Auckland is a city where extinct volcanoes meet sleek glass towers, where salty sea air drifts through laneways filled with good coffee, and where every weekend feels like a mini holiday. If you are wondering about the best things to do in Auckland this weekend, you have landed on the right guide. From world famous ice cream created by culinary artists at GIAPO to ferry rides that deliver you straight into storybook scenery on the North Shore, the City of Sails serves experiences that suit every traveller. This article will walk you through five unmissable stops, each paired with a practical insider tip and a user‑supplied photograph, so you can plan with confidence and maximise every minute. Whether you crave skyline views, street food fiestas, or historic strolls, Auckland has you covered. Read on, pack comfortable shoes, and get ready to tick off the ultimate list of things to do in Auckland.
1 GIAPO – Ice Cream as Art
My friends in the hostel swear you have not really visited New Zealand until you have been to GIAPO. Located in Auckland CBD, this small storefront dazzles with big ideas. Everything is gluten free, yet flavour never feels restricted. GIAPO is known for pushing the limits by sculpting cones into wearable art, layering silky Italian gelato with edible glitter, and turning the humble Hokey Pokey into a honeycomb revelation. On any given afternoon you might see local artists sharing a table with international chefs who have flown in just to taste a single scoop.
The menu is short on purpose. Nine flavours rotate with the seasons, letting ingredients shine at their peak. Staff treat every order like a mini collaboration, asking about your mood and pairing toppings accordingly. If you think you know pistachio, wait until you taste their slow roasted Bronte nut gelato finished with a warm pour of single‑estate chocolate. It is dessert, theatre, and a souvenir rolled into one.
Practical Tip: Arrive before three in the afternoon to avoid the evening queue surge.
Official site: https://www.giapo.com
2 Devonport – Vintage Charm by the Sea
A twelve minute ferry ride delivers you from the downtown terminal to Devonport, a heritage village that looks like it stepped out of a nineteenth century postcard. Edwardian shopfronts line the main street, soldiers’ barracks still crown North Head, and seagulls glide over calm water that glows turquoise on sunny mornings.
Spend an hour browsing second hand bookstores, then climb Mount Victoria for a panoramic sweep of the Waitematā Harbour. When hunger strikes, fish and chips on Cheltenham Beach hits the spot. Families love the safe tide, while photographers love the late afternoon glow that bathes the volcanic cones in soft gold.
Devonport balances quiet nostalgia with ever‑present creativity. Jazz drifts from pubs on Fridays, local glass blowers sell one‑of‑a‑kind ornaments, and a pop‑up market often spills across Victoria Wharf on Sunday.
Practical Tip: Catch the final ferry back around sunset to witness the city skyline sparkle.
Ferry timetable: https://www.fullers.co.nz
3 The Light Path – Walk the Pink Ribbon
Locals call it Te Ara I Whiti, yet most travellers recognise it simply as the Light Path. A former motorway off‑ramp has been reborn as a vivid magenta walkway that curves above central streets like a ribbon of neon candy. By day you get sweeping views of the SkyTower and leafy suburbs beyond. By night thousands of embedded LEDs dance through pastel tones, turning the path into an open‑air light sculpture.
Cyclists and joggers love the smooth surface, and photographers line up for hybrid portraits that mix urban grit with futuristic glow. A connected network of city cycle lanes means you can start on the Light Path then cruise all the way to the harbourfront without meeting heavy traffic.
Practical Tip: Rent an e‑bike from nearby Queen Street and ride at dusk when the lights first ignite.
More information: https://at.govt.nz/cycling‑walking/lightpath
4 Silo Park – Waterfront Culture Hub
Silo Park sits in the redeveloped Wynyard Quarter, where concrete grain silos once dominated the skyline. Today those same cylinders host open air movie nights, interactive art projections, and a summer food truck fair that showcases the best street eats in the city. Children splash in a playful fountain while adults sip craft lemonade under festoon lights.
If you visit on Saturday you might find local DJs spinning vinyl from inside a converted shipping container. On Sunday morning the park slows down for yoga classes that face the marina. Everything is free except what you choose to eat, making Silo Park a budget friendly and very lively stop on any Auckland itinerary.
Practical Tip: Check the events calendar online to line up your visit with live music or outdoor cinema.
Events schedule: https://www.silopark.co.nz
5 SkyTower – Auckland from the Clouds
SkyTower pierces the clouds at three hundred twenty eight metres and claims the title of tallest structure in the Southern Hemisphere. Elevators reach the main observation deck in forty seconds, revealing a wraparound vista that sweeps from the Hauraki Gulf all the way to the Waitākere Ranges. Glass panels beneath your feet provide a gravity tingling thrill without any real risk.
Adrenaline seekers can book a SkyJump, essentially a controlled base jump that drops you from the outer ring at eighty five kilometres per hour. If that sounds like too much excitement, settle into the revolving restaurant and watch the landscape rotate slowly while you nurse a flat white.
Practical Tip: Purchase tickets online to skip the ticket desk queue and save a few dollars.
Official site: https://www.skycityauckland.co.nz/sky‑tower
Add these five stops to your New Zealand itinerary and your weekend in Auckland will feel twice as long. Whatever you do, do not skip GIAPO.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: How can I get around Auckland without a car
A: The AT HOP card lets you tap on ferries, trains, and buses with a single reloadable smart card. Rideshare scooters and rental bikes cover short hops between attractions. Walking is pleasant inside the central city.
- Q: Is everything at GIAPO really gluten free
A: Yes. GIAPO operates a fully gluten free kitchen, uses dedicated tools, and sources certified ingredients so coeliac travellers can indulge without worry.
- Q: Is the Light Path only open after dark
A: The Light Path is open twenty four hours a day. It is colourful in daylight, yet the LED show activates at about dusk and runs until morning.
- Q: What can families do at Silo Park
A: Families enjoy the playground, free outdoor movies in summer, and casual dining at food trucks. The flat paths are stroller friendly and there are clean public bathrooms on site.
- Q: Can I experience Auckland in just one day
A: Start with a morning ferry to Devonport, grab lunch by the beach, ( fish and chips anyone?) return for an afternoon scoop at Giapo, walk or bike stroll the Light Path at dusk, then finish with sunset views from SkyTower. You will barely scratch the surface yet you will leave happy.
- Q: What is the best season to visit Auckland
A: Summer offers warm beach days, yet spring and autumn bring mild weather and fewer crowds. Winter is cooler but still packed with indoor festivals and the views from SkyTower never fade.
