Auckland loves to throw a party. And, it’s a city does it well. Just about every weekend there are Auckland festivals and events on offer. Best of all, most have free entry. If you are planning a visit to New Zealand, check the list below for a few of our favourite activities that you may …
As an expat, I have a unique view on everyday New Zealand life, and I share it here. This section includes articles on everything from day-to-day living to special events like celebrations and festivals.
It’s a great place to start for both those planning to visit or those wanting to move here forever, as we did. We fell in love with New Zealand, and we are sure you will too.
If you love New Zealand and want to discuss it with other travellers or residents, join our Facebook group: Explore New Zealand and share travel tips, stories, photos, or just ask questions.
Enjoy our articles on life in New Zealand:
Enjoy Yacht Racing in Auckland New Zealand
Yacht racing and Auckland seem to go together. New Zealand’s largest city, it is nicknamed the “City of Sails” and, looking out to sea on any summer day, it is easy to see why. Recreational racing or watching the professionals, yacht racing in Auckland is always a thrill. My preferred view is from the water, …
How to Photograph a Light Festival: Enjoying Auckland at Night
Vivid colours, artistic lighting, and marine projections brought with it the challenge of photographing a light festival in Auckland at night. Bright Nights brought Viaduct Harbour alive with a light and sound spectacular curated by international award-winning light artist Angus Muir Design. As always, New Zealand knows how to throw a party. “The waterfront means …
Volvo Ocean Race Around the World – Auckland Stopover
Auckland knows how to throw a party, and I could feel the excitement in the air as I approached. The City of Sails is perfectly situated for a stopover of Volvo Ocean Race Around the World. Auckland has been a host for nearly all of the races since it’s inception in 1973. A gruelling test …
Auckland Lantern Festival: A Vivid Celebration of Chinese New Year
Brightly coloured Chinese lanterns will light the Auckland Domain at the Auckland Lantern Festival from February 14 – 18, 2019. Celebrating the Chinese New Year welcoming in the Year of the Pig, it’s an event filled with hundreds of handmade Chinese New Year lanterns as well as crafts, performances, and food (plenty of food). It’s …
Latin Festival – Auckland Summer is a Colorful Fiesta
New Zealand knows how to throw a party, and that was clear yesterday at the opening of the weekend-long Latin Festival Auckland. The schedule of events at this Auckland summer fiesta weekend is varied. With two sound stages, there seemed to always be multiple options for things to do. The main dance floor alternates between …
Kiwi Slang: Funny New Zealand Phrases
The longer I live in Auckland, the more natural the New Zealand language feels. They call it English, but the Kiwi slang creates a variant that is often amusing. I originally wrote about it and won an expat contest for the entry. It is still on target. New Zealand slang is light and fun while …
MOTAT Christmas Lights Raise Money for Auckland Children
Celebrate the spirit of giving and enjoy Christmas night lights at MOTAT. Auckland’s Museum of Transport and Technology has once again used thousands of fairy lights to create a magical wonderland that should be on everyone’s list of things to do before Christmas. To include everyone, the MOTAT entry fee is only $2 for the …
New Zealand Sunset Photos
I love watching colour burst from the sky as the sun sets beyond the horizon. Living in New Zealand, sunset is a treat I get to enjoy often. Recently I moved all my photos to Lightroom. While I sort through 10 years of images I am reminded of many things, including spectacular sunsets in New …
Auckland Street Art, Waterfront Artwork and Sculptures
Auckland New Zealand is eclectic and modern city visually enhanced with street art and sculpture. You would be hard-pressed to find a business district in the city that didn’t have some sort of public art. Auckland street art ranges from classic painting to modern graffiti-like styles. Similarly, the city’s sculpture covers a range from traditional …
Ten Reasons to Visit the Chocolate and Coffee Show in Auckland
I don’t need ten reasons to visit a Chocolate and Coffee Show. The name is enough. It lasts for only two days each year in Auckland New Zealand. And let me tell you, they are two great days for a coffee and chocolate fans like me. Whoever thought of a chocolate and coffee show is …
Impressive da Vinci Machines: Traveling Exhibit now in Auckland at MOTAT
Leonardo da Vinci was a genius who was hundreds of years ahead of his time. Whether you know of him as an artist, an inventor, a designer, an anatomy expert, or a renaissance man, you will probably discover another facet of his brilliance at the Leonardo da Vinci Machines exhibit. Travelling around the world, it …
Collecting Cockles at Okoromai Bay in New Zealand
As the tide retreated, we could see a few people collecting cockles at the water’s edge. Okoromai Bay in Shakespear Regional Park is one of the few spots remaining in the Auckland region where one can gather these clams. While ordinarily a summertime activity, fresh New Zealand cockles are delicious all year long. It was …
Pasifika: A Celebration of Pacific Island Culture
Capturing the atmosphere at the Pasifika Festival with only a digital camera is virtually impossible. Yet I had to try. This annual Pacific Islands-themed festival took place this past weekend in Auckland New Zealand. Attracting close to 100,000 visitors, it is the largest festival of its type in the world. The Pasifika celebration represents eleven …
Late Night Halloween on K-Road and Queen Street in Auckland
Last night was a real eye-opener for me. Late night Halloween in Auckland brought out the creativity that New Zealand is known for. Since immigrating here 12 years ago, I have been incorrectly referring to Halloween as a “children’s” holiday in New Zealand. I thought the MOTAT Olde Hallow’s Eve event last week was pretty …
