A flashback to a late night Halloween, Auckland New Zealand, 2015
A few years have passed now, and the world seems to have changed quite a bit, but back in 2015, we found ourselves enjoying a late-night Halloween stroll through the Auckland CBD.
Friendly and fun, the people we met really got into the spirit of the holiday.
To be honest, the entire evening was a real eye-opener for me. In the 12 years that I had lived in Auckland at the time, I have been incorrectly referring to Halloween as a “children’s” holiday in New Zealand.
That particular late night Halloween brought out the creativity and ingenuity that New Zealand is known for.
Before I go on, let the city inspire you on its own.
Halloween in Auckland
Most often ignored, Halloween is a bit of a fringe holiday in New Zealand. There are a few daytime events and some family-friendly nighttime events at places like MOTAT where we have enjoyed Halloween on multiple years. Their cleverly orchestrated evenings have well thought out names like Olde Hallow’s Eve or A Twisted Victorian Tale.
But a late-night on K-Road and on Queen Street is for the adults to play.
A musical LARP
There was everything young people could want in a public event. We even knew of a musical LARP, in which my daughter was one of the un-dead children.
Late night Halloween on K-Road
We started our walk on colourful K-Road, just out of curiosity. It was pushing 10 pm, yet the streets were empty. Not what I expected, but we thought it might be due to the early morning Rugby World Cup Finals (and now another celebration as New Zealand remained the world champions).
On our way back to Queen Street we came upon a few of the fascinating characters out promoting their upcoming drag show entitled “Disco Blood Bath: Dungeons and Drag Queens” at the Whammy Bar. I did get a few pre-event photos. (Sorry, the funniest one was a bit too non-PC to share here).
Late night Halloween on Queen Street
Turning off of K-Road, we headed back to the church where the LARP was taking place via Queen Street, and that’s when the party mood seemed to pick up.
Even some of the shopkeepers got into the late night Halloween spirit.
Student hangouts
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Next, we headed to Darby Lane, a well-known student hangout featuring several fun bars and clubs. While we knew they were popular, for some reason the massive queues for Bar 101 and Habana Joes caught us by surprise.
The late-night Halloween spirit had come alive here, and my daughter was still in her creepy undead costume. I was just glad I brought my camera.
Despite being young, my daughter managed to scare a few people with her un-dead look and voice, usually raising her bear Bernard, “Don’t worry, the teddy bear can’t eat you. I sewed his mouth shut.”
The other costumes ranged from just a mask to standards like the mummy, or to classic middle earth like Gandalf from Lord of the Rings.
From elaborate to simple, it was all here. One of my favorites was a girl dressed in normal street closes wearing a simple sign reading, “Nudist on Strike.”
Police presence
A strong police presence gave an air of safety to the evening, or should we say early morning.
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What is late night Halloween like in your town?
More from Auckland you might also like … starting with these 75 free and nearly free things to do in the city
Mrs B
Great photos!! My favorite was the marijuana costume LOL!
Rhonda Albom
The marijuana costume was quite amusing.
Molly
Oh my the nudest on strike made me laugh out loud, brilliant
Mollyxx
Rhonda Albom
I agree, it was a brilliant choice.
Serenia from Squidoo
Oh and today (Nov 5) will be Guy Fawkes day for you as well. Gee that’s 2 celebrations in one week.
Are sparklers still allowed for the kiddies?
I remember running around and writing my name in the air with a sparkler, and watching roman candles and catherine wheel’s being let off on the fenceline!!!
Guy Fawkes is not celebrated here in Canada although Halloween certainly is.
Apologies for a second comment.
Serenia.
Rhonda Albom
Nov 5 is also my birthday, so that’s another celebration. Don’t know about sparklers, I am sure they are legal, as fireworks still are on Guy Fawkes.
Serenia from Squidoo
Wow, things sure have changed since I left NZ 15 years ago!!
K road was always the place to avoid. It had a notorious reputation as the Red Light District.
Speaking of the World Cup, are you now a fan of Rugby yet or not?
Cheers from Canada
Serenia from the old Squidoo
Rhonda Albom
No, they haven’t change that much. K-Road is still the seedy part of town, the red light district. We were still there a bit early, and most of the K-Road people we met are drag queens.
Indrani
Awesome costumes! Creative and scary!
Rhonda Albom
there were some really creative people out this weekend.
Kristi
We didn’t have as much fun as you guys! Love the costumes! That drag queen is awesome. Pictures are fantastic. 🙂
Freda
Great costumes. Your daughter looked fantastic!
Rhonda Albom
And she stayed in character all night. I think that is what was frightening people.
Kelleyn
Love the nudist on strike! Looks like everyone had a good time!
Rhonda Albom
LOL – she seems to be one of the most popular on this page, and one of my favorite as well.
Teresa from NanaHood
Looks like great fun. Love the nudist on strike!
Rhonda Albom
I thought she was so clever, but she said it was a last minute idea.
Parent club
Happy Halloween!
Rhonda Albom
Right back at you 🙂
stevebethere
Brilliant photos looked like all had fun that Nudist On Strike one cracked me up too heheh!
Have a frighteninlytastic week 🙂
Rhonda Albom
She said it was a last minute costume, but I thought it was really brilliant.
Amila @ Leisure and Me
Seems like you all had a great fun! Nice and fun Halloween costumes!
Rhonda Albom
I wish I were as clever as some of these people.
Patrick Weseman
Those are so cool. What a great time.
Rhonda Albom
It was a fun night.
Eli
Great photos- so fun to see how you celebrated. Funny costumes )and some a bit scary too):-) here its not a big celebration mostly kids…
Rhonda Albom
Honestly, I thought it was all about kids on Halloween in New Zealand as all. This was a big surprise to me too.
Lexa Cain
What fun!! I don’t know what it is about Halloween, but it really brings out the fun side of people. Just look at those awesome costumes and smiling faces! I’m glad you ventured out and shared your discoveries with us. 🙂
Rhonda Albom
Agreed. And there was a lot of fun to be had in the city.
Comedy Plus
We hide from Halloween. I’m glad you had a great time though.
Have a fabulous day. ☺
Rhonda Albom
We don’t have to hide if we stay home as we don’t get trick or treaters, but heading down to the city was amazing fun.
Paul F. Pietrangelo
Wow, what an evening you had. I wish I had been with you to enjoy all of this scary time. We didn’t have as many little monsters coming to our door this year. It began to rain just before they were suppose to come to our door. I spent the evening watching scary movies by myself. My wife doesn’t like scary movies.
Have a wonderful Sunday Rhonda. See ya.
Cruisin Paul
Rhonda Albom
There’s always next year. To my surprise, Auckland is the place to be on Halloween.
Hilary
Hi Rhonda – what a great time you all had – sounds like a range of fun events to join in with. All quiet here on the Eastbourne front – but then I’m slightly out of town. Love the photos and the effort everyone goes to to make themselves up … thanks for sharing with us … the photos are always so good … and the ideas and concepts people come up with.
Hey Ho to the clever All Blacks – it was a good match … cheers Hilary
Rhonda Albom
I would have thought it was quiet around here too, had I not been out at midnight when it was heating up.
Julie Kemp Pick
What creative costumes! My favorite is the human toilet, and it’s cute how your hubby and daughter joined in the fun. Sarah really got into character as a member of the “undead.”
Rhonda Albom
Sarah’s character was from a LARP that she did earlier in the night, and she just kept going. She was amazing.
Joyce
Great photos. You’ll have to send me the one not posted. 😉
Yolanda Renee
Sounds like quite a night. Great photos!
Thanks for sharing, and Happy Halloween!
Rhonda Albom
It was quite a night. good fun!