One Day in Auckland Itinerary: The Ultimate Guide

One Day in Auckland Itinerary

With only one day in Auckland, let's make the most of our time there. We'll cover several main attractions throughout the day, breaking things up with some breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert stops.

We really focus on exploring the natural side of Auckland, enjoying some greenspaces, gardens and scenic views. We've also added a trip to the famous Sky Tower so you can soak up the scenery from this epic viewpoint.

Light Breakfast at Tart Bakery

Let's start our day in Auckland with some light bites from Tart Bakery. They are a fully vegan bakery with handcrafted goodies made from premium, dairy-free ingredients.

They're best known for their flaky, butter-free croissants and delicious tarts. They also make artisanal sourdough bread, vegan cakes and cookies.

Their location in NewMarket isn't far from both Mount Eden or the Auckland Domain, though they have a second location in Grey Lynn as well.

Maungawhau / Mount Eden

Here's a beautiful walk to take in Auckland. Walk to the summit of Maungawhau / Mount Eden. Maungawhau means "mountain of the whau tree" and it's a sacred place for Māori communities for hundreds of years.

Maungawhau erupted 15,000 years ago leaving behind a massive 50-metre deep crater. The crater is called "Te Ipu-a-Mataaho" named after the god of volcanoes and earthquakes.

Walk up to the summit of Mt Eden for spectacular vistas of Auckland. Read interpretive signs along the way to learn more about the rich history and culture of this natural marvel.

Auckland Domain Winter Garden

One of the best gardens to visit all year long is the Winter Garden at the Auckland Domain. This historic greenhouse opened in 1913, and it is completely free to visit.

Take a stroll through the Victorian glass houses to witness plants growing in two different climates. One features tropical and heat-loving plants while the other is a display of temperate plants that change with the seasons.

The Winter Garden is home to a rare corpse flower (Amorphopallus titanum) and it's always a question as to when they will bloom. If it comes into bloom while you're in Auckland, you need to see it! There's also a large collection of chrysanthemums, as well as many other lush plants.

Lunch at Sunflower Thai Vegetarian Restaurant

Sunflower Thai Vegetarian Restaurant is the "OG Thai Vegan Restaurant" in Auckland. They serve authentic plant-based Thai cuisine in the heart of the city.

Please note that they have separate lunch hours from 12pm - 3pm, and then close for a couple of hours before their dinner service starts at 5pm.

We ordered the soy duck with rice and veggies, as well as a Pad Thai dish. Both were excellent, and we highly recommend dining here for lunch.

Surf Lesson at Murawai Beach

One thing that we really wanted to do in New Zealand was try surfing. Just a short drive (about 30 minutes) from Auckland, we took a surf lesson at Murawai Beach with Murawai Surf School.

Muriwai Beach is the closest beach for surfing to Auckland. Even though the weather wasn't the greatest, we were equipped with wetsuits that kept us dry and warm.

Our instructor was fantastic. He was super helpful and really patient. It was all about trying a new activity and just having a great time doing it. Even though I wasn't the best at surfing, I thoroughly enjoyed being out on the waves and I'd love to give it another shot!

Here's a fun short video of us surfing! Feel free to subscribe to our YouTube channel to stay in touch with our adventures and travels.

Alternative Option: Ferry to Devonport

As an alternate afternoon option if you don't want to go surfing, consider taking the ferry to Devonport. This was something that we wanted to do, but ran out of time.

It's a short ferry ride from the Auckland Ferry Terminal to Devonport across the way. Soak up amazing views of the Auckland skyline.

Plus, Devonport is a super cute places to visit. There are boutique shops, Victorian buildings, and cozy cafes.

Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill

After our surfing lesson and on the way back into Auckland, visit Cornwall Park for One Tree Hill / Maungakiekie. At 184 meters tall, this is one of Auckland's oldest mountains. This volcano last erupted 28,500 years ago.

Maungakiekie means "hill of the kiekie vine" (which once grew on the hill) and it was once one of the largest settlements for Māori communities.

There's also a history of trees and many famous "one tree" trees, including a lone tree that existed until 1852 and others that were vandalized in 1994 and 1999. Nowadays, there's a 21-metre obelisk and someday a new "one tree" will be planted once again.

There's a path that winds around the mountain until you reach the top. I loved seeing all of the cute grazing sheep in this park! At the top by the obelisk, there's an amazing view.

Dinner at Gorilla Kitchen

Since 2016, Gorilla Kitchen has served up delectable plant-based meals in Auckland. After all, the gorilla is one of the strongest animals on the planet and it consumes a plant-based diet.

Gorilla Kitchen serves healthy, vegan meals that use nourishing superfoods but don't compromise on the flavour.. They serve a range of dishes with everything from raw dishes to pub grub. Take your pick!

As you can see, we truly enjoyed a feast at Gorilla Kitchen! This was one of our favourite vegan meals in New Zealand, so you've gotta check it out.

Sky Tower at Sunset

It's time to visit the top tourist attraction in Auckland, Sky Tower. This tower is 328 meters tall and offers 360 degree panoramic views of Auckland from high up above.

It's possible to spot landmarks from all over the city, including 53 volcanoes in the greater Tāmaki Makaurau area.

Your ticket allows you to gain access to several decks of Sky Tower, including the Main Observation Deck (level 51, 186 meters above the ground), The Lookout (level 53, 192 meters up), and the Sky Deck (level 60, 220 meters high and the top viewing deck).

On level 50, it's possible to savor a drink at the SkyBar, and level 52 has a revolving restaurant, Orbit 360 Dining. Head to Sky Tower about an hour before sunset to watch Auckland scenery transform from day to night.

Gelato at Giapo

For an evening sweet treat, head over to Giapo for gelato. This is a special dessert shop and bakery because the entire kitchen is 100% gluten-free. I love that they stay open late, making it possible to enjoy a delicious treat to conclude an epic day in Auckland.

They create many inventive ice cream cones in different shapes like animals, helicopters, and even ones to represent the Sky Tower! Of course, you can choose a regular cone, waffle cone or cup of gelato, too.

I love how they make note of the vegan options with a V. There are a number of plant-based gelato flavours like Hawkes Bay Kiwi Fruit, Christchurch Hazelnut and Citrus Coconut.

Where to Stay in Auckland

Justin and I spent two nights at the Nesuto St Martins Apartment Hotel (formerly called Waldorf St Martins Apartment Hotel when we stayed there). There are one or two bedroom suites in a fantastic location, within walking distance of the downtown core, Sky Tower and the harbour.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in our suite. It was clean, comfortable and had everything we needed for a great overnight stay. There was a view of the Sky Tower from the small balcony.

I have noticed some really positive reviews about this hotel and some negative reviews. Be sure to book one of the rooms that is a "one bedroom apartment with view" or "two bedroom apartment with view" to ensure you get one of the better rooms.

Book your stay here. If you'd like to compare other hotels, please use the helpful map below. Enter your travel dates for more accurate details. Click each property to learn more and book your stay.

Getting Around

As our visit to Auckland was right at the end of our two week road trip throughout New Zealand, we ventured around by car. Here's our complete guide to renting a car in New Zealand.

This one day in Auckland itinerary does require the usage of a car, especially since we spent a couple of hours in Murawai going surfing.

We always use Discover Cars when finding a rental car anywhere in the world. They are a car rental comparison platform that allows you to compare prices between companies. This allows you to find the best suited car for you at the best rates. Compare rentals with Discover Cars here.

If you don't have a car in Auckland, you're welcome to take an Uber to the places near the Auckland city center, like the parks and gardens. You can also walk around Auckland CBD and by the waterfront, taking the ferry across to Devonport.

Getting around by bike is also quite popular. There are bike rental companies all over Auckland. If you have a half day to spend exploring on bike, I suggest booking this Auckland e-bike tour.

More New Zealand Guides

Planning a trip around New Zealand? You might find more of our New Zealand travel guides helpful:

• Best Things to Do in Queenstown in a Day
• Waitomo Glow Worm Cave Tour
• Best Things to Do in Wanaka, New Zealand
• Things to Do in Arrowtown in a Day
• Franz Josef Glacier Helicopter Tour