Auckland’s Top 10 Must-do Events
Affectionately known as ‘The City of Sails’, Auckland is New Zealand’s largest city, with approximately 1.6 million people.
A lively, multicultural metropolitan mix of urban charm, natural beauty, and a neverending list of places to go, things to see, and eateries to try, Auckland is a must-visit destination.
Have a read of what we believe are Auckland’s top 10 must-do events, and go and check them out for yourself.
This annual festival held each year in Auckland is a true cultural experience.
The largest Pacific Island cultural festival in the world, this festival hosts seven different villages, showcasing the differences between the cultures within the Pacific Islands.
Complete with food, dance, music, crafts, and local artisan products, the Pasifika festival is a stunning example of the beauty of cultural diversity.
2. Laneway Festival
Laneway Festival is a star-studded festival that tours across Australia before heading to Auckland each year.
Beginning in 2005, this outdoor summer festival is the perfect day out filled with live music, talented artists, and the hot summer sun.
3. Auckland Marathon
The ASB Auckland marathon is held at the end of October each year.
New Zealand’s biggest, brightest, and most iconic running event that stretches across the beautiful Auckland coastline, you have the choice of a full marathon, half marathon, 11km, 5km, or the Kids fun run.
With the opportunity to fundraise and run on behalf of an important charity of your choice, this is one community-filled event that brings everyone together, no matter what your level of fitness.
4. New Zealand Fashion Week
New Zealand Fashion Week is a week-long event showcasing some of New Zealand’s most talented designers, make-up artists, stylists, photographers, and models.
If you want to experience an event that brings together local talent from all over the country to create breathtaking shows of an international standard, then make sure you get in early - tickets sell out fast!
5. Auckland Lantern Festival
The Auckland Lantern Festival celebrates the culmination of the traditional fortnight of Chinese New Year festivities.
New Zealand’s largest Chinese cultural festival, it showcases traditional and contemporary Chinese culture, hundreds of handmade lanterns, music, dance, theatre performers, martial art displays and workshops, arts and craft stalls, food stalls selling delicious Chinese and Asian cuisines, and a breathtaking fireworks finale.
6. Auckland Diwali Festival
This hugely popular, family-friendly event celebrates traditional and contemporary Indian culture, featuring bright lights, energetic dance performances, Indian delicacies and a spectacular fireworks display.
Celebrated worldwide and colloquially known as ‘The Festival of Lights’, Diwali signifies the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and the renewal of life.
7. Port of Auckland Round the Bays
Port of Auckland Round the Bays is a family-friendly classic.
Held in March each year, New Zealand’s largest fun run/walk takes you around the beautiful Hauraki Gulf, along 8.4km of true New Zealand beauty.
Choose to enter as part of a team to fundraise for a local charity, dress up in your best costume, or enter as a family to take part in a fun-filled event for everyone, no matter what your age.
8. Auckland Arts Festival
Auckland Arts Festival is a globally recognised celebration of arts and culture, held annually in March of each year.
With a range of arts across the spectrum, from theatre, to dance, to comedy, to circus, to cabaret, to visual arts, to much, much, more, this multi-day event is one that is not to be missed.
9. Auckland Writers Festival
Auckland Writers Festival is a week-long festival held annually in May of each year.
With over 200 public events featuring over 200 of the world’s best writers and thinkers, this festival celebrates the world of books, ideas, connection, and the power of words through writers of contemporary fiction and non-fiction, scientists, economists, poets, journalists and public intellectuals.
10. Farmers Santa Parade
This family-friendly event is a Kiwi Classic.
Held each year at the end of November, Farmers Santa Parade features a wide range of spectacular floats, giant inflatables, marching bands, entertainers, and New Zealand’s favourite characters from film and TV...not to mention the main man himself.
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