Fun Things To Do in Auckland
Andrea Thackwray 
10 June 2025 
This is not your basic travel checklist. If you’re craving something beyond the well-known tourist trails, this guide covers all the unique and fun things to do in Auckland. I am talking glow-in-the-dark kiwi walks, axe throwing, climbs, virtual freefalling, and bodyboarding through caves.
Night-Time Nature Wonder
Kiwi Spotting + Stargazing
Just a short drive from Auckland, Tawharanui Regional Park offers an unforgettable evening adventure. Begin with a kiwi-spotting trek through native bushland led by an expert guide, then enjoy stargazing at a secluded sp ...Kiwi Spotting and Stargazing Tour Auckland
North Auckland, Auckland
This one is perfect for those who prefer their evenings wild yet peaceful. Just an hour from Auckland Central, the Kiwi Spotting + Stargazing tour at Tāwharanui Regional Park takes you into the heart of New Zealand’s native forest. You will be guided by red torchlight and head out with a small group on a mission to find the North Island Brown Kiwi. Here, you will be listening closely for rustles and those unmistakable calls. It’s an intimate activity with wildlife that many Kiwis themselves have never experienced.
And just when you think you’ve had your moment, it gets better. The tour flows into a stargazing session beneath one of the darkest skies near the city. With the telescopes, the binoculars, and the ancient sky stories, you’ll marvel at planets, constellations, and sometimes even catch bioluminescent plankton lighting up the shoreline. This, along with ancient sky story traditions, is nothing short of pure night magic. It’s an exploration of a world you should not miss. The trip can be rounded off with the option to stay overnight in a glamping tent, falling as-l-e-e-p to the waves and the calls of native birds.
High-Tech Immersive Play
Omni VR Treadmill
You’ll actually walk or run through your virtual world on the Omni Treadmill.
Equipped with special shoes, Omni VR is the only Virtual Reality experience that allows you to physically RUN through virtual dimensions! ...Omni VR
North Auckland, Auckland
We all have wished we could actually run through a game rather than just push buttons from the couch, haven’t we? Well, Auckland’s Omni VR Treadmill is your chance to do exactly that! This virtual reality experience puts you in full control of your avatar using real-world movement. You just need to strap on the specialised shoes, hop into the 360° treadmill ring, and physically sprint your way through zombie cities, battlegrounds, or haunted mansions. It’s intense, and it’s unlike anything else on the Auckland adventure circuit.
Whether you're going solo, pairing up, or bringing your friends, the action adapts to your vibe. You can compete against friends in multiplayer mode or explore eerie corridors and epic worlds side by side. This is not just a gimmick or a game; it’s one of the most boundary-pushing fun activities for gamers and thrill-seekers in town.
DX Race-Car Simulator
Our DX Race Simulator will transport you right into the drama and white-knuckle excitement of real track racing! It’s so realistic your adrenaline will be pumping!
Jump onto one of our many different courses, hold ti ...Race Car Simulator
North Auckland, Auckland
If your idea of a great time includes tyre screeches, turns, and the roar of an engine with no risk, then the DX Race-Car Simulator at Thrillzone is a place you should not miss. This experience takes you behind the wheel of a fully responsive F1 cockpit, complete with dual-motor force feedback, true-to-life shunts, and the kind of grip shifts that make your pulse jump.
You can either race solo or bring your friends. It’s game on as you test your reflexes and hone your driving skills across multiple international circuits. Whether you’re into precision or pure speed, this is one of those fun virtual reality-style experiences where the competition gets real fast.
Puzzles, Axes, & Sensory Surprises
Odyssey Sensory Maze
Odyssey is an a-maze-ing adventure where while trying to find your way out you will experience darker challenging spaces, quirky physical obstacles and challenges, illusions, lighting effects, scents, sound effects and s ...Odyssey Sensory Maze
Downtown Auckland, Auckland
If you're after something a little out of the ordinary for your next family outing or afternoon with friends, the Odyssey Sensory Maze delivers a hit of whimsy right in the heart of Auckland's CBD. This self-guided maze is one of New Zealand’s most immersive walk-through attractions, packed with wild lighting effects, illusion rooms, trippy mirror chambers, textured tunnels, and atmospheric soundscapes that make every step an unpredictable surprise. It’s perfect for anyone who likes their fun with a twist and wants a break from the usual gallery stroll or lazy lunch.
You can complete the journey in 20 to 30 minutes, but there’s no rush. You can take your time to explore, laugh, and get a little lost. There’s even an upgrade option if you want unlimited re-entry and round two of the sensory chaos. Whether you're in town for a short visit or you're a local looking to mix up your weekend plans, this is a quirky addition to any Auckland day plan.
Urban Axe Throwing at Sweet Axe
Unleash your inner Viking! Get ready to get pumped with an axe-perience unlike any other! Sweet Axe Throwing Co. is New Zealand's longest running urban axe throwing experience. Offering bookings for groups large and s ...Urban Axe Throwing at Sweet Axe Throwing Co.
Downtown Auckland, Auckland
Well, if the name isn’t enough to push you to try it, I don’t know what will! Leave your stress behind and pick up an axe for this one. Sweet Axe in Auckland offers the perfect mix of adrenaline rush and competition, where your only goal is to land the axe into a timber target. And if you hit the bullseye, nothing better than that. If this is something you have not done before, you don’t need to worry, as the axe-perts have seen it all and they’ll have you throwing axes like a pro.
This is an activity that combines skill-building with just the right amount of fun. With private lane hire, it's also perfect for birthdays, breakups, team-building, or just because you’re in the mood for a little friendly challenge. So suit up with plaid to get into the character and channel your inner Jill or Jack. This is New Zealand’s most unexpected and addictive skill activity that will have you thumping and enjoying the whole time.
Heights, Climbs, & Views
Adrenalin Forest Aerial Obstacle Park
Adrenalin Forest is a multi-level aerial obstacle course that is designed to progress you higher and higher into the trees. We train you to navigate yourself through the series of tree to tree platforms with activities l ...Adrenalin Forest - 3 Hour Full Course Access!!
South Auckland, Auckland
If you want to be 20 metres off the ground and clutching a rope bridge while your legs dangle with adrenaline, then Adrenalin Forest in South Auckland should be on your ultimate thrill. With over 100 aerial obstacles stretched across six levels of intensity, this course tests both body and brain. You’ll climb, swing, crawl, and leap your way through everything from Tarzan jumps to Indiana-style swinging logs. Each one is designed to push your limits and shake up your sense of balance.
You can bring your team and even challenge your friends. It’s ideal for families, corporates, and anyone with even a hint of thrill in them. Whether you're in it for the photo-worthy moments or just want to test your mental and physical skills, this is one of those fun experiences that will stick with you for a long time.
Outdoor Rock Climbing
Discover the thrill of rock climbing at Maungarei Springs in Auckland. With routes for all skill levels, from beginners to seasoned climbers, you'll scale basalt and columnar rock faces while enjoying stunning views of t ...Outdoor Rock Climbing Auckland
East Auckland, Auckland
The outdoor rock climbing experience at Maungarei Springs is where you should be if you love cliffs! This half-day adventure combines the thrill of the climb with unbeatable views across Auckland’s skyline and harbour. From gentle slabs to tricky vertical faces, these basalt and columnar formations are the real deal. They cater to climbers of all skills and comfort levels.
With all gear provided and expert guides leading the way, this is your chance to explore a different side of New Zealand. Whether you’re learning how to top-rope for the first time or upping your game on bolted routes, Maungarei is a surprisingly scenic place to train your grip. It’s a physical and mental challenge, but it’s also fun.
Coastline
Canyoning-Piha Full Day
40 min away from the concrete jungle of Auckland city there is a real jungle, and in it the spectacular canyons of the Waitakere Rainforest. Full of waterfalls and natural canyon pools, volcanic landscapes and boarded by ...Canyoning - Piha Full Day
West Auckland, Auckland
Get ready to explore the wild side of Auckland with the full-day Canyoning Adventure at Piha. The day starts off with a 40-minute drive from the city, followed by a rainforest walk that feels like magic. Once you are at the canyon, you’ll suit up, clip in, and d-r-o-p right into a world of volcanic cliffs, hidden caves, and emerald plunge pools. The 50-metre abseil through a waterfall isn’t just for a photo-worthy moment; it’s a real adventure moment that’ll have your heart racing.
This is a close experience with New Zealand’s rugged natural beauty. The tour is led by experienced guides who balance the thrill with top-tier safety. Between the jumps, scrambles, and swims, there’s also time to catch your breath and soak it all in. After lunch, the day finishes at Piha’s iconic black sand surf beach.
Bethells Boogie
Experience Bethells Boogie, an unparalleled bodyboarding adventure at Bethells Beach. Journey through the world's second-longest sea caves, uncovering rich archaeological history, before riding the waves back to shore on ...Bethells Boogie
West Auckland, Auckland
If you want to squeeze through volcanic rock tunnels and bodyboard across natural turquoise pools, then Bethells Boogie is your kind of Auckland escape. This guided sea-cave adventure lets you boogie-board your way through towering 30-metre cave mouths, rock chasms, and hidden ocean nooks. You can do all this without any hesitation or fear as you will be decked in proper wetsuits, flippers, and gear. Even if you have no surfing experience, you do not need to worry. The guides make sure it's equal parts safe and exhilarating, and it’s designed for all skill levels.
But this isn’t just a splash in the water and you are done with it tour. This immersive experience takes you deep into the natural and cultural history of the Waitākere coastline. Along the way, you’ll hear stories of the ancient volcano beneath your feet, learn the secrets of Te Henga (Bethells Beach), and might even spot a Little Blue Penguin or two if you're lucky. Between the geology, the lore, and the encounters with marine life, this is New Zealand in its raw and real form.
Final Thoughts
Whether it's just hurling an axe, climbing a cliff, boogie-boarding through a sea cave, or tiptoeing past a kiwi in the bush, one thing’s for sure, these are the kinds of experiences that will stay in your memory for a long, long time.
Andrea Thackwray
