Auckland Walking Tour: 50 Amazing Free Video Stops

Free City ToursAuckland walking tour · freecitytours.org

How to tour Auckland

Listen to the city overview, pick an attraction, press map to get there, play the attraction videos

Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, spreads across a narrow isthmus between two harbours, the Waitematā and the Manukau, dotted with dozens of volcanic cones. Known as the City of Sails, it has more boats per head than almost anywhere, and its Māori name, Tāmaki Makaurau, means Tāmaki desired by many. This tour starts on the waterfront at Wynyard Quarter and the Viaduct Harbour, visits the Maritime Museum and the Ferry Building, walks through Commercial Bay and Britomart, up Queen Street to Aotea Square and the Sky Tower, through Albert Park to the Auckland Art Gallery, across the Domain to the War Memorial Museum, and ends in Parnell Village. Each stop has five short films to guide you through it.

1. Wynyard Quarter and Viaduct Harbour

Waterfront · start here

Map

Wynyard Quarter and the Viaduct Harbour are Auckland’s lively waterfront, a former industrial wharf turned into a promenade of restaurants, superyachts, the Wynyard Crossing bridge and open-air spaces with views across the Waitematā Harbour. Walk this order. Wynyard Waterfront → Silo Park → Wynyard Crossing → Viaduct Basin → Exit Toward the Maritime Museum.

Wynyard Quarter and Viaduct Harbour Auckland

03 · Tour · videos inside this sight

Wynyard Waterfront

Silo Park

Wynyard Crossing

Viaduct Basin

Exit Toward the Maritime Museum

2. Auckland walking tour: New Zealand Maritime Museum

Viaduct Harbour · seafaring history

Map

The New Zealand Maritime Museum, Hui Te Ananui a Tangaroa, on the Viaduct Harbour, tells the story of Polynesian voyagers, European settlers and New Zealand’s sailing triumphs, including the America’s Cup, with heritage boats moored outside. Walk this order. The Quay → Museum Front → Pacific Voyaging → Immigration and Yachting → Exit Toward the Ferry Building.

03 · Tour · videos inside this sight

The Quay

Museum Front

Pacific Voyaging

Immigration and Yachting

Exit Toward the Ferry Building

3. Auckland walking tour: Ferry Building

Quay Street · harbour ferries

Map

On this Auckland walking tour, the Ferry Building, built in 1912 in Edwardian Baroque style, still serves as the hub for harbour ferries to Devonport, Waiheke Island and the Hauraki Gulf islands, with restaurants under its clock tower. Walk this order. Edwardian Facade → Clock Tower → The Quay → Ferry Departures → Exit Toward Commercial Bay.

03 · Tour · videos inside this sight

Edwardian Facade

Clock Tower

The Quay

Ferry Departures

Exit Toward Commercial Bay

4. Auckland walking tour: Commercial Bay and Britomart

Downtown · shops and station

Map

Commercial Bay and Britomart form Auckland’s revitalised downtown, where restored Victorian and Edwardian warehouses, laneways, boutiques and eateries surround the grand Britomart Transport Centre in the old Chief Post Office. Walk this order. Commercial Bay → Britomart Station → Takutai Square → Britomart Lanes → Exit Up Queen Street.

03 · Tour · videos inside this sight

Commercial Bay

Britomart Station

Takutai Square

Britomart Lanes

Exit Up Queen Street

5. Auckland walking tour: Queen Street and Aotea Square

City centre · main street

Map

Queen Street is Auckland’s main street, rising from the waterfront past shops, theatres and historic buildings to Aotea Square, the civic heart beside the Town Hall and the Aotea Centre. Walk this order. Lower Queen Street → Shops and Arcades → Civic Theatre → Aotea Square and Town Hall → Exit Toward the Sky Tower.

03 · Tour · videos inside this sight

Lower Queen Street

Shops and Arcades

Civic Theatre

Aotea Square and Town Hall

Exit Toward the Sky Tower

6. Auckland walking tour: Sky Tower

Downtown · tallest tower

Map

On this Auckland walking tour, the Sky Tower, opened in 1997, is the tallest freestanding structure in the Southern Hemisphere at 328 metres. Its observation decks look out over the harbours, volcanic cones and gulf islands, and the brave can SkyWalk or SkyJump from it. Walk this order. Street Base → The Shaft → Observation Deck → SkyWalk and SkyJump → Exit Toward Albert Park.

03 · Tour · videos inside this sight

Street Base

The Shaft

Observation Deck

SkyWalk and SkyJump

Exit Toward Albert Park

7. Auckland walking tour: Albert Park

City centre · Victorian park

Map

Albert Park is a Victorian park on the edge of the university, with a central fountain, a band rotunda, statues and huge old trees, laid out on the site of an early colonial barracks. Walk this order. Park Gates → The Fountain → Band Rotunda → Statues and Old Trees → Exit Toward the Art Gallery.

03 · Tour · videos inside this sight

Park Gates

The Fountain

Band Rotunda

Statues and Old Trees

Exit Toward the Art Gallery

8. Auckland walking tour: Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Albert Park · national art

Map

On this Auckland walking tour, the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki is New Zealand’s largest art institution. Its historic French château-style building, joined to a modern wing with a canopy of kauri wood, holds Māori portraits, New Zealand art and international works. Walk this order. Park Front → Historic Facade → Kauri Canopy Atrium → New Zealand Collection → Exit Toward the Domain.

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Auckland

03 · Tour · videos inside this sight

Park Front

Historic Facade

Kauri Canopy Atrium

New Zealand Collection

Exit Toward the Domain

9. Auckland walking tour: Auckland Domain and War Memorial Museum

Grafton · park and museum

Map

On this Auckland walking tour, the Auckland Domain is the city’s oldest park, spread over the crater of an extinct volcano. On its summit stands the Auckland War Memorial Museum, with outstanding Māori and Pacific collections, natural history and war memorial halls. Walk this order. Domain Paths → Museum Front → The Cenotaph → Museum Halls → Exit Toward Parnell.

Auckland Domain and War Memorial Museum Auckland

03 · Tour · videos inside this sight

Domain Paths

Museum Front

The Cenotaph

Museum Halls

Exit Toward Parnell

10. Auckland walking tour: Parnell Village

Parnell · end of the tour

Map

On this Auckland walking tour, Parnell is one of Auckland’s oldest suburbs, with restored wooden villas, boutiques, cafés and galleries, the Holy Trinity Cathedral and the Parnell Rose Gardens, a relaxed final stop and farewell to Auckland. Walk this order. Upper Parnell Road → Shop Fronts → Side Lane → Harbour View → End of the Tour.

03 · Tour · videos inside this sight

Upper Parnell Road

Shop Fronts

Side Lane

Harbour View

End of the Tour

Auckland Details Overview: Planning Your Auckland Walking Tour

Every stop on this Auckland walking tour has its own short free video, so you can follow the Auckland walking tour at your own pace.

This Auckland walking tour covers about 5 kilometres, from the waterfront at Wynyard Quarter to Parnell Village. Allow a full day if you want to go inside the museums, or around three to four hours if you only walk the route and watch the films.

The route climbs gently from the harbour up Queen Street, then rises again through Albert Park and the Auckland Domain. Wear comfortable shoes, because some paths in the Domain are steep and grassy.

Best time to walk

Auckland has a mild, maritime climate, but the weather changes quickly. Summer, from December to February, brings long days and temperatures in the low to mid twenties. Winter is cooler and wetter, so pack a light rain jacket all year round.

The sun is strong in New Zealand, even on cloudy days. Bring sunscreen, a hat and a refillable water bottle. Tap water is safe to drink.

Getting there and around

Britomart Transport Centre, at stop 4, is the city's main train and bus hub, and the Ferry Building next door links the centre with Devonport and Waiheke Island. Public transport uses the AT HOP card, and contactless bank cards also work on most services.

If you get tired, frequent buses run along Queen Street and up to Parnell, so you can shorten the walk at any point and return to the waterfront easily.

Opening hours and tickets

Albert Park, the Domain and the waterfront are free and open every day. The Auckland Art Gallery has free general entry. The Auckland War Memorial Museum charges international visitors an entry fee, while New Zealand residents enter free.

The Sky Tower observation decks and the SkyWalk and SkyJump need paid tickets. Book ahead for busy weekends and school holidays, and check opening times before you go, since they can change.

Practical tips

Cafés and public toilets are easy to find along the route, especially at Wynyard Quarter, Britomart, Aotea Square and Parnell. Most shops accept cards, and tipping is not expected in New Zealand.

Many places on this route have Māori names as well as English ones. Learning a few words, such as kia ora for hello, is a friendly way to connect with the city's culture.

For events, transport updates and more ideas, visit the official Auckland tourism website. To explore other cities with free video stops, return to Free City Tours.

1. Wynyard Quarter and Viaduct Harbour

2. Auckland walking tour: New Zealand Maritime Museum

3. Auckland walking tour: Ferry Building

4. Auckland walking tour: Commercial Bay and Britomart

5. Auckland walking tour: Queen Street and Aotea Square

6. Auckland walking tour: Sky Tower

7. Auckland walking tour: Albert Park

8. Auckland walking tour: Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

9. Auckland walking tour: Auckland Domain and War Memorial Museum

10. Auckland walking tour: Parnell Village

More Free City Tours

Auckland Details Overview: Planning Your Auckland Walking Tour

Best time to walk

Getting there and around

Opening hours and tickets

Practical tips