Adventure

Auckland is pulling out all the stops this month. Here’s what’s on in Auckland this week, this month, and this year. 

If you’re one of those folk who likes adventures but can’t be faffed travelling far and wide for them, Auckland is the best place to live. An outdoor playground lies—quite literally—just beyond our doorstep, waiting for us to explore it. 

We’ve scoped the waterfalls around the city to bring you a list of the best in Auckland. Take a picnic!

Walking is one of the best ways to make the most of the City of Sails. So grab some sturdy shoes, make use of the kauri dieback wash stations and get amongst the beautiful coastlines, stunning waterfalls, urban strolls and native bush.

From animal parks and art galleries to ice cream crawls and escape rooms, consider it your one-way ticket to never hearing the words 'I'm booored', ever again.  

Get ready to hit the town.

As the saying goes, you can’t beat Wellington on a good day.

Here are the best events happening in Queenstown in 2024.

Escape on an island adventure to the majestic yet mysterious, Rakiura Stewart Island. 

Kiwi summers are incomplete without heading out to the wild exploring the beautiful nature the land has to offer. Read on to learn about the five spots in Hamilton to relax this summer. 

Sick of being a passive bystander in a movie theatre? Perhaps it’s time to become the lead in your own story.

There are some excellent pet-friendly campgrounds scattered around New Zealand that are happy to welcome both you and your furry ones.

Who loves the salt, sand and sea more than us humans? Our furry best friends of course. That's why we've got to get them out and about at the most dog-friendly beaches in Auckland.

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.

Calling all snow homies, holiday heroes, music-mad, and just plain festy frothers—epic destination festival, Snow Machine is next week. And. You. Don’t. Want. To. Miss. Out. 

Whether you want to enjoy a picnic alfresco, go for a walk, watch the sunrise or sunset or just get away from it all, here are the top suggestions for reconnecting with nature and filling your wellness cup.

Here are eight epic day trips from Auckland for you to tick off one by one.

Here are 52 things to do in Auckland this winter that will (almost) distract you from missing summer.

Since jetting off to the tropics isn't even an option this summer, why not take some time to wander through the Abel Tasman and explore one of Aotearoa’s best landscapes. Grab your boots and your tramping buddy, and try out 10 of the best day tramps the Abel Tasman has to offer.

Swooning for a hooning? Feel the need for speed? Careen around the race track and leave your mates in the dust at one of Tāmaki Makaurau’s best spots for Go Karting.

From tiny huts in the forest to a luxurious private retreat and accommodation in an actual boot, Aotearoa has an abundance of cosy winter escapes for a cheeky weekend away.

Camping is as much a part of Kiwi culture as remembering to blow on the pie. Whether you’re camping in a tent, campervan or prefer a cute cabin, if you’re after lakefront, beachfront or in the middle of the bush, Northland’s got you. 

If you're looking for the best accommodation options in the wonderful town of Taupō, look no further.

The ultimate long weekend of all long weekends is coming up.

Turquoise waters, rugged cliffs, native flora and laid-back towns—The Coromandel is pretty much paradise. And with more than 400km of idyllic coastline to explore, it’s no surprise that the region is also home to some of the country’s most beautiful beaches.

The gateway to some of the best stargazing in Aotearoa and the world, Lake Tekapo is one helluva holiday destination.

New Zealand is one heck of a b-e-a-utiful place and as its people, it would be downright rude not to explore it. 

Sage sticks at the ready. We’ve done some digging and conjured up some of Aotearoa’s scariest stories.

Get your boots on, carbohydrates packed and bring a positive headspace because you’ll need it—here’s everything you need to know before tackling the summit of Mount Taranaki.

A town in the shadow of an incredible picture-perfect volcano, and with a mix of art and adventure on offer, New Plymouth makes for a great weekend getaway.

Invercargill may get a bad rap but once you start exploring this southern extreme of New Zealand, you soon realise just how much there is to love. 

Friends are great. Always there to listen and advise, help you pick out killer outfits and approve romantic partners.

Explore the volcanic heart of the Tongariro National Park on an epic one-day tramping adventure.

Explore the volcanic heart of the Tongariro National Park on an epic three to four-day tramping adventure.

If you’re anything like us, your resolution to get fit may seem like an uphill battle—literally. But here in the City of Sails, we’re lucky enough to be sitting on a whopping 53 volcanoes, and they all offer striking views of our wonderful city. 

Rid yourself of life's stresses at this tranquil oasis. 

The Queen Charlotte Track is a three-to-five-day tramping and mountain biking track that traverses the beautiful Marlborough Sounds.

You’ll be surprised at how far you can go without your own four wheels. Here's a list of trips from Auckland you can take when you don’t have a car

The Bay of Plenty boasts some of the best sun, sea and sand that New Zealand has to offer. Tucked away along the coveted coastline is Tauranga, home to the iconic Mauao volcano and dreamy Mount Maunganui beach. Affectionately termed “the Mount” by locals, this seaside gem offers watersports for the adventurous, festivals for the free-spirited and mouth-watering eats for the foodies.

Let’s face it, us Kiwis are an intrepid bunch. We love travelling to the far corners of Mother Earth in search of beauty and adventure. But the grass is not always greener—New Zealand is filled with natural wonders that will take your breath away.

Camping and summer is like wine and cheese—you can’t have one without the other. With all of its lakes, beaches and walks, the top of the south is spoilt for choice when it comes to serene camping spots to park up for a night or two under the stars. 

New Zealand is renowned for its stunning scenery, natural beauty, wondrous escapes and being one of the best places to look at the Southern Lights.

We're spilling our secrets on all the best tours you need to get amongst to make the most of your time in Auckland. 

If you reckon yourself pretty logical, or maybe you’re the team’s creative, or even you’re the one who’ll touch every single thing in sight just to see if something will happen, tag a team together to conquer these Christchurch Escape Rooms.

We’ve rounded up all the best things to do in the Coromandel this summer. Consider it your summer bucket list.

Ever wanted to live like a Hobbit? Here's your chance.

Ready to get adventuring? Here are the best free camping spots in New Zealand.

What’s up, long weekend? Big thanks for gracing us with your presence—it’s been a while. There’s no better way to welcome three days of no work than with a cheeky roadie. Lucky for us Aucklanders, some seriously beautiful spots are just a couple of hours drive away.

We can all be found guilty of becoming a bit of a ‘stress head’ from time to time, but who can blame us?

Dubbed The Tron, Hamilton is a vibrant city with countless experiences to uncover. From adventurous activities and epic eats to natural wonders and zen retreats, there’s something for locals and visitors alike. Here are all the best things to do in Hamilton.

Love doesn't have to cost the world—no really, it doesn't, as this list of 50 date ideas for under $50 shows. From stargazing to strawberry farms, museums to mini golf, and ice skating to ice cream crawls, there are plenty of cute, fun and outright romantic ideas for you and your beloved to get amongst. 

Everyone who’s anyone knows New Zealand will deliver when it comes to walking tracks and the heart of Canterbury is certainly no exception. From your 30-minute morning run before work to a Sunday spent adventuring the outdoors, Christchurch has it all. With spectacular views and plenty to get the blood pumping, we’re here to share the best walking tracks and trails of our suitably titled Garden City.

For a completely free workout, lace up your running shoes, put in your ear buds and head outside to explore the absolute best running tracks in Christchurch.

Camping is great and all but when you've done your dash with tents and pegs and basically sleeping on the ground, enter the glorious campervan.

We’ve been longingly watching from across the pond and now it’s our time to enjoy the stunning outdoor vacay of a lifetime—Unyoked is finally launching their very first New Zealand nature escape, and it's going to be epic.

Land of volcanoes and geothermal hot spots, Aotearoa's geographic history has truly blessed us with the best.

Paradise is open and you'll be surprised how easy it is to travel there, provided you can remember where your passport is buried. Here are 15 things you'll want to pack for the perfect holiday in Fiji paradise. 

Here are the best camping spots in the Coromandel, where you can unwind, relax and get back to the simpler things in life—and remind yourself what matters.

Sometimes things get a little tight…the washing machine breaks down the same week as the car does, and then the dog gets sick. And, let’s face it, as much as we love the City of Sails, it’s bloody expensive to live here. But this doesn’t mean you need to be bored—with a little creativity and a whole lot of thriftiness, we’ve found the best free things to do in Auckland. You’re welcome.

In celebration of the upcoming holidays, we asked some of our fave ice cream purveyors around the country which New Zealand beach gets their vote. Read on to see where these ice cream legends love spending their free time.

We sought the help of some of our favourite travel bloggers to clue us in on the places that don’t get the love they deserve and boy, did they deliver.

Discover some of the natural spots in Rotorua that are great to take a breath or two in and simply reconnect with nature and yourself. 

It’s no secret that we live in the most beautiful country on earth. From our sweeping coastlines, rugged mountain ranges, ferny forests and open plains, New Zealand has everything you could ever want and so much more. With so much beauty on offer, it would be a shame for you to miss any of it, so we’ve rounded up nine of New Zealand’s most beautiful spots that you might not even know existed.

From late night eats to gorgeous gondola rides and delicious cocktails to live gigs, Queenstown is an epic city around the clock. Here are the best things to do in Queenstown at night.

We're talking luxurious resorts, pristine winter powder and indulgent eats.

Looking for the ultimate, all-inclusive South Island holiday package for Spring 21/Summer 22? Book this exclusive 10-day New Zealand staycation to explore the South Island in complete luxury.

From the top to the bottom of New Zealand, turquoise waters gush across native bush and create some of our most breathtaking landscapes and the best Instagram pictures.

Fortunately for us, scenic drives are plentiful in this part of the world. As well as views for Africa, we’re graced with plenty to do along the way. From discovering cute little settlements, to ultimate picnic spots and places to stop off for a dip in the lake.

It’s not everyday that a giant, cosmic entity lights up the sky with an intergalactic aura—completely kicking a regular full moon to the curb.

Pivot those holiday Euros into making some beautiful memories right here at home with these epic New Zealand escapes.

To celebrate, we’ve collated the 10 Aussie Airbnbs that are on Kiwi’s wish lists—to inspire you when you’re planning your trans-Tasman trip.

Adventure enthusiasts, unite! Banff Mountain Film Festival is just around the corner and it’s packed with enough jaw-dropping moments to set even the most adrenaline junkie of hearts a flutter. 

Without further ado, here’s our list of 10 epic movie locations around Auckland that made it onto the big screen.

If you’re on constant lookout for new adventure and enjoy a healthy dose of adrenaline in your bloodstream, then canyoning is a must. 

Guess what, people?! Summer is here and there’s a heck of a lot to be excited about.

Forget paying through the nose, here are 11 of the best under-the-radar baches available in pristine regional parks dotted around Tāmaki Makaurau.

Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight…Aucklanders, while the South Island may be famous for its skies, we’re pretty damn lucky too. 

The Ōmanawanui Track along with Puriri Ridge Track is a six-kilometre upgrade to the Te Ara Tūhura / Hillary Trail. Make a day of it and take the new scenic route from Huia and Whatipu. Load up on sandwiches and sunscreen as this track is 12 kilometres long taking 5.5 hours each way.

If you’re planning a Queenstown getaway, make it a memorable one by heading out to Glenorchy and exploring the impressive scenery in an electric 4WD buggy. Delta Discovery offers self-drive tours (so much more fun taking on river crossings yourself) in a 100% emissions free vehicle loaded with GPS technology. 

Queenstown is synonymous with adrenaline—it has not only forged an enduring reputation as a world leader in adventure tourism but has continued to adapt, innovate and evolve to reach new heights (excuse the pun) in the name of tourism—and we just can’t get enough. 

Psst you! Yes, you! It’s no secret Auckland is one awesome city full of equally awesome things to see and do. However, many of the city’s greatest gems are top secret. Discovering all these hidden nooks and crannies would take a lifetime. So, to help you out, we’ve rounded up the city’s best secret spots you must visit. Please note: All of these are hush hush so don’t tell anyone, okay?

Who says you can't work out and have fun? If you are looking for a workout that combines strength training, agility, stability, yet a conventional run or workout routine at the gym just doesn't quite get your adrenaline rushing, look no further. 

Let’s face it—the Land of the Long White Cloud is pretty much the most beautiful country in the whole entire world. And, we Kiwis get to actually live here. Yep, pinch yourself, because we live in paradise. 

Move over monopoly, escape rooms are our new favourite way to get competitive and tackle some good old fashioned problem solving with our friends. Here are the best escape rooms in Wellington. 

From raw and rocky coastlines to stunning lake and alpine ranges (did someone say Southern Alps?) and some of the world’s most accessible glaciers, we can’t help but fall in love with what the west coast is putting out. But if you still need a little convincing that west is best, we’ve put together a list of five must dos that will be sure to make up your mind. 

Make the most of your weekend and hit the open road to check out some of the best beaches within driving range of Auckland.

It’s all in a name: Bay of Plenty. While most of us fly through the North Island en route to the tip or tail of the country, It's the very heart of Aotearoa that has some of the most arresting views. 

Adrenaline junkies, listen up! We’ve got just the list for you. Test your stealth, aim, and courage with a ‘friendly’ game of paintball with friends, family, or co-workers — because let’s admit it, it’s always fun to belt your friends with a paintball or two, all in good nature of course. We’ve rounded up some of the most adventurous and spookiest places to play in Auckland. Lock & load… 

It's time to shade up, splash in the ocean and toast yourself dry in the sun.