Let’s get down to business. Auckland is trendy. It feels very trendy. The people, the cafes, the boutiques, everything is very trendy. The houses dotting the tree-lined residential area are, as you might expect, trendy. So what should you do with your two days in Auckland? Glad you asked!
I recently spent a few days in Auckland and bring you this super trendy guide to Auckland, New Zealand. 4 days may have been too much, but I think 2 days is the perfect time to explore the city and take in all it has to offer. So here’s our guide to Auckland.
Auckland’s World of Wanderlust Guide
First of all, this wasn’t my first time visiting Auckland. I’ve been visiting one of my best friends several times who lived here even before the pandemic. My friend always showed me new cafes, boutiques, and areas to explore, but this year I visited Oakland for the first time without her guide, as she moved to Los Angeles.
Auckland has always been an inspiration to me. The city is well-known as New Zealand’s design, cultural and gastronomic capital. Indeed, Wellington is a strong contender, especially when it comes to food and drink. But if you’re looking for a city that has it all, including great summers, Auckland is your best bet.
Let’s eat around Ponsonby
To begin your Auckland adventure, we highly recommend starting your day on Ponsonby Road. Here you’ll find many of Auckland’s best cafes, bakeries, bars and boutiques. Once you’ve finished exploring Ponsonby, you can also walk to nearby Karangahape Road (‘K Road’). There are plenty of equally great spots here, with a slightly raunchy vibe.
Don’t miss our picks below:
duck island ice cream – OG Ice Creamery on Ponsonby Road, a local favorite.
small bird – A completely vegan restaurant with delicious and healthy snacks (and a lunch menu too!)
supermarket – A high-class concept store that brings together domestic and international designers. Although the focus is on fashion, there is also a wide selection of household goods and beauty and wellness products.
world – A primarily French perfume store with bougie candles and high fashion items.
cake & co – A tiny little hole in the wall cake shop. Perfect if you have something to celebrate!
Little & Friday – A small cafe where you can take out delicious sabers and sweets. This is one of the cafes my friend Sophie and I used to go to (it was as good as I remember).
Shopping in Ponsonby
As I mentioned earlier, Ponsonby is full of designer threads, small boutiques and concept stores. There are many shops to explore, but they are best visited on foot. Therefore, we recommend parking somewhere in a nearby residential area if possible, or finding a parking spot on a main street, and allowing at least a few hours to explore the entire street.
Go to Bluebells Bakery
Once you’ve finished exploring Ponsonby, park at Bluebells Bakery for a caffeine fix and a sweet treat. This is one of my favorite bakeries I visited on this trip, and it’s easy to get to since there’s a parking lot right in front of it. The lemon curd cupcakes were exceptional. Plus, you can watch the baking team at work through the peephole.
Café-hop around town at these popular spots
Speaking of bakeries, I went to quite a few on this trip! As many of you may know, we recently opened a new bakery. Burki Bakehouse in BrisbaneSo checking out Auckland’s vibrant baking scene was a priority of mine. There are too many great bakeries and cake shops in Auckland to list them all. That’s why I’d like to share only my top picks.
Catroux – A great little find with incredible vegan and dairy free cake options.
cake shop – Once Auckland’s most popular cake shop and still one of our top picks. I also brought home a cookbook for future inspiration!
magnolia kitchen – You’ll need to rent a car to get here, but if you love bakery hopping like I do, it’s definitely worth the extra effort. The team at Magnolia is also currently selling in retail stores, so if you want to try their wares but don’t want to endure the ride, find a local retailer in town instead.
ripe deli – Without a doubt the best takeaway lunch spot in Auckland. This deli has plenty of sweet and savory treats, as well as healthy salads and wraps. A great place to buy a packed lunch before your drive.