Honeymoon Auckland

Planning a Honeymoon in Auckland?

Auckland is a beautiful harbour city with an awesome waterfront full of great restaurants, rooftop bars, and romantic hotels.

There’s so much to see and do in the Auckland region, you won’t get bored. Auckland CBD is New Zealand’s largest, it’s a vibrant, melting pot of a city with a mixture of polynesian, european, and asian people. Auckland’s developed a fantastic foodie culture, so there’s a lot of great restaurants offering amazing cuisine from around the world, made with the finest NZ produce.

Auckland has 3 highly regarded wine regions within its boundaries, all of which offer wine tasting tours. The Hauraki Gulf has some stunning islands you can visit. Waiheke is well populated with amazing vineyards,restaurants, and hotels. Others like Rotoroa, Tiri, and Motuihe, are parks and bird sanctuaries you can visit for a day where a short hike will often reward you with a whole beach to yourself.

Auckland’s got plenty of great beaches, from the heavily developed inner city beaches like Mission Bay and Takapuna, to the wild surf beaches of the West Coast like Piha and Muriwai. Or head north on a day trip to Goat Island, Omaha, or Tawharanui.

Auckland Art Gallery is easily New Zealand’s best, and the Auckland War Memorial Museum is world class.

Honeymoon Accommodation in Auckland

If you’re looking to spend a week honeymooning in Auckland then these are the hotels you’ll want to look at.

Park Hyatt

Whether you’re looking for the perfect bridal suite for your wedding night or accommodation for your honeymoon you can’t beat Auckland’s Park Hyatt Hotel. It’s a beautiful new hotel right on the waterfront. Located where the Viaduct Harbour meets Wynyard Quarter. This is the place to be in summer. Stunning views, more restaurants and bars in walking distance than you could try in a month. If you want to base yourself in the CBD on the waterfront then this is the best spot.

Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour

Prior to the Park Hyatt opening in 2020 this was the the best honeymoon hotel in the CBD. It’s had a refresh in late 2020 and is now a close second. This is an exceptional hotel for couples, with an excellent restaurant, spa and a stunning location, located 200 meters from the Park Hyatt in a slightly quieter spot but still on the water in the Viaduct.

QT Auckland

QT Auckland opened in 2020 and has immediately become one of Auckland’s most popular hotels for honeymooning couples. Located in the Viaduct it has one of Auckland’s hottest rooftop bars. A young cool vibe and a great location make this a hotel you have to consider when planning a honeymoon in Auckland.

The Hotel Britomart

The Hotel Britomart opened in late 2020. It’s a purpose built boutique hotel. A simply stunning piece of architecture in Britomart (Auckland’s coolest precinct). This hotel is actually my pick for a winter honeymoon in Auckland. Britomart is really close to the waterfront so a short walk to the Viaduct, Ferry Terminal and Britomart Station. Britomart has great restaurants, cool nightclubs and quirky bars.

Hilton Auckland

Hilton Auckland is not just waterfront, it’s built on a wharf jutting out into the harbour. Close to Viaduct Harbour, the Ferry and Britomart Station and with some of the best views in Auckland. This luxury hotel is a great wedding night option.

SO/ Auckland

SO/ Auckland has interiors designed by WORLD. It’s got a young, cool, sexy feel to both the rooms and public spaces. Great rooms, many with awesome views and Auckland’s best rooftop bar.

M Social Auckland

Another great waterfront option is M Social. With a quirky modern style right on the waterfront. This is a slightly cheaper option than some of the others, but still in a great waterfront location. A minutes walk from the Viaduct.

Delamore Lodge

If you want to get away from the city then this is the place to go. Waiheke Islands Delamore Lodge is where visiting celebrities stay. A short and very scenic helicopter ride from the CBD. This is another world of luxury. Waiheke Island’s a special place, it’s where Aucklanders get away for a romantic weekend so it’s also perfect for your honeymoon.

Things to Do on Your Honeymoon in Auckland

We’ve got a whole page of Romantic things to do in Auckland. But here’s a quick guide and a few day trip highlights.

Dining Out.

Auckland’s dining scene has exploded with so many great restaurants you simply can’t try them all. The hottest Chef in Auckland over the last 5 years is undoubtedly Sid Sahrawat. His 3 Auckland restaurants are simply too good to miss. SidArt, Sid at The French Cafe, and Cassia. Auckland’s got several dining precincts. The Viaduct, Princess Wharf, Wynyard quarter, and Britomart are places to go near the waterfront. Federal Street under the SkyTower has several of Auckland’s finest Restaurants. Ponsonby Road, and Parnell, are also worth a visit for dinner. Mission Bay and Takapuna both offer Restaurants and bars near the beach, both have a swimming beach, restaurants and bars. Takapuna also has shopping. Waiheke Island also has a number of great restaurants most attached to great wineries. Waiheke is a must do day trip, with beaches, wineries, restaurants and a really scenic ferry ride.

Shopping

Auckland’s Main shopping areas are the CBD in Particular Queen Street, High Street, Britomart and Commercial Bay. Outside of that Takapuna, Ponsonby and Newmarket are the go to areas for boutique shops. If you prefer a mall Newmarket, Albany, Sylvia Park, and Botany are the best. New Market and Sylvia Park both have train access from Britomart. Albany and Botany you’ll need a car. For Outlet shopping try Dress Smart in Onehunga. (It’s an outlet mall).

Beaches and Outdoors

Auckland’s blessed with a number of great beaches and outdoor activities. The black sand beaches of the West Coast offer wild surf and are a great day trip. Piha is the most popular, it can get pretty crowded on the weekend in mid summer, but it’s an incredible surf beach and has some awesome short hikes to either a waterfall or, another quieter beach. The other beaches on the west coast are a little less popular. If you drive a little longer or take one of the walking tracks you can find an almost empty beach even in mid summer. Whatipu is the most wild and isolated. Muriwai has great surf (at Maori Bay) a huge Gannet colony, one of NZ’s best links golf courses, great fishing and incredible sunsets.

Mission Bay and St Heliers are easily accessible from the CBD. There’s regular buses, or a great running, walking, cycling path along the waterfront from the CBD.

North of Auckland CBD starting from Devonport is a series of white sand beaches that doesn’t really stop. Takapuna Beach and Long Bay, and Orewa are best to visit. Takapuna and Orewa are both built up with shops and restaurants. Long Bay is more of a picnic and swim spot. It’s a great park, swimming beach and a marine reserve so no fishing. If you are looking for beach day trips to the North then Tawharanui is amazing. A white sand surf beach with a bird sanctuary, and regional park. The Matakana Coast Area is also a great day trip. There’s more there than most people can fit in a single day. Omaha is the best swimming beach, Goat Island marine reserve has great snorkeling with a lot of fish, and there’s a bunch of great wineries and restaurants too.

You’ll want to check out the views from a couple of Auckland’s many Volcanoes too. The best ones are Mt Victoria, Mt Eden, and One Tree Hill. Take the ferry to Devonport from the CBD and it’s a 10 minute walk to the top of Mt Victoria. The views are stunning, if you can time it to be there at sunset take a blanket and a bottle of wine. There’s buses and tours to Mt Eden and One Tree Hill, you really don’t need a guide though. Just take a bus or grab an uber.

Get out on the harbour, take a ferry to Devonport, Waiheke Island, Tiri, Rotoroa, Rangitoto, or Motuihe. Or go sailing or whale watching. The Hauraki Gulf has dolphins, and bryde’s whales all year round. Orca are regular visitors, and humpback whales migrate through every year. There’s also occasional sightings of Blue Whales.

There’s plenty of great hikes in both the Hunua Ranges to the South of Auckland and the Waitakere ranges to the west. There’s also a large number of excellent regional parks. Most of them are coastal and combine a beach with a native bush and picnic areas. many offer short hikes to view points, most o them require a car to get to.

Auckland’s got a number of great golf courses too. So if that’s your thing then head for Titirangi, Muriwai, or Gulf Harbour Country Club. Gulf Harbour has the best views of the three.

Waiheke Island

Auckland’s got no shortage of islands to visit, most are uninhabited parks and bird sanctuaries but Waiheke Island is has a large year round population. Most of the population commute to Auckland CBD for work and the ferries are regular, and run well into the night so you can comfortably enjoy a late dinner on the Island and still make it back to Auckland. On the Island the main activities are beaches, wineries, and hiking. There’s great restaurants and a few arts and crafts type shops as well. There’s also a sculpture trail, a popular Zipline if you want a thrill, and a Jazz festival. It’s a must do day trip from Auckland, and very romantic.

Day Trips

Locals will know this already but if you are visiting New Zealand from elsewhere it’s bigger than you might think. So if you’re looking at day trips check how much time you’ll spend driving and how much time you spend at the destination. Hobbiton is a great day trip, it’s a two hour drive each way which is fine but some tours combine it with Rotorua and Waitomo caves all in one epic day. Sadly that’ll mean you spend most of the day driving and very little time at the main events. The Bay of Islands is great too and totally reachable in a Day but it’s better if you spend at least one night there and ideally two.

Popular Day Trips from Auckland Are;

• Waitomo Caves
• Hobbiton
• Rotorua
• Bay of Islands
• Coromandel
• Rangitoto Island
• Tiritiri Matangi Island
• Matakana Coast
• Waiheke Island

Fly to Waiheke in a seaplane for lunch & wine tasting

This is a spectacular day trip. You leave from the CBD in a seaplane and take a spectacular scenic flight to the east end of Waiheke Island,. Once there you enjoy a lunch platter and wine tasting at the famous Man O’ War Vineyard before flying back to Auckland on a different flight path for more great views.

Piha Beach Tour

Travel with a small group on a guided tour to Waitakere Ranges Regional Park, including a rainforest walk and a stroll on Piha Beach. This day trip heads west from Auckland with a stop at the Arataki Visitor Centre for harbor views. Dig your toes into the black-sand beach pounded by large surf and walk to a cascading waterfall for a swim. Your knowledgeable guide points out native flora and birdlife along the way.

If you just want to spend your time swimming at Piha Beach without all the other shit then try this Piha Shuttle Bus instead, and maybe a surf lesson.

Hobbiton Movie Set & Waitomo Glowworm Caves

Visit a pair of New Zealand’s must-see attractions with this combo tour from Auckland to the Hobbiton Movie Set and Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Peek into Hobbit Holes, frolic in the Shire, and get a drink at the Green Dragon Inn on a guided tour of Middle-earth, followed by a Kiwi-style lunch. In the afternoon, explore Maori myths and history on a boat ride through mesmerizing caves lit by thousands of glowworms, and finish with a drive through some of the North Island’s most majestic scenery.

Overall Auckland is a really pretty city with harbours on both sides. Therefore it’s surrounded by beautiful beaches. Also because of its volcanic past there’s plenty of great views from the many small mountains dotted around the city. What more could you want for in a honeymoon location? Great restaurants, tick. Fancy Hotels, tick. Incredible views, tick. Great nightlife, tick. Auckland’s got everything you need for a great honeymoon. Just make sure you leave the mother in law at home.