LashWorldTour with panoramic view of Auckland from Tamanaki Drive

Lash with panoramic view of Auckland from Tamanaki Drive

10 Free Things to do in Auckland, New Zealand

Auckland can be a rather expensive place to visit, as can all of New Zealand, truth be told. Accommodation, food, public transportation, petrol, attractions and entry fees are all pricey. For visitors traveling on a budget, that can seriously limit what you’re able to see and do.

Quite luckily, Auckland also has plenty of great things you can do absolutely free. Here are 10 fantastic ones that I discovered while visiting recently. Hope you enjoy them too!

Coast to Coast Walkway – Auckland

1. Hike the Coast to Coast Walkway

Metropolitan Auckland is situated on a narrow stretch of land sandwiched between two large, impressive harbors. Downtown Auckland lies smack on Waitemata Harbor in the east while the suburbs stretch westward to Manukau Harbor.

The Coast to Coast Walkway, as the name implies, runs between the two harbors for 16 km.

If you’re into hiking or scenic panorama views, then you must do this walk when you visit Auckland. It passes over several of Auckland’s highest volcanic hills, includes many of the city’s best panoramic views, crosses through some of it’s best parks and meanders through a few distinctive residential areas.

The city start/finish point is located at Auckland Maritime Museum with a prominent sign. Starting there and walking westward, hikers simply follow yellow trail markers.

The western start/finish point is located in a small bay-side park just a few minutes walk from Onehunga Train Station. Walking eastward into the city, hikers follow blue trail markers.

The trail is also marked on most city maps.

Personally, I’d recommend starting at the western Manukau trail-head and walking east into the city center. The western end is a bit industrial and the hike starts by passing through a large residential area. As you move further east you spend more & more time in parks, less time in neighborhoods. And you end up in the city center where you can find a huge range of restaurants. It’s also easy to catch a train or bus back to wherever you’re staying.

If you start in the city center and walk westward, the last hour or so of the hike might be a let down. It could also be hard to find places to eat and will certainly be harder to catch transportation.

modern art galleries at Auckland Art Gallery

2. Visit Auckland Art Gallery

Most Auckland museums have hefty entry fees, which is a real bummer to budget-conscious travelers. Quite luckily though, Auckland Art Gallery is free. And that is most definitely not the museum’s only merit.

The Gallery has a great & varied collection of paintings, particularly modern art, historic paintings of New Zealand, and Maori artist’s works.

Equally impressive is the museum’s phenomenal architecture. In 2011 the museum’s new modern wing was completed. Since then it has won numerous awards for it’s beautiful, creative design. The architects have managed to fit it smoothly against the original Victorian building as well as involve neighboring Albert Park, with its lush leafy trees and grassy lawns.

Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium free shuttle bus

3. Catch the free ‘shark bus’ shuttle out along Tamaki Drive

The ‘shark bus’ is actually a free shuttle service for Kelly Tarlton’s Sea Life Aquarium, which is located several km south of downtown along stunning Tamaki Drive, which hugs the coast along Waitemata Harbor.

Although Auckland has terribly botched its shoreline within downtown, once you get out past the extensive cargo wharves, the beautiful harbor scenery suddenly opens up. All along Tamaki Drive you’ll see offshore islands and volcanoes, marinas full of sailboats, inland waterways, headlands, cozy bays with beaches, and superb panoramic views back to Auckland city.

Kelly Tarlton’s free shuttle service is designed for aquarium customers, but bus drivers don’t require passengers to hold aquarium tickets nor do they ask any questions. Everyone is welcome on board.

So why not catch a free bus ride out along the gorgeous coast? Especially since Auckland public transportation is so outrageously expensive.

Alternately, you can walk, jog, ride a bike, skateboard or otherwise get out along Tamaki Drive. However you get there, be sure not to miss that coastline!

Mission Bay Beach

4. Spend a day at the beach

After you disembark from the shuttle bus at the aquarium, admire the stunning views of Auckland then explore the rest of Tamaki Drive further south. It’s only a 10-15 minute walk along the coast to Mission Bay Beach.

For a city beach, it’s quite lovely. Backed by a leafy green park that provides free public toilets, showers and drinking fountains, Mission Beach is a fantastic way to spend a morning, afternoon or full day in Auckland. Nearby are shops, restaurants and bars.

The gently curving golden-sand beach gets wonderfully hot in summer and early autumn. Leafy trees offer cool shade if you start getting sunburned. And views over the harbor with small volcanic peaks & islands are pretty cushy.

How many places in the world can you sit on a beach gazing at a volcano?

Auckland marina at Viaduct Basin

5. Check out sailboats at the world’s most densely-populated marina

A large marina is located right in the city center at Viaduct Basin, providing anchorage to dozens of sailboats, catamarans and power boats. Promenades surround the marina, so it’s easy to meander around investigating all the gorgeous boats. Check out their rigging, decks, names, and detailing. See how the wealthier side of society enjoy their leisure time, hobbies and water sports.

Auckland Fish Market Auction screen print

6. Start you day at Auckland Fish Market Auction

If you can get yourself up early enough, head over to the Fish Market whole sale auction, located just west of Viaduct Harbor. The weekday auction starts at 6 am for restaurant, shop & hotel personnel to bid on their fresh seafood for the day’s meals. It’s a very exciting, unique way to start a morning in Auckland!

The Domain – Auckland

7. Relax in Auckland’s parks

Auckland boasts a variety of truly great parks. Several are actually extinct volcanoes with large grassy meadows and huge shady trees. Most have stunning panoramic views over Auckland. Each has it’s own special characteristics. Following are several of Auckland’s best:

Note: If you do the Coast to Coast Walkway, you’ll pass through all these parks. If you don’t feel like doing such a long hike, be sure to visit at least one of these parks to relax and enjoy the superb views.

Albert Park is a small landscaped park right in downtown Auckland and adjacent to the Art Gallery. It’s the quickest and easiest park to reach if you’re in the city center.

One Tree Hill offers phenomenal panoramic views over the entire Auckland metropolis, from one harbor to the other. It’s huge open meadows are, surprisingly, full of sheep, making it a very unique public park.

Cornwall Park is connected to One Tree Hill on its northern side. In fact, if you didn’t see the park signs, you’d think you were still on One Tree Hill. Cornwall Park provides huge shady trees, large lawns, tree-lined roads & walkways and landscaped gardens.

Mt Eden is Auckland’s highest peak at 196 M. Like One Tree Hill, it also offers phenomenal panoramic views over the entire Auckland metropolis. On top is a cute grassy crater. It’s the only spot in the world thus far where I could view a major city and a crater simultaneously.

Lash at Winter Gardens – Auckland

8. Surround yourself by flowers at Wintergardens

Wintergardens consists of two large greenhouses jam-packed with tropical flowers and plants set beside a landscaped courtyard with viewing pool. It’s located in The Domain, also home to Auckland Museum. If you’re into flowers or tropical plants be sure to visit these vibrant overly-lush greenhouses.

sipping espresso samples at Nespresso Store in Newmarket – Auckland

9. Nespresso – Get charged up on free espressos

Newmarket is one of Auckland’s trendiest boutique neighborhoods, located a short walk beyond The Domain and Auckland Museum. It would take about 30 minutes to walk there from downtown. Alternately, you can catch a train or bus.

Among its many boutiques, Newmarket boasts one of New Zealand’s two Nespresso stores. If you like espresso coffee, get yourself over there- they have a chic coffee bar serving up free espressos to potential – and veteran – customers.

Their range of 23 coffees vary from light to super strong, scaled from 2-12. Visitors are welcome to sample several different types – a full espresso each time. Just be careful not to overload on caffeine.

Aotea Square – Auckland

10. Watch people at Aotea Plaza

Aotea Square in downtown Auckland is a great place for watching local youth. It’s a large open triangular plaza surrounded by several modern buildings and the stately historic town hall. Aotea Square is considered Auckland’s civic heart, with theaters and concert halls in the adjacent buildings. There’s also an intriguing arch-type sculpture in the middle of the square.

No wonder young locals hang out there, playing soccer and socializing. Great place to get a grip on New Zealand’s youth culture.

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You might also enjoy:

My First Impressions of Auckland

How I Can Afford a 3-Month Trip to New Zealand

Photos of Hobbiton movie set

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