a.k.a. Laos salad) at Puen Eatery & Bar, and serve it in your very own ceramic plate made at Eden Ceramics’ workshop. Say cheers with a champagne tasting at Normanby Fine Wines, followed by crayfish from Lillius (served with beautiful greens from local community garden O.M.G. Organic Market Garden). Master the art of coffee with Altezano Brothers and De’Longhi, then watch the team at Sabato demo risotto and paella at their free tasting. Don’t forget to get tickets to A Taste of Dalmatia, where the Dalmatian Cultural Society are putting up an epic buffet spread for two nights—complete with octopus salad, sarma (Croatian cabbage rolls), pršule (fried doughnuts) and palačinke (crepes), to name a few. Check out the full line-up here. - Vicki Young

All that weekend planning left you hangry? Check out The Feed.

Main image credit: Halloween Dog Parade | Eventfinda

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