Auckland After Five

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Are you in Auckland for work and only get to see something of the city after 5? Luckily, there is still heaps to do in the so called City of Sails in the evening. If you need to spend an evening or two, Auckland has you covered.

Skytower at night

The highest tower in New Zealand is not only a highlight by day, but also at night. From the observation deck you can watch how the city lights sparkle and reflect in the water of Waitemata Harbour. The tower is also great if you happen to have a business dinner. Enjoy the yummy food at the rotating Orbit restaurant while the view outside the window keeps changing.

Wine and Dine on Waiheke

Waiheke Island is famous for its many vineyards. There are over 20 on the little island, and many of them have cellar doors and restaurants. Catch the after work ferry with the locals and enjoy sunset on the boat. The ride to gourmet heaven takes about 30 minutes. The closest vineyards to the ferry terminal are Mudbrick and Cable Bay and the main town Oneroa with many more restaurants is only a 10 minutes’ walk away. There’s no need to hurry as the ferries run to about 11pm. Just make sure you do check the timetable.

Vulcan Lane, Fort Street and Britomart

If you are after a glass of wine or pint of beer, you can’t go wrong with either of those areas. They are all in the CBD, just off Queen Street. Vulcan Lane hosts the oldest bar in Auckland, the Belgium Beer Cafe and Cassette No. 9 that turns into a nightclub in late hours. Fort Street is the place for beer and casual food. Don’t forget to pay a visit to the White Lady, off Fort Street, to eat a burger in Auckland’s most iconic late-night burger place!

Britomart is a new and more exclusive area with plenty of stylish bars.

Visit the Auckland night markets

No matter where in Auckland you have business to do, there is always a night market nearby. 7 days per week, in a different location every day. In the CBD, the night market takes place on a parking lot between Shortland Street and Fort Street. Taking place every Friday from 5 to 11pm, it boasts lots of amazing, reasonable street food. It’s mostly authentic asian food but there’s also plenty of westerner and maori kai (meaning food). Sometimes they even have live music that goes great with your food.

More food at Wynyard Quarter

The Wynyard was re-built and opened for Rugby World Cup 2011. It extends from Viaduct Harbour and adds even more excellent restaurants to the already extensive list. Many of them with waterview, the quarters of Viaduct Harbour and Wynyard really show why Auckland is nicknamed City of Sails. Sit down, enjoy a nice glass of wine or dinner, and watch people walking by. Once your belly is full, walk dinner off with a stroll around the Viaduct Basin and marvel at all those expensive yachts berthed in the harbour.

Catch a movie at Silo Park

If you’re in Auckland in summer, you’re lucky as there are countless free events happening all the time. One of the city’s favourites are the movies at Silo Park, at the end of Wynyard quarter. Surrounded by food trucks that cater to your every need, sit down on a blanket or camping chair (bring your own) and enjoy a movie that is projected onto the huge silos.

There are also lots of other events happening in Silo Park year-round, so best check out their website to see what’s happening while you are visiting. If you visit in winter and are after watching a movie, there is an Event cinema complex at Aotea Square off Queen Street.

Laugh tears at the Classic Comedy Club

Walk up Queen Street for about 20 minutes and you will find a genuine gem. The Classic is a proper comedy club as you imagine it. Little stage, bistro table, even some brick walls…It’s the birthplace of great Kiwi comedy. There’s a show happening every day apart from Tuesday, so if you are after some laughter, head to the Classic!

Guest Writer

Alexandra Diethelm | Discover Aotearoa | Facebeook | Instagram | Pinterest

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