The Best Things to Do Around Auckland in January
Take advantage of the quiet city and long summer days to enjoy events, exhibitions, theatre, markets and some great films.
Auckland during the month of January can sometimes feel like a bit of a wasteland — the roads are empty, the CBD comes to a standstill and it seems like everyone you know is sipping beers by the water at their Coromandel beach house (totally not jealous at all).
If you're based in Tāmaki Makaurau this January, don't despair. Despite what it may feel like, Auckland's a 'keep the ball rolling' kind of city and has plenty on offer to inject a little awesomeness into the month. Take advantage of the long summer days and quiet city to enjoy events, exhibitions, theatre, films and live music you may not get to see during the busier parts of the year.
Top image: Aaron Birch via Unsplash
-
Event
Smales Farmers Market
Sun, 9 May, 2021
Smales Farm, North Shore
Auckland's newest farmers market arrives across the harbour.
-
Event
Enchanted Worlds: Hokusai, Hiroshige and the Art of Edo Japan
Virtually walk through this major exhibition on Japan's Edo period at Auckland Art Gallery.
-
Event
Tequila Ice Cream Afternoons
Tue, 9 Mar, 2021
Coops Corner Pub, Auckland
This harbourside bar is now serving up boozy ice cream everyday.
-
Event
Toi Tu Toi Ora: Contemporary Maori Art Virtual Tour
Virtually walk through this major exhibition exploring contemporary Māori art.
-
Event
Straight to Churly's
Tue, 27 Apr, 2021
Churly's Brewpub & Eatery, Auckland
Start your adventure in Auckland with some craft beer and a nose-to-tail feast.
-
Event
Rita Angus: New Zealand Modernist/He Ringatoi Hou o Aotearoa
Sat, 18 Dec 2021 - Mon, 25 Apr 2022
Te Papa Museum, Wellington
The landmark exhibition will showcase over 70 works from one of the country's most famous female artists.
-
Event
Ugo Rondinone: Vocabulary of Solitude
Sat, 20 Nov 2021 - Sun, 27 Feb 2022
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki, Auckland
Not one for your coulrophobic friends, this rainbow-hued clown-filled exhibition is best viewed on a sunny day.
-
Event
'The Lord of the Rings' 20-Year Anniversary Celebration
Fri, 10 Dec 2021 and Fri, 14 Jan 2022
Hobbiton Movie Set Tours, Matamata
Celebrate two decades of big-screen hobbits, elves and wizards at the Hobbiton Movie Set.
-
Event
Southside Stories: A Murder Mystery
Wed, 15 Dec 2021 - Mon, 31 Jan 2022
Bozo - Gin and Craft Beer Bar, Auckland
Sip cocktails while you unlock chapters to solve a (fictional) murder mystery gripping the city.
-
Event
Casa Bacardi Summer Sessions
Multiple single dates
Wynyard Quarter, Auckland
Sip fresh mojitos, snack on delicious Caribbean-inspired bites and boogie to some of the city's best DJs .
-
Event
Frosé Your Way
Mon, 3 Jan - Thu, 31 Mar 2022
Dr Rudi's Rooftop Brewing Co., Auckland
Embrace summer with two hours of bottomless frosé by the water's edge — complete with fruity flavours and fun toppings.
-
Event
Spider-Man: No Way Home
Thu, 16 Dec 2021 - Wed, 5 Jan 2022
Various cinemas in Auckland, Auckland
Everyone's favourite friendly neighbourhood web-slinger swings back into the Marvel Cinematic Universe to face a lineup of familiar villains.
-
Event
West Side Story
Sun, 26 Dec 2021 - Wed, 19 Jan 2022
Various cinemas in Auckland, Auckland
The 1950s-set spin on 'Romeo and Juliet' returns to the screen — and, making his first-ever musical, Steven Spielberg turns it into a spectacular cinematic achievement.
-
Event
George FM Summer Tour at the Whitianga Hotel
Sun, 2 Jan, 2022
Whitianga Hotel, Whitianga
George FM is putting on a rave worth venturing out after New Year's for.
-
Event
Black Christmas
Tue, 21 Dec 2021 - Sun, 2 Jan 2022
Online
A timely remake of a 70s cult classic, this is a Christmas-themed slasher flick for the #MeToo era.
-
Event
The Lost Daughter
Fri, 31 Dec 2021 - Wed, 26 Jan 2022
Online
Actor-turned-filmmaker Maggie Gyllenhaal makes a bold directorial debut, bringing Elena Ferrante's novel to the screen with an exceptional performance by Olivia Colman.
-
Event
The Matrix Resurrections
Sun, 26 Dec 2021 - Wed, 19 Jan 2022
Various cinemas in Auckland, Auckland
Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss will make you go “whoa!” at ‘The Matrix’ franchise’s mostly dazzling, almost-always-entertaining tumble back down the sci-fi rabbit hole.
-
Event
The Tragedy of Macbeth
Sun, 26 Dec 2021 - Wed, 19 Jan 2022
Various cinemas in Auckland, Auckland
Something wicked this way comes — a wickedly stunning new Shakespeare adaptation starring a phenomenal Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand.
-
Event
Ghostbusters: Afterlife
Sat, 1 Jan - Wed, 26 Jan 2022
Various cinemas in Auckland, Auckland
There’s something bland and tedious in this neighbourhood: an empty reboot haunted by easy nostalgia.
-
Event
House of Gucci
Sat, 1 Jan - Wed, 26 Jan 2022
Various cinemas in Auckland, Auckland
This supremely soapy recounting of the Gucci family's 70s, 80s and 90s-era dramas is worth seeing for Lady Gaga's fantastic performance alone.
-
Event
The King's Man
Thu, 6 Jan - Wed, 26 Jan 2022
Various cinemas in Auckland, Auckland
The 'Kingsman' franchise gets a World War I-set prequel that no one asked for.
-
Event
Power Yoga + Poke Bowls
Wed, 19 Jan, 2022
Vellenoweth Green, Auckland
The perfect combination for a wholesome mid-week evening of wellness.
-
Event
Summer Shandy Series
Sat, 1 Jan - Mon, 31 Jan 2022
The Bavarian Newmarket, Auckland
Wet your whistle with six types of shandies at The Bavarian this summer.
-
Event
Mary Quant: Fashion Revolutionary
Fri, 10 Dec 2021 - Sun, 13 Mar 2022
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki, Auckland
Celebrate the daring fashion icon in this exciting new exhibition, straight from the V&A museum in London.
-
Event
King Richard
Thu, 13 Jan - Wed, 2 Feb 2022
Various cinemas in Auckland, Auckland
Will Smith turns in an attention-grabbing performance as Venus and Serena Williams' father in this stirring drama about the two tennis stars' childhood.
-
Event
Food Truck Collective in Onehunga
Sat, 22 Jan, 2022
Onehunga Bay Reserve, Auckland
The city's beloved food truck nights are back for spring, bringing together live music, delicious street food and ice-cold drinks on tap.
-
Event
Juke Joint Bottomless Fried Chicken
Multiple single dates
Juke Joint, Auckland
Grab your chicken-loving crew and settle in for two hours of unlimited fried chicken, coleslaw and tater tots.
-
Event
The Auckland Anniversary Market and Whanau Festival
Sun, 30 Jan - Mon, 31 Jan 2022
The Cloud, Quay Street
Shop, eat and play during a two-day market this coming Auckland Anniversary Weekend.
-
Event
Nightmare Alley
Thu, 20 Jan - Wed, 9 Feb 2022
Various cinemas in Auckland, Auckland
Starring Bradley Cooper and Cate Blanchett, this mesmerisingly dark carnival noir is one of filmmaker Guillermo del Toro's very best features.
-
Event
Shakespeare in the Park 2022
Sat, 22 Jan - Sat, 19 Feb 2022
The Pumphouse Theatre, Takapuna
Pack a picnic and settle in for an evening of comedy and culture this summer.
-
Event
Ports of Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta 2022
Mon, 31 Jan, 2022
Auckland Waterfront, Auckland
This spectacular annual event is going ahead at red, so grab the family and head down to watch the action unfold.
-
Event
Mudbrick Sunset Screening Series
Multiple single dates
Mudbrick Winery, Waiheke Island
Watch the sun set over Rangitoto before snuggling up to watch Pretty Woman and sip on some of the winery's finest.
-
Event
Licorice Pizza
Thu, 27 Jan - Wed, 16 Feb 2022
Various cinemas in Auckland, Auckland
Freewheeling, meticulous and glorious all at once, Paul Thomas Anderson's ninth film serves up a 70s-set coming-of-age slice of life, as topped by a transcendent performance from Alana Haim.
-
Event
The Eyes of Tammy Faye
Thu, 27 Jan - Wed, 16 Feb 2022
Various cinemas in Auckland, Auckland
With a committed and compelling lead performance by Jessica Chastain, this otherwise far-too-standard biopic explores the life of 70s and 80s American televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker.