An especially enjoyable Labour Weekend in Auckland inspired me to share my recent experience with you.
Auckland offers lots of “getaway” options, and because many locals head either South or North for their long weekend break, Auckland becomes a haven of ease. There is less traffic (traffic congestion is an abiding Auckland-centric problem) and less “hassle” getting into places and amenities.
Enjoy the following summary of suggested places to visit, eat, and have fun. If you’re thinking of booking a memorable long weekend holiday, you can’t do better than the City of Sails.
Day 1. Of course, when there are some friends to see, the first thing on the list is catching up for lunch. We met at a cafe on Takapuna Beach on Auckland’s North Shore—conveniently called “Takapuna Beach Cafe & Store.” Ideally situated at the base of “The Promenade,” this cafe offers everything most would enjoy for a relaxing, happy couple of hours enjoying friends’ company in a stunning environment.
Sparkling blue seas, magnificent Pohutukawa trees, golden sands, and plenty of parking made this lunch date extra special. Add to that the fabulous service: waiting to be seated and then being provided with amiable and efficient staff, water topped up, and menus offering a great range of mid-priced choices. (I enjoyed the scampi pasta – a rare treat), and delicious cabinet food. My coffee was perfectly served, too. I drink long black, so a welcome side of hot water was provided without any prompting.
The cafe, decked out in white colonial style and decorated with fabulously stylish low hanging lights, a variety of table configurations and big outdoor umbrellas is attractively low-key modern. The icing on the cake; because the weather was beautiful with a soft sea breeze keeping us cool, was dining El fresco on the patio.
Takapuna Beach Cafe is an elegant and relaxing place to gather with friends on a beautiful spring day. It comes as a highly recommended spot for either breakfast, brunch or lunch.
Worth noting: The cafe is not an on-licensed premises, but for some (surprising) reason, it didn’t spoil our experience. Friendly tip: It’s a good idea to book. Because of the long holiday weekend, it was hectic both times we visited.
Day 2. An approximate 45-minute drive north took us to Snell’s Beach on the eastern side of “The Super City,” which saw us arriving at picturesque copses of native trees and a pretty coastline dotted with farmlets and negotiated by windy country roads.
Our destination was Brick Bay Wines and Sculpture Trail. A privately owned, spectacular acreage of grape vines, dotted in rows up sloping hillsides, native bush walks ornamented and fringed with outdoor art. Sculptures of every variety and size, complete with an eye-catching glasshouse restaurant straddling the property’s river running through.
We enjoyed a stunning lunch of beef cheeks and fresh Snapper washed down with the winery’s boutique Chardonnay and Rose´. Delicious. All the while sitting inside a glasshouse overlooking a charming and delightfully tranquil Waterlily Lake, populated with native herons and other native water birds.
The winery also sells its own “on-farm” honey and a small but appealing range of wine to take home.
We spent at least two hours ambling the trail of beautifully maintained and environmentally conscious paths and stairways, through native bush hearing the squawks and screeches and spotting rare native Kaka birds, while viewing some 60 very interesting, some beautiful and some very colourful sculptures artistically placed throughout the walk.
This is a place well worth visiting. Brick Bay provides a slow paced easy few hours of lovely food, wine, views and walks. For dining, booking is recommended and a discounted price of $15pp for the sculpture walk is offered.
Day 3. No long weekend getaway would be complete without some shopping, right? And there’s so much good shopping on offer in Auckland that it’s enough to whet any committed shoppers’ appetite.
We “did” Milford Village – (a small North Shore seaside hamlet), offering boutique shopping and appealing cafes and bars, lending itself to a park-and-walk shopping experience. There is also a Mall but who needs malls when there are small specialty shops to trawl? I bought dress-up shoes, and my friend tried others on. Then we headed over the harbour bridge to Newmarket.
On the southeast side of Auckland, Newmarket is a snazzy up-market shopping mecca that has, like other retail enterprises, struggled recently. Also adorned by an enormous Westfield mall, it remains a popular shopping destination. The mall provides seemingly endless stores and a great rooftop dining area.
Despite my aversion to shopping malls, we had a great time musing, drooling, and wandering, then recovering with a glass of cold white wine and delicious snacks at a rooftop restaurant with a view across the greenery of nearby Newmarket homes.
Day 4. Respite day. Including a beautiful walk around the winding garden-adorned streets of Browns Bay. Everywhere you look, there is the sea and trees and birds singing – to a cafe, “Burger Burger,” for coffee and brunch, directly opposite is Waiake Beach.
Waiake Beach is a sweet little cove beautifully situated northeast of Auckland City, across the stunning Hauraki Gulf. It was quiet on this particular day of the long holiday weekend, so we dropped ourselves onto the grass to enjoy the gentle day. As we sat and chatted, we were treated to the “smile for miles” sight of keen sailors on their P Class and 49er yachts scudding across mill pond water out to the Gulf towards some of the more than 50 iconic islands that sit off the shores of Auckland City.
A few of these islands are very familiar to most Aucklanders and visitors, such as Rangitoto, Waiheke, and Great Barrier – and are particularly popular during holiday times. They are all easily accessible by ferry, offering different attractions, and adorned with natural beauty set off by the sparkling waters of the “marine park” Hauraki Gulf -off the coast of beautiful Tamaki Makaurau – Auckland- New Zealand.
Day 5. With the long weekend holiday ending, I was heading for a few nights in the city. But first, the morning was spent visiting the western side of the North Shore. And if you just happen to be in the area – I recommend you try the Chelsea Sugar Refinery Cafe.
Situated at the base of the very steep Colonial Road Birkenhead, although the cafe is incorporated into the Chelsea Sugar factory, the tranquility and beauty of the surrounding area are breathtaking. Surrounded by spectacular views of the Waitemata Harbour and surrounded by established Pohutukawa trees, alive with birdsong, it is a charming interlude from the general hubbub of driving, shopping, sightseeing, and more driving. The service and ambience of the cafe are excellent, as is the food.
I recommend trying the Raspberry Lamington. This delicious sweet treat is made on the premises, includes freshly whipped cream, and is worth the calories! “Chelsea Sugar” also offers tours and cooking classes.
Adding to the cafe’s enjoyment is a spacious, clean outdoor playground for children. Parents can watch from their tables, enjoy their coffee, and relax while their little ones burn some energy climbing, falling, and running.
The Chelsea Sugar Cafe is definitely worth visiting. While there, you can choose from several bush tracks along the water’s edge to enjoy while you walk off that Lamington!
6. A couple of nights in the city
Accommodation: For the remainder of my long weekend holiday, we stayed at the Central Rail Serviced Apartments, right next door to Spark Arena, where we bought tickets for a concert.
The building is worth a snoop just from a historic point of view. I love the NZR (New Zealand Rail) logo ceramic tiles on the walls and the mosaic floor tiles. Really you wouldn’t even know that there was accommodation available. (Check out the photos below.)
Eats and Drinks: We imbibed some delicious wine at a delightful nook called Perch in Britomart. This is another lovely rest spot when the soul and feet are feeling a little tired. We ate at Cafe Hanoi. Look no further if you’re into Vietnamese food and miss that country’s authentic fare; this restaurant will become your “go-to.” It’s the best Vietnamese food I’ve eaten since my trip to Hanoi in 2023. Bonus: the staff were tripping over themselves to help. Tip: Bookings are essential for Cafe Hanoi.
Fun fact: Coincidentally and unaware at the time, Perch and Cafe Hanoi are owned by the same people.
Attractions: The day after the concert, we walked, looked, and shopped around the city. Below is a pictorial tour of the sights that caught my eye.
My take? Auckland is a great place to visit and enjoy. Its vibrancy makes it an inviting, fun, and exciting city. Enjoy!
