10 Things to Do in Auckland in August

This New Zealand city is famous for its nightlife, but it also offers visitors hundreds of kilometres of walking trails, great mountains, volcanoes, and beautiful beaches. In August, you'll find plenty of activities to add to the year-round things to do in Auckland.

Although it's winter in August, highs hover around 15 degrees Celsius so you can enjoy all kinds of outdoor activities, both in the volcanic and mountainous areas as well as on the coast. Not to mention snow sports, both for experts and for those who have never done it before.

The Sky Tower is one of the iconic buildings of downtown Auckland and can be seen from anywhere in the city. It is 328 metres high and is the tallest tower ever built in the southern hemisphere.

The tower is home to the city's only casino and has three observation decks and a revolving restaurant that offers a majestic 360-degree view of Auckland and its two bays. Locals claim that on very clear days you can see up to 80 kilometres away, while in August it's possible to see some spectacular snowy scenery.

If you are a lover of adrenaline and strong emotions, there is the option of jumping from the tower into the void. Skyjump is the name given to this practice that consists of jumping from the 52nd floor, at a height of 190 metres, tied by a harness that ensures a fairly short but intense jump at an average of 70 kilometres per hour.

If this type of activity appeals to you, I recommend you hire a parachute jump in the city.

Practical information

• Address: Corner Victoria and Federal Streets
• Opening hours: Monday and Tuesday between 9.30am and 6pm. Wednesday to Sunday between 9.30 am and 8.00 pm
• Price: Depends on the activities you wish to do, but a single ticket costs just over €20.

New Zealand' s ski season starts in June and continues through to October, so during August most of the ski slopes are in prime condition for snow sports enthusiasts to enjoy.

Most of the ski resorts are on New Zealand's South Island, but the North Island is also a great place to enjoy the snow, whether you're an expert or just starting out.

The North Island is home to Mount Ruapehu, located in Tongariro National Park, an active volcano ideal for families with young children who want to enjoy sledging and learn to ski on a small slope.

This mountain peak is about a four-hour drive from Auckland, making it a great weekend getaway. It's also one of thebest hikes you can do from the city.

Another option further away from Auckland on the so-called South Island is The Remarkables, Queenstown's largest mountain, about 40 minutes from the city. Also about 25 minutes away is Coronet Peak, a place known for its night skiing.

Clear August days are ideal for a nature walk. One of the best is the Coast to Coast Walkway, which connects one coast to the other. Starting in the Princes Wharfen area of downtown Auckland, the walk takes you through forests, hills and parks with great views of the city.

Along this 16-kilometre route, you'll pass five volcanic sites, including Albert Park, Domain, Mount Eden, the city's highest natural vantage point, and the famous Maungakiekie (One Tree Hill), a 182-metre volcanic peak of great cultural and archaeological value to Maori.

This walk can take anywhere from four to eight hours, depending on how fast you hike. I recommend you dedicate a whole day to this activity and it is a must to bring a camera. In case you get too tired after the walk, there is a good bus service that can bring you back to the city centre.

If you're a fan of the latest trends in clothing and accessories, you can't miss New Zealand Fashion Week, which usually takes place at the end of August at theViaduct Events Centre, one of the best viewpoints on Auckland Harbour.

The first edition of this festival took place in 2001. Since then, it has become the backbone of New Zealand's fashion industry. It enables designers from the country and the region to promote their creations nationally and internationally.

The idea of its sponsors is to attract fashion influencers, but also to capture the attention of a group of consumers who are increasingly demanding that this industry be in line with new technologies and with a sustainable form of production, to better care for the environment.

Another perfect nature outing to do in Auckland is Mount Eden, an extinct volcano of the almost 50 that are distributed throughout the length and breadth of Auckland.

This volcanic peak has the distinction of being the highest natural viewpoint of the city with 196 metres high, and from where you get spectacular 360 degree views, including the port of Auckland. A curiosity is that when you reach the top there is a huge crater 50 metres deep, an ideal place to take pictures or videos.

If you don't want to walk there is a wide range of bus services and a train that reaches the area. It is also very accessible by car, as the volcano is close to the city centre. Another great option is to book a bike tour of Auckland, as many include Mount Eden in their itinerary.

Auckland' s best food trucks and chicken restaurants will be bringing their best chicken-based specialities to the Auckland Fried Chicken Festival, an event that has already become a classic.

The event takes place at Shed 10, a large waterfront shed located just a few metres from the Ferry Building, an old boat terminal that has become a must for tourists in the harbour area.

This festival mixes different ways of preparing fried chicken such as the Jamaican-inspired style, the Philippine, Japanese, Indonesian and the New Orleans-style fried chicken.

These and other options can be accompanied by a wide variety of beers and wines that go very well with the menu of delicacies offered by this culinary celebration. And all of this is accompanied by live music throughout the night. If you're still hungry for more, you can always book a gastronomic tour or a local wine tasting tour.

Practical information

• Address: 89 Quay Street
• Dates: Usually held in early August, but be sure to check the exact date.
• Price: Depends on what you eat during the event.

A relaxed and fun way to explore some of the city's sights is to take a ride in a tuk-tuk, a motorised version of the bicycle taxi, those little three-wheeled pedal-powered vehicles that are very traditional in Asian countries such as India and Thailand.

The route takes you through open spaces such as Parnell Rose Gardens, an area that is home to a large number of colourful rose bushes and surrounded by a beautiful environment, which makes for a pleasant and relaxing time.

The tuk-tuk will also take you through Auckland Domain, one of the oldest and largest parks in the city, with 75 hectares, which is home to the elegant Wintergardens or "Winter Gardens", which show their best side in August.

One of the city's must-see attractions is Kelly Tarlton's Sea Life Aquarium, which is also a great attraction for the little ones. With fewer tourists, this aquarium is perfect for those looking for things to do in Auckland in winter.

Located about 6 kilometres from the city centre, it has gigantic underwater observation tunnels, the first of their kind in the world. Conceived and built by the famous diver and explorer Kelly Tarlton, this aquarium has several unique attractions, such as the world's largest sub-Antarctic penguin colony.

There is also the Shark Tunnel where large sand tiger sharks, giant stingrays and the so-called Wobbegong carpet shark swim very close to you, separated only by large transparent tunnels made of acrylic.

A separate experience is a visit to the Seahorse Kingdom, where you can not only meet a variety of seahorses, but also enjoy the world's only public display of spiny seadragons.

A display of more than 10,000 flower bulbs, 30 market stalls and food and drink for all ages are just some of the highlights of the annual Tulip Festival, Auckland's largest display of its kind.

The festival is held in a huge 5.5 hectare garden, a real gem nestled in the Tahaki Reserve in the heart of the city.

This festival was designed to be enjoyed by the whole family, as there are many activities designed for children, with prizes and raffles, music and live shows. There is also a wide variety of gastronomic proposals, such as gourmet barbecue stalls and a cafeteria that operates on site, among others.

An interesting fact to bear in mind is that this event is not cancelled due to bad weather, as all the commercial stalls and activities are held in awnings that are covered.

Practical information

• Address: Eden Garden, Omana Ave.
• Dates: late August
• Price: from around €10. Children under 13 free

Although it's a must-see all year round, August offers the advantage of being much less crowded. This makes it much more convenient to visit the Hobbiton film set in the heart of New Zealand's Middle Earth, where much of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films were shot.

While this location is not in Auckland it can be reached in two hours, either by bus, train, car or organised day trips.

If you're up for it, you'll travel through the vast Waikato countryside, one of the largest agricultural areas in the world. It's a fabulous landscape, surrounded by mountainous peaks. Upon arrival you'll come across a giant sheep farm and Shire's Rest Inn, where you can enjoy a refreshment, ice cream or a good cup of coffee.

Then you can see where the scenes were filmed, visit some of the dozens of hobbit houses and enjoy the majestic scenery of Middle-earth.