After a week of winding through New Zealand’s wondrous natural landscape on North Island, we made it to the final stop of our road trip – Auckland! (Check out the first road trip on South Island here.) We spent six days in the country’s largest city in August 2025.
Don’t be fooled by metropolitan facade. Straddling two harbours and built across volcanic hills, this city seamlessly blends urban sophistication with natural beauty. While we enjoyed the more modern things like karaoke booths, cafes and shopping, we also enjoyed scenic landscapes.
Another lovely point about Auckland is that we can get food 24/7 which is honestly, a really great feeling (or filling!). Fair warning: parking in Auckland is both challenging and expensive.
Here were the things that we did, see, and eat:
On The Road
Auckland Botanic Gardens
Auckland Botanic Gardens was the first stop for the road trip. It was near the airport and was located next to the main highway down South. Even though we visited on a Sunday with many visitors, there was ample space to enjoy the gardens. The gardens are huge and divided into different sections. This includes herbs, camellias and magnolias, palms, native plants, edibles, and African plants.
Despite its size, the paved paths connecting each section made for an easy stroll. There were benches if you ever needed a break. A delightful place to explore, especially on sunny winter days.
They have trails, activities and workshops too. Free entry, and you can borrow wheelchair and mobility scooters at the Visitor Centre for free if needed.
Address: 102 Hill Road, The Gardens, Auckland 2105, New Zealand
Sylvia Park Shopping Centre
We spotted this huge shopping centre from the highway as we drove in to Auckland, and decided to check it out. It is the largest mall in New Zealand featuring local favorites and international brands. We returned for a second visit to shop at the huge Kmart.
The mall is so vast that exploring it in one visit felt exhausting. Luckily, there were lots of resting spots near food courts, children’s play zones and the supermarket.
Address: 286 Mount Wellington Highway, Mount Wellington, Auckland 1060, New Zealand
The Palace Dance Studio
The Royal Family Dance Crew is a Mega-Crew founded in 2011 by Parris Goebel that originated from Auckland. They are known for their iconic dance style called “Polyswagg” – a mix of street dance and Polynesian youth culture.
Visitors are actually not allowed in the studio, and we knew that the Royal Family dance crew were on tour then. But could not resist popping by just to see the place where they auditioned and trained, and built their careers.
Address: 605c Great South Road, Manukau City Centre, Auckland 2025, New Zealand
City Center
Food Options
Usually halal food options are in the same area (for example, Elliott Street-Queen Street-Lorne Street)
Mamak Malaysian Restaurant (Halal)
This was a very cosy Mamak stall, it wasn’t as big as the Mamak in Australia, but the taste is still top-notch. The menu features Murtabak, roti canai, and satay, fried rice and seafood. The nasi lemak here is served with curry.
A Malaysia halal certificate and news articles were displayed near the counter. The portions are generous and perfect for sharing. Side dishes like epok-epok are also available. Fried rice, mee goreng, tofu, and vegetables with three drinks were about S$57.
Address: Chancery Square, Unit 106/50 Kitchener Street, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Oodles 老白家兰州牛肉面(CBD) (Halal)
Worth the uphill trek, Oodles serves generous bowls of hand-pulled Lanzhou noodles alongside Uyghur specialties. You decide how much chili oil and garnishes goes into your meal, and self-service water is available. We bought three bowls of noodles and a drink for S$46. Overall, it was not too bad and the chili oil was the kicker.
Lanzhou noodles have clearly become a favorite across Australia and New Zealand.
Address: 22 Kitchener Street, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Uncle Man’s K’road (Halal)
Though parking required a walk from the main road, the excellent food and welcoming atmosphere made it worthwhile. Uncle Man’s K’road is known for their roti canai, which you can see the staff making on the spot. They had a good range of Malay dishes including soto ayam, maggi goreng, nasi lemak, tahu sumbat and kuih dadar.
The mee goreng and satay were excellent, though the nasi ayam was average. Total with drinks: S$62.
Address: 277 Karangahape Road, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Izmir Kebab and Grill. Auckland CBD (Halal)
This was located right beside our apartment, and turned out to be one of the nicer kebab and doner shops. The shop is small, but there are always customers at any time of the day. There are lots of such shops around the city centre, so you do not really have to worry about supper!
Address: 64A Federal Street, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Kebab Time (Halal)
This was another pretty good restaurant that does its meat on chips well! They also sell kebab wraps, fried chicken and the usual fried suspects.
Address: 55 Victoria Street West, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
The Snack Stop + Burger Express + Mr. Snack + The Food Junction (Halal)
Along Elliot Street, there is a bunch of container shops selling halal food. This was a great spot for supper because they open till late. Some will be opened during lunch time onwards. There are kebabs, burgers, Indian food, meat on chips, seafood, hotdogs, toasties, milkshakes and more. An angus burger and smashed burger at Burger Express went for S$15.
Address: 5 Elliott Street, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Avachi (Halal)
Walked past this halal fried chicken place, but did not have the chance to try it. It seemed to always have customers at night and is a favourite among students and chicken lovers. Comes with burgers, kebabs, and more.
Address: 1/239 Queen Street, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
The Makassar Corner Indonesia (Halal, Muslim-owned)
This was a very quiet neighbourhood at night. They can make really spicy dishes, so only agree if you are sure you can take it. The restaurant offers a range of Indonesian cuisine. We bought two main dishes and a side with two drinks for S$53.
Address: 193 Dominion Road, Mount Eden, Auckland 1024, New Zealand
The Peoples’ Barista (Halal options available)
Have a quick breakfast with a cozy and welcoming atmosphere here. After spotting a hijabi staff member, we inquired about halal options. She shared that the chicken sandwich is halal. There were also wraps and pies available.
A drink and pastry cost about S$10.70. The chocolate danish was not dry and it was tasty, while the coffee was good too. The staff even served us a free cupcake!
Address: Telco Tower Level 0/16 Kingston Street, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Cocoa Wilds Chocolate (Halal-friendly)
Cocoa Wilds Chocolate is a New Zealand-based family business known for its premium quality and flavors. The friendly staff guided us expertly through their chocolate varieties. They sold fresh chocolates, decadent bars, hot chocolates and bean-to-bar selections. Flavours include salted caramel, chewy caramel, ginger bread, hazelnut, orange, passionfruit, strawberry, praline and more. (Marshmallow ones are not halal.) Thanks to the tasting samples, we could decide which delicious flavour to get.
Besides the quality chocolates, we also had to try their viral frozen hot chocolate with toasted fluff. The frozen hot chocolate was thick and smooth, like you’re drinking chocolate milk shake. You can choose between 33%, 53%, or 70% chocolate, and customise it to be dairy-free, vegetarian, or halal-friendly.
Address: 12 O’Connell Street, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Giapo (Halal-friendly)
Giapo is an artisan ice cream shop that serves handmade ice cream, gelato and sorbet with a modern twist on the flavours and presentation. Made exclusively from natural ingredients, their desserts include halal, vegan, kosher, and gluten-free options.
Don’t miss their most unique creations—specialty cones like the signature Colossal Squid Cone and Sky Tower Cone. We saw children and adults enjoying it.
The ice cream that we tried were pretty good – rich and smooth in flavour. Since it is like an artisan shop, do expect the prices to be higher than average ice cream prices, and challenging parking (like all places in the city).
Address: 12 Gore Street, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Luna Bakehouse @ Elliott Stables (Halal-friendly)
Despite the similar name to Melbourne’s Lune, Luna Bakehouse has carved its own reputation in Auckland. The spiced chai latte was a great breakfast drink, coupled with their delicious croissant and pastries.
Founded during the COVID-19 lockdown, Luna Bakehouse began with an obsessive quest to perfect the croissant. Visitors can get anything from a danish to tarts, rolls, bomboloni, sandwiches, and more. It was matcha season then, so matcha drinks and matcha-flavoured pastries were abundant.
With its friendly atmosphere and ever-evolving menu, Luna Bakehouse is a sweet haven in the heart of the city. I’ve seen posts online that said the bakery was halal-friendly, but please verify if you visit!
Note: You have to enter Elliott Stables to spot Luna Bakehouse. It is a mini food court with international eateries in a former warehouse with industrial-chic ambiance. There might be renovations on that road, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the entrance.
Address: 39-41 Elliott Street, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Gong cha (Lorne Street)
Thank goodness for this bubble tea shop in town. It is usually packed with youth at night (including us!). The shop is big with seating areas, and is situated along other restaurants as well. Drinking hot milk tea in the cold weather was definitely lovely. Visited this place a few times to get our bubble tea fix, because we can.
Address: 7/38 Lorne Street, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Auckland Night Market
This night market may disappoint those seeking an authentic market experience—it’s essentially a row of shops rather than a sprawling vendor spread. There were no halal food options, and the booths mostly served Asian takeaway (think bbq, skewered meat, tanghulu, egglet waffle, juice etc). On the other side of the Wharf building were a few bars and restaurants. It was a small space offering various street food.
The surrounding area like the waterfront, open plaza, activity area were more fun to explore at Silo Park. Many locals were playing basketball and hanging out.
Address: North Wharf, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Auckland Fish Market
This fish market was located opposite the Auckland Night Market, but uses the same open-air carpark. While more intimate than Sydney’s Fish Market, this waterfront precinct offers quality seafood in a modern food-court setting. You’ll also see frozen wholesale store, Sanford and Sons Fishmonger, for quality, fresh, sustainable seafood.
Some shops allow you to select your seafood and they will cook it for you, while some offer ready-made seafood dishes. There was a range of cuisine types from Asian fusion to South American grill to lobster-centric menu and more. There were also fish and chips and sandwiches.
Address: 22-32 Jellicoe Street, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Things to Do
Britomart Saturday Market
From the cafe, we took a 10-minute walk to the Britomart Saturday Market. It was a lively, vibrant market with live music that only opens on Saturdays, 8am onwards. Spent about one hour and a half exploring the array of food, flowers, fresh produce and more. (Think handmade accessories, 3D-printed collectibles, clothes, bags, ornaments!) We splurged on the local accessories at the market.
Visitors can enjoy various types of cuisines including all sorts of baked goods, Asian food, and more. If I remember correctly, there was no halal-certified food stalls, so do buy at your own discretion.
The atmosphere was also complemented with live jazz music performances, and booths with social causes. They were selling chocolates and candies to for those seeking safe asylum.
Address: Te Ara Tahuhu Walking Street, Britomart Place, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Health NZ City
Passed this shop by chance to find manuka honey lozenges. They had a more curated offering of vitamins and natural health products as compared to souvenir gift stores. The available products seem to be of high quality, and some brands are rarely found in the other shops. You can also find some New Zealand-made gifts and souvenirs.
Address: Shop 4/23 Customs Street East, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Queens Arcade
Built and opened in 1929, this building screams charming and antique. The arcade was originally constructed as three separate buildings with two main street frontages. It was adapted from two separate Victorian buildings. 1
Inside this two-storey mall, you will find fashion, kitchenware and coffee shops. Kemelyen Gallery Studio had some interesting displays, but the main reason we popped by was because of Marbecks Record Shop – a record shop filled with history and a wonderful wide catalogue of pop, world music, jazz, nostalgia, country. Having survived the Great Depression and World War II, the business evolved through every major format change — from 78 records to LPs, cassettes, CDs, and back to vinyl. We found the rock albums that we had been hunting for, and probably the only cd shop that had it throughout our trip. 2
Unfortunately, Marbecks announced it would close its physical Queen Street store and move to an online-only model in September 2025.
Address: 40 Queen Street, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Commercial Bay
Commercial Bay’s open-air design reminded me of Singapore’s Star Vista. The place is quite busy during the weekend as there is a plaza that people use for group demonstrations – we spotted one peaceful protest against the Chinese government.
The shop had a range of high-end retail and boutique stores, and dining options. Nice to window-shop.
Address: 7 Queen Street, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Aotea Gifts Auckland @ Commercial Bay
Aotea Gifts is like a household name, you can find it almost anywhere in New Zealand. The shop at Commercial Bay was one of the biggest that I have seen, with lots of souvenir options. Even for creams, there were so many brands to choose from, and testers are available. It has a wide range of items, from snacks, clothes, keychains, health and wellness products as well as local art and jewelry. We spent at least $100 in total for souvenirs.
Address: Commercial Bay 188 Quay Street, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
SkyCity Auckland + All Black Experience
The iconic Sky Tower makes this landmark unmistakable day or night – a 328m tall building which offers a thrilling 360-degree view of Auckland. There is the SkyWalk and SkyJump activity at the top. (It was a bit pricey, so we didn’t.) You can also fuel your adrenaline at the SkyCity’s casino which opens 24/7 and at restaurants and bars.
When we visited on Saturday night, the illuminated Sky Tower was complemented by food booths and entertainment along the walkway. There was strawberry fondue, drinks, wraps etc. Cosplayers were around dancing and there was even a DJ at the lobby – like a whole festival. Might be a weekend thing because it was empty on other days.
For the rugby fan, definitely pay a visit to the All Black Experience. You get to touch the game-day stone that the All Blacks bring to every single match if you’re lucky! See the actual trophies and autographs in person. Immerse in New Zealand’s national rugby team’s history and culture and there are some interactive games to test your skills and knowledge during the guided tour. The Haka performance by the ladies team at the end – magical.
There is also the Weta Workshop Unleashed, where you can witness the behind-the-scenes action of blockbuster films.
Address: Corner Victoria and, Federal Street, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Rebel Sport Atrium
Rebel Sport is a sports store where customers can get any of the large sports brands. Quite a few previous season pieces of various sports were on sale, so visit here if you are looking for those.
Address: The Atrium, 11 Elliott Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Real Groovy
Real Groovy is a collector’s heaven. As one of the first and longest lasting vinyl store since 1981 in New Zealand, you will find walls up to the store pasted with music, film and movie posters. The shop took up the whole of the second floor (Woolies downstairs) and was filled with vinyl, CDs, tapes DVDs, gifts, books, novelties, clothing, music-related memorabilia and more.
The shop also offers new and used vinyl and CD collection. While current releases are limited, the extensive collection spanning multiple genres—including K-Pop—more than compensates. So many classics, so many new and used collections, such vintage atmosphere. Speakers and turntables were also available for sale.
There were lots of collectors’ items like band tees, books, clothes, hats, and games too.
Address: 19 Victoria Street West, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Coin Singing Booth
This was the perfect night activity to unwind and party. We chanced upon this place when we had lunch at Mamak. This is a Korean-style karaoke booth so the controls were in Korean (with English translations taped to the remote), and the machine shows the scores at the end. The booth comes with disco lights and all.
Since it is a pay per song mode, make sure to finish singing the song to enjoy the full experience, and get the 11 songs (NZ$24) or 15 songs (NZ$32) package from the get-go, cause anything less was not enough! Trust us on this one.
There was a extensive list of songs available from all Asian countries (imagine Kpop, Mpop, Cpop, Tpop and more), as well as English songs. While the booth were not entirely soundproof, it was fun listening to other patrons singing off-key, enjoying themselves, and singing the same popular trending songs – namely Golden, Justin Bieber songs, Kpop.
Address: 47 Chancery Street, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010, New Zealand (Open from 12pm to 12am, closes at 2am on Fri and Sat)
Woolworths Greenlane
You can easily spot a huge Woolworths store to get whatever you need.
Address: 326 Great South Road, Greenlane, Auckland 1051, New Zealand
Sightseeing
Harbour Bridge View
This was one of my favourite spots in town. Admire the sunset, the iconic bridge and the harbor views. It was a very relaxing stroll along the shoreline with plenty of benches and parking.
The area is great for photos, a peaceful time with loved ones and pets, or even trying out some fishing. Spot the holes in the walkway for anglers to hold their fishing poles.
The Harbour Bridge will light up in vibrant colours after dark.
If you are an adrenaline junkie, consider doing the Bridge Bungy Jump or Bridge Walk!
On the other side is a pier, filled with boats and fancy yachts docked – with a cute I heart Auckland sign. There is a park nearby, toilets, a cruising club, and a few restaurants for convenience. If you walk down, you will reach the promenade, Wynard Quarter, and eventually the city center.
Address: 181 Westhaven Drive, Westhaven, Auckland 1011, New Zealand
Wynyard Crossing Bridge (Te Wero Bridge)
From the Auckland Night Market, if you walk further down towards direction of the city centre from the waterfront precinct, you will reach the Wynyard Crossing bridge. Watching the two 22-metre movable sections rise to create a 36-metre-wide channel was fascinating—the entire operation takes just 90 seconds to open and 60 seconds to close.
The night ambience was even better with the cool weather and a singing busker nearby.
Address: Wynyard Crossing Bridge, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Gantry + Silo 6 + Heritage Landing (Located in Silo Park)
There are a few landmarks at Silo Park, which includes the Gantry, a steel structure that lit up at night. From nine metres high, you can see a bird’s eye view of the waterfront. There is a lift and staircase available to enjoy the relaxing atmosphere, but honestly, nothing much other than that.
Nearby is Silo 6, 35 metre tall, concrete silos that form its structure. These structures were built by structural engineers A.G Price in 1961 as storage for cement. On certain days, the space is used as an exhibition and event space which host music, art, community and cultural events.3
Walk a little bit more towards the pier and you will be at Heritage Landing, a yacht dock and a display of wooden vessels to showcase Auckland’s maritime history and celebrate their wooden boatbuilders. Climb up a short flight of stairs for the view of the Harbour Bridge.
Address: 26 Hamer Street, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
The Lightship
We just drove past The Lightship at night to see Australasia’s largest lightwall. Spanning 110 metres and powered by 8,500 programmable LEDs, it transforms a working port into a vibrant canvas for contemporary public art – free. Not sure if we visited during the right season, but the lightwall that we saw was nothing extravagant and was a bit muted to be honest.
Address: Bledisloe Wharf, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Auckland Art Gallery Toi O Tamaki
Was very fortunate to have some time to myself to explore an art gallery in town! Housed in a beautiful building along a steep hill at the edge of Albert Park, this is New Zealand’s largest visual arts experience. Its collection numbers more than 17,000 artworks of historic, modern and contemporary art across four floors. There were both national and international works, which includes works by Māori and Pacific Island artists (and students!).
Only one special exhibition was paid entry (because it a touring exhibition and not part of their collection), while the other seven galleries were free entry for all. The works include painting, sculpture and print collections dating from the 11th century till today. Managed to catch New Zealand’s piece for the 2024 Venice Biennale which was about destruction of nature, wetlands and their coasts. The impressionist works were also beautiful.
I liked that the overall messaging of each section of the exhibits was solid and clear, so it allowed for strong impact and reflections. My observation was that there were a lot of commentary pieces on colonization and the destruction of culture and nature, which was especially strong in the museums in smaller cities that we visited. Everything felt so brutal, yet presented so poetically. Overall, there is also a strong culture of collaborating with youths across New Zealand.
Address: Wellesley Street East, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
For those who want an trekking adventure, you can also do so in the heart of the city – Rangitoto Island! Take the short scenic cruise from Downtown Ferry Terminal on Quay St to visit the base of a volcano, and you can walk up to the summit in approximately an hour. There are also many caves or ‘lava tube’ tunnels to explore. This can be done in a day.
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