Auckland is the largest city in New Zealand and one of the gateways to visiting the country. It is a vibrant city with many outdoor activities, a buzzing food and cocktail scene, iconic landmarks, and a unique charm that makes it a must-visit destination on your trip to New Zealand. With only a couple of days in Auckland and so much to do, it’s important to make the most of it! This guide covers the best things to eat, do, and see for 2 days in Auckland.
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Day 1: Explore Auckland
Just a fair warning, when we travel we like to fit in as much as possible so these itineraries are pretty packed! Feel free to adjust this 2 Day Auckland itinerary as you see fit!
Breakfast & Coffee at Chuffed
There are so many incredible cafes and breakfast spots in Auckland, that it was hard to narrow down where to go. We ended up choosing Chuffed and we were not disappointed! This charming cafe is tucked back away from the street. It has a lovely little patio in the back of the restaurant. Everything on the menu looked so delicious. We ended up choosing two egg dishes and they were so fresh and tasty. You can really taste the difference between the eggs and produce in New Zealand versus back home. That was something we noticed throughout our entire trip.
Visit the Sky Tower
A visit to Auckland isn’t complete without stopping at the Sky Tower. We purchased tickets to the observation deck, but there are numerous options for more adventurous activities, like bungee jumping or walking along the edge of the skydeck.
The view from the top of the observation deck was incredible and it helped orient us to the different parts of the city. The 360-degree view had labels pointing to everything you are looking at across the city.
Purchase tickets to the Sky Tower.
Visit Maungawhau / Mount Eden
Grab an Uber (or walk) and walk to the top of Maungawhau for a scenic walk. Mount Eden is the highest volcano of Auckland’s 52 volcanos. From the summit, you can enjoy sweeping views of the city and its Harbours. It’s an easy walk and only takes about 20 minutes.
Check out this Auckland City Highlights Tour, which includes a visit to Mount Eden, among other stops in the city.
Karangahape Road
Walk from Maunagagau to Karangahape Road for a snack or lunch and small boutiques. Check out St. Kevin’s Arcade, a cute food market with numerous options to eat or grab a drink or coffee. Bestie Coffee is towards the back and they had excellent coffee and pastries, everything looked (and tasted) so good! You can exit the Arcade into Myers Park and walk back towards downtown. We also stopped at Elliot Stables, another food hall, and grabbed some bao buns at Bao Baby Bao. Highly recommend! There is a variety of options to choose from in the food hall.
Dinner at Amano
Again, choosing where to eat is difficult in Auckland because there are so many incredible options. We selected Amano, a trendy Italian restaurant in the heart of Britomart, a main area on the waterfront. The space is cozy and welcoming. The drinks and food were incredible and I highly recommend putting this spot on your 2 day Auckland itinerary. Make sure you make a reservation!
Cocktails at Caretaker
This underground bar is a must-visit if you enjoy handcrafted cocktails. As you walk down the stairs to the bar you feel like you’re being transported to a completely different place and time. The bar is very dimly lit and has lots of cozy seating. There is no menu and your server will come by to ask about your flavor and alcohol preferences. I chose tequila with a fruit-forward taste over a big ice cube. I ended up getting a delicious cucumber blueberry mezcal cocktail. It was one of the best cocktails I’ve ever had! My partner got a delicious fig old-fashioned. We would have tried more but decided to save our drinking for our day of wine tasting on Waiheke Island the next day.
Day 2: Day Trip to Waiheke Island
Even with only 2 days in Auckland, I highly recommend visiting Waiheke Island for a day in the summertime. It’s an island about 40 minutes from the city, accessible by ferry. The island is a popular summer spot for locals and is known for its beautiful beaches and wineries. The views across the whole island were stunning. It felt like you were worlds away from the main city. For a full guide to wine tasting in Waiheke, check out this itinerary.
Breakfast at Williams Eatery
Before heading to the island, check out Williams Eatery for a delicious coffee and pastry, or a more hearty breakfast. You’ll need it for all the wine tasting! Everything there was so tasty and the space was airy and welcoming. Once you’re done, walk a few minutes over the bridge in the marina to catch your ferry to Waiheke at 9am.
Wine Tasting on Waiheke Island – One of Auckland’s Best Activities
Check out the full Waiheke Wine Tasting Guide (including how to get there and get around the island). If you don’t want to worry about figuring out your transportation on the island, I recommend this “Wine on Waiheke PREMIUM WINE full days scenic and wine tasting” tour. You can purchase your ferry tickets via Fullers.
Take the 9am ferry to Waiheke so you have a full day to experience a little bit of everything on the island. Once you arrive, head to the far side of the island to Onetangi Beach. Nothing is open that early so it’s a perfect spot to start the day. If you skipped breakfast there is a breakfast spot and cafe called Charlie Farleys on the beach.
After enjoying some sun on the beach, head to Tantalus Estate for wine tasting and incredible views of the winery. The interior is gorgeous and the food and wine were excellent. Take some time to wander through the vines! If you have some time before lunch you can walk to To Motu, another winery about 10 minutes walk through the Tantalus property.
Have lunch at the Oyster Inn and make sure to snag a table on the deck overlooking Oneroa Bay. The view looks like you are in the Caribbean. Yachts and sailboats line the turquoise blue waters. Try the oyster slider and karaage chicken!
After lunch walk around Ocean View Road and pop into a few of the boutique shops or grab a coffee at Akitō Eatery. Make your way over to your last stop, Mudbrick Vineyards for incredible views and wine. If you have time, you can stop at Allpress Olive Groves (it’s basically next to Mudbrick).
For a guide on Wine Tasting on Waiheke Island check out this detailed itinerary.
Dinner & Cocktails in Auckland
After a long day of wine tasting, head back to your hotel for some rest before heading back out again. If you’re up for it, head to Ponsonby Road, a trendy neighborhood in Auckland with many shops, restaurants, cafes, and bars. You can either eat there or take a quick Uber to Ada.
Ada Restaurant is in an old convent turned into a hotel (actually called The Convent). The head chef, Kia Kanuta incorporates traditional Māori cooking methods into everything he creates. The space is stunning and the food is incredible. The restaurant is in a bit of a weird location, but it was 100% worth going to!
After dinner, have a cocktail (or a mocktail! after all that wine), at Panacea. Panacea is a “cocktail kitchen”. This hidden bar isn’t a traditional bar. It serves artfully created small-batch cocktails with unique, fresh ingredients. The servers (who I believe are the owners) are super friendly and help guide you through their menu to select the best cocktail. The space is cozy and very laid back.
Other Activities in Auckland for 2-Day Itinerary
There is so much to do and see in Auckland. Here are some other attractions and activities we looked at that had high ratings, but that we didn’t end up selecting for our 2 days in Auckland.
- If you’re looking for an easy highlights of Auckland tour, check this tour out. If you don’t want to worry about transportation and are interested in learning more from a local, this is a great way to see the city!
- MOTAT Museum of Transport & Technology
- Auckland beaches – check out this great article on the best beaches in and around Auckland
- Auckland Zoo
- Auckland War Memorial Museum
- Auckland Night Market
Top Auckland Restaurants & Cafes
I spent days researching the best spots, but sadly couldn’t fit them all in 2 days! Here is our roundup of the top spots in Auckland:
- Chuffed
- Amano
- Ada
- William’s Eatery
- OCKHEE
- Tokki
- Pici
- Underground Bistro
- Odette’s Eatery
- Depot
- Giapo
- Alma
Where to Stay in Auckland
QT Auckland is trendy, modern and hip. The decor is bold and striking. It feels more like a boutique hotel which I loved. It has an awesome roof deck and a Mediterranean restaurant/cafe in the hotel. It’s walkable to all of CBD. I highly recommend this hotel for your 2 day stay in Auckland.
Other Top Auckland Hotel Options:
2-Day Auckland Itinerary At-a-Glance
Day 1
- Breakfast at Chuffed
- Activities – Explore Auckland (Sky Tower, Maungawhau / Mount Eden, Karangahape Road)
- Dinner – Dinner at Amano or Tokki
- Cocktails – Culprit / Caretaker or Panacea
Day 2
- Breakfast at Williams Eatery
- Ferry to Waiheke Island
- Onetangi Beach
- Winery 1 – Tantalus Estate
- Winery 2 – Te Motu (if time allows)
- Lunch at The Oyster Inn
- Winery 3 – Mudbrick
- Ferry back to Auckland
- Dinner at Ada
- Cocktails at Panacea
Check out my Waiheke Wine Tasting Guide.
Explore New Zealand’s South Island with this itinerary for first-timers.
Save this 2-Day Auckland itinerary
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