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Auckland itinerary

7 days, hour by hour · New ZealandOctober–May

Days
7
Stops
33
Per day
≈ 214 NZD
First stop
08:30

By TripWalkers · Updated:

Short answer

The TripWalkers Auckland itinerary runs 7 days and lays out 33 stops, hour by hour, for October–May. The first three days:

  1. Day 1 City and Sky Tower
  2. Day 2 Waiheke Island
  3. Day 3 Volcanoes: Mount Eden and Devonport

Staying less? Start with the first days — TripWalkers uses the opening days of this plan for shorter trips too. Days 2, 4, 5 and 6 are day trips out of the city. Food, entry fees and local transport come to about 214 NZD a day (excluding accommodation and flights).

Day 1 · 09:00–16:00

City and Sky Tower

  1. Landmark

    Sky Tower

    At 328 m, the tallest tower in the Southern Hemisphere. Glass floor; SkyWalk and SkyJump cost extra. Book online.

    ≈ 40 NZD per person

  2. Culture

    Auckland Art Gallery

    Māori and Pacific art under a kauri timber roof. Free entry (20 NZD for foreign visitors).

    Free

  3. Nature

    Albert Park & Üniversite

    Victorian park with a floral clock.

    Free

  4. Food

    Depot Eatery Federal Street

    Al Brown's oyster and seafood bar, right below the Sky Tower.

    ≈ 35 NZD per person
  5. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  6. Landmark

    Viaduct Harbour & Wynyard Quarter

    Marina with America's Cup yachts. Visit Silo Park and the Maritime Museum (25 NZD).

    Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Auckland Fish Market WynyardFish market food hall: try the fish and chips.
  • New Zealand Maritime MuseumFrom Polynesian canoes to yachts, plus a boat tour of the harbour.

Day 2 · 09:00–16:30Day trip

Waiheke Island

  1. Landmark

    Waiheke Ferry Fullers

    40 minutes from Downtown (return about 60 NZD) across the Hauraki Gulf.

    ≈ 60 NZD per person

  2. Nature

    Oneroa Beach & Village

    Winter beach walk and galleries.

    Free
  3. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  4. Food

    Mudbrick Vineyard

    Vineyard and restaurant with city views. Try the syrah; book ahead.

    ≈ 45 NZD per person

  5. Food

    Cable Bay Vineyards

    Neighbouring vineyard with wine and cheese platters on the terrace.

    ≈ 25 NZD per person
  6. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  7. Nature

    Onetangi Beach

    Winter beach walk. Stonyridge vineyard (Larose) is an alternative.

    Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Man O' War VineyardBeachfront vineyard at the far end of the island. Take a taxi or drive.
  • Waiheke EcoZipZipline with forest and sea views; an alternative to wine tasting.

Day 3 · 08:30–16:00

Volcanoes: Mount Eden and Devonport

  1. Nature

    Mount Eden

    196 m volcanic crater with 360° views of the city and Sky Tower. Best in morning light.

    Free
  2. 1 h 30 min · travel, break, free time

  3. Culture

    Auckland War Memorial Museum

    Māori hall (war canoe, marae), haka performance (extra) and volcano gallery, set in the Domain park.

    ≈ 32 NZD per person
  4. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  5. Landmark

    Devonport Ferry

    12-minute ferry to a Victorian town.

    ≈ 8 NZD per person

  6. Nature

    Mount Victoria Devonport

    Short climb to views of the city skyline and Rangitoto opposite. Winter guns are in place.

    Free

  7. Food

    Devonport Chocolates & Waterfront

    Town main street, chocolate and Cheltenham Beach.

    ≈ 10 NZD per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Wintergarden DomainGlasshouses next to the museum. Free.
  • Devonport Stone Oven BakeryBakery café.

Day 4 · 09:30–16:30Day trip

Piha and Waitākere

  1. Nature

    Arataki Visitor Centre

    Gateway to the Waitākere forest (45 minutes by car). Māori carvings and views.

    Free

  2. Nature

    Kitekite Falls

    40 m waterfall. Easy 1-hour return walk, with a swimming pool at the base.

    Free

  3. Nature

    Piha Beach & Lion Rock

    Winter waves; beach walk and the rock.

    Free

  4. Food

    Piha Cafe

    Beach café with fish and coffee.

    ≈ 20 NZD per person

  5. Nature

    Karekare Beach

    The beach from the film The Piano. Waterfall and empty sands.

    Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Muriwai Gannet ColonyGannet colony (August to March); an alternative to Karekare.
  • Elevation Café WaitakereCafé with views on the Scenic Drive.

Day 5 · 09:30–16:30Day trip

Hobbiton and Waitomo

  1. Culture

    Hobbiton Movie Set

    2.5 hours to Matamata (tour about 250 NZD from Auckland). 44 hobbit holes, with a beer included at the Green Dragon. Book online weeks ahead.

    ≈ 120 NZD per person

  2. Food

    Matamata Lunch

    Town café; try a pie.

    ≈ 20 NZD per person
  3. 1 h 30 min · travel, break, free time

  4. Nature

    Waitomo Glowworm Caves

    Glowworm cave reached by quiet boat. No photography; Ruakuri costs extra.

    ≈ 65 NZD per person

  5. Landmark

    Waitomo Caves Village

    Short break before the 3-hour drive back.

    Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Ruakuri CaveCave with a spiral entrance. Photography allowed; an alternative to Glowworm Caves.
  • Huhu Cafe WaitomoThe best café in the cave town.

Day 6 · 09:15–16:00Day trip

Rangitoto and Ponsonby

  1. Landmark

    Rangitoto Island Ferry

    25-minute ferry (Fullers) to a 600-year-old volcanic island.

    ≈ 45 NZD per person

  2. Nature

    Rangitoto Summit Track

    1-hour climb of 260 m past lava caves and the crater, through the world's largest pohutukawa forest. Bring water, as there are no shops.

    Free

  3. Nature

    Rangitoto Wharf Return

    Ferries at 12:45 and 15:30 back to the city.

    Free
  4. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  5. Shopping

    Ponsonby Road

    Boutiques and cafés, plus the Ponsonby Central food court.

    Free

  6. Food

    Ponsonby Central

    Food market: try Bird on a Wire chicken and El Sizzling Chorizo.

    ≈ 25 NZD per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Tiritiri Matangi IslandBird sanctuary island (takahe, kokako). Ferries Wednesday to Sunday; an alternative to Rangitoto.
  • Ponsonby DizengoffA breakfast classic.

Day 7 · 09:00–13:15

Mission Bay: a gentle farewell

  1. Nature

    Tamaki Drive Walk

    Coastal road with views of Okahu Bay and Rangitoto.

    Free

  2. Nature

    Mission Bay Beach

    City beach with a fountain. Kelly Tarlton's aquarium is nearby.

    Free

  3. Food

    Mission Bay Breakfast

    Cafés opposite the beach. Eggs benedict for a farewell.

    ≈ 22 NZD per person
  4. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  5. Landmark

    Britomart SkyDrive

    SkyDrive airport bus, 45 minutes. Farewell.

    ≈ 20 NZD per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Kelly Tarlton's Sea LifePenguins and a shark tunnel; an alternative to the beach.
  • Giapo Ice CreamIce cream as art, on Gore Street.

Getting around: get an AT HOP / contactless

Covers buses, trains and ferries (some, such as Devonport and Waiheke, excepted). Contactless bank cards also work.

Good to know: 6 things that make an Auckland trip easier

  1. Use AT HOP or contactless. Ferries are run by Fullers (Waiheke and Rangitoto need separate tickets). The SkyDrive airport bus takes 45 minutes. For Piha and Hobbiton, hire a car or take a tour (drive on the left).
  2. December to February is summer, at 22-26°C, when Waiheke and the beaches are lively. Pohutukawa trees bloom red in December. Christmas falls in midsummer and hotels fill up.
  3. The NZeTA and IVL tourist levy are paid online. Turkish citizens need a visa (check this). Coffee costs 5-6 NZD, a café meal 25 and a tour 250. Tipping is not expected.
  4. Book Hobbiton online weeks ahead. Photography is banned at Waitomo. Rangitoto has no water or shops. At Piha, rip currents can be deadly, so obey the flags.
  5. Māori culture is best seen in the museum, with a haka. 'Kia ora' is a greeting. Try fish and chips, a flat white and hokey pokey ice cream.
  6. UV levels are very high (thin ozone layer). In summer you can burn in 15 minutes.

Spending: ≈ 1,500 NZD per person for 7 days

  • Food520 NZD
  • Entry and tours700 NZD
  • Local transport180 NZD
  • Other100 NZD

Excludes accommodation and flights. 2026 price estimate, per person.

We did the planning. You just pick the dates.

TripWalkers rebuilds this route around your number of days, budget and pace — on a map, day by day, in your pocket.

Download on the App StoreFor iPhone · English and Turkish · Free to download

Your next trip

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Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need in Auckland?

This itinerary is built for 7 days. With 3 days, do the first 3 — TripWalkers uses the opening days of the plan for shorter trips too. The day trip is on day 2, 4, 5 and 6; skip it on a short stay.

How much does a day in Auckland cost?

In this plan, food, entry fees and local transport come to about 214 NZD per person per day. Accommodation and flights are not included. Figures are 2026 estimates.

What time should you start the day in Auckland?

The first stop is at 08:30. Most days start early so you arrive before the crowds, and evenings end with dinner.

Which season is this itinerary for?

This page covers October–May. There is a separate plan for June–September: opening hours, the sea and the weather change the route.