Epic Things To Do In Auckland This Weekend
Lachlan Woods-Davidson
Freelance Sub-Editor | Urban List NZ
It’s officially the last weekend of 2025 so shake off that food coma and make it count.
From live gigs to action-packed nights and food fairs for you to feast your way through, consider this your cheat sheet to another beautiful summer weekend in Auckland/Tāmaki Makaurau.
Here are the best things to do this weekend.
Ring In The New Year At Auckland’s Best Restaurants
At Urban List, we’re constantly asked where to eat in Auckland, so it’s something we take pretty seriously. Incredible food and a great atmosphere are non-negotiables, but how it’s delivered is entirely up to you.
A no-frills noodle joint, a wine bar overlooking the Waitematā with carefully considered small plates, or a produce-driven fine diner championing the best of Aotearoa’s growers and makers—if we’re obsessed with it (new or classic), you’ll find it here in our updated list of Auckland’s best restaurants for 2026.
Nurse Your Two-Day Hangover At These Bottomless Brunches
Auckland has long understood the power of a good brunch—but make it bottomless and it’s a whole different story. From free-flowing mimosas paired with fried chicken and waffles, to endless margaritas alongside tacos or modern Kiwi plates, there’s a bottomless brunch (or lunch… or early dinner) to suit every kind of New Year’s Day recovery.
Take Your Recovery To The Next Level At These Sauna, Ice Bath And Recovery Centres
Few things reset the body and mind quite like a proper sauna session—and if you’re serious about starting 2026 feeling fresh, it might be time to lean fully into hot-cold therapy.
Luckily, Auckland is stacked with recovery spaces where you can sink into the dry heat of a sauna or steam room, plunge into an ice bath, then linger a little longer in magnesium pools or calm, coastal-feeling lounges designed to ease you gently back into real life.
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Main image credit: Sulthan Auliya | Unsplash