Auckland Tips from a Local

Auckland is known as the City of Sails, and getting out on the water is one of the best ways to experience it. You don’t need your own boat, there are plenty of sailing tours leaving from the Viaduct. 

Before heading out, grab a meal at Soul Bar or Oyster & Chop along the waterfront and take your time. After, head back into the city and stop in at the Radisson RED Auckland's Aka Rooftop for a drink. It’s an easy way to round off the day without overthinking it.

For something simple but worth it, head up Mount Victoria in Devonport for sunset. You can walk from Radisson RED Auckland to the iconic Auckland ferry terminal, then get the ferry over to Devonport (get a gelato from Island Gelato before you jump on the Ferry), it takes about 12 minutes from the city, and Mount Victoria is a short walk from the Devonport ferry terminal. 

It’s an easy walk to the top and gives you one of the best sunset views back over the Auckland skyline. 

It’s one of those spots locals keep going back to. Grab some takeaway, find a place to sit, and just watch the city shift into the evening.

If you’ve got a car, heading north for the day is one of the best things you can do. Skip the tunnel and take the scenic coastal route instead. Stop in Orewa for a coffee at Drifter, it’s been my absolute favourite. Get a Long Black & a Jalapeño Cheese toast, then continue on toward Matakana. If you time it right, the Matakana Markets are worth a visit! 

Tāwharanui Regional Park is the final stop, and it honestly feels like a different world. White sand, clear blue water, and a protected bird sanctuary. Bring food, stay a while, and don’t rush it.

Back in the city, the Auckland Art Gallery is always worth a visit. The space itself is great, and it’s a nice way to spend a slower morning or afternoon. 

Right across the road, Albert Park is perfect for a picnic. Grab something to eat, sit under the trees, and take a break from moving around. 

Radisson RED Auckland is literally across the road, which makes this part of the city really easy to explore without needing to plan too much.

Auckland is a city I’ve never really taken for granted. It’s where I grew up, and the more time I spend away from it, the more I realise how much it offers, from rugged coastlines to easy, laid-back city moments, all within reach. 

These are the places I keep coming back to, and the ones I always recommend to friends visiting. 

Staying somewhere central like Radisson RED Auckland just makes it easy to move between it all.