The rain is inevitable in New Zealand, and especially in Auckland. Whether you head there during mid-winter or mid-summer, the rain will follow you. But here’s the good news: you don’t need to worry about the rain anymore. Here at View Auckland we have put together the ultimate guide of the best things to do in Auckland on a rainy day.
The best way to adapt to such weather is by finding fun activities that you can enjoy with your friends or family. After all, rain does not have to be so miserable.
Checklist for a Rainy Day
Before we can start listing down activities that you can enjoy in the rain, you should have a checklist of your own. This can be grabbing a couple of essentials every time you head out on a rainy day in Auckland. Here’s our checklist for all the rainy days:
1. Keep waterproof jackets in the car: it might seem sunny right now, but it won’t take much time for the clouds to settle in and for the rain to begin. To save you from the struggle, you should always keep waterproof jackets or sweater layers in your car.
2. Pair of Shoes: Apart from a jacket, you also need dry shoes when it starts to rain. Instead of getting your socks all wet and soggy, you should keep a pair of dry shoes in your bag or your car.
3. Purchase Tickets: Whichever activity you are planning to enjoy in Auckland, remember to buy tickets for it beforehand. You never know when it could start raining and standing in long queues in the pouring rain just doesn’t sound ideal to us.
4. Don’t Be Disappointed: Whether you live in Auckland or are just visiting, having the rain ruin your plans can be disappointing. But, since there are still many activities that you can enjoy on a rainy day in Auckland, there is no need to kill your happy spirit.
RELATABLE READING: Where to go walking in Auckland
Fun Activities for a Rainy Day in Auckland
With the Kids:
1. Go Skiing at SnowPlanet
Kids are always looking for something fun to do – and enjoying the snow is the best way to have fun. You can have the experience of skiing or snowboarding indoors, even while it rains outside. This is a great option for things to do in Auckland on a rainy day
Best For: A cafe that gives you the best view of all the snow domes. This is a perfectly enjoyable place with family, and especially children who can be safe in a controlled temperature of -5C.
Operating Hours:
- Monday – Thursday: 10.00am – 10.00pm
- Friday: 10.00am – 12.00am
- Saturday: 9.00am – 10.00pm
- Sunday: 9.00am – 10.00pm
Address: 91 Small Rd, Silverdale, Auckland
Pricing: The full-day pass at SnowPlanet costs $71 for adults and $51 for children. You can even get discounts by booking a 4-hour pass or a 1-hour snow tubing pass.
2. Get a scoop of the best ice cream at Giapo
If there’s one thing that kids love, it has to be ice cream. The best thing about Giapo is that both adults and children can enjoy it, especially due to its amazing 100% gluten-free ice cream options and unique flavors. Getting a scoop of ice cream in Auckland on a rainy day is a great option to brighten up your day!
Related Reading: Best cafes in Takapuna
Best For: The Apple Pie cone which is a crunchy waffle filled with the flavor of your choice, topped with a whole baked apple and some shortbread crumbs.
Operating Hours:
Apart from lockdown, Giapo’s opening hours are:
- Monday to Thursday: 2 pm to 10.30 pm
- Friday and Saturday: 1.30 pm to 11 pm
- Sunday: 2 pm to 10.30 pm
Address: 12 Gore Street, Auckland CBD.
Pricing: Depending upon flavor, it ranges from $8 – $25.
3. Visit the Underwater at Kelly Tarltons Sealife Aquarium
If you have ever wished to walk around the ocean, then this aquarium is the perfect place to be. Here, you can discover the local Auckland waters as well as the Southern Ocean that connects with Antarctica. Kelly Tarltons is a great day out, you can easily walk around in tunnels while sharks, penguins, and other forms of marine life swim around you. This is also a great place for the kids as the sealife aquarium has lots of interactive entertainment and educational programs available.
Best For: Swimming with the sharks in the shark tank (only reserved for people that are 18+ years old)
Operating Hours: The aquarium respects the schedule of your kids and is open every day during the school holidays. During the school term, the aquarium remains closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Address: 23 Tamaki Drive, Orakei, Auckland, New Zealand
Pricing: Children 0-2 years are free, children aged between 3-15 years cost $29, and adults cost $41 per ticket. However, you can get a 20% discount by pre-booking online.
RELATABLE READING: Kelly Tarlton’s
To Discover History
4. The Auckland Museum
If you haven’t already visited the Auckland Museum, heading over there during an Auckland rainy day might just be a perfect adventure. This museum contains the world’s largest collection of Maori artifacts as well as the history of the fauna and flora. It’s very easy to spend an entire day within Auckland War Memorial Museum.
Best For: Discovering the history of New Zealand, including the War Memorial.
Operating Hours: The museum is open every day from 10 am to 5 pm.
Address: The Auckland Domain, Parnell, New Zealand
Pricing: Entry tickets are free for Auckland residents and donations for the maintenance of the museum are requested from residents across New Zealand. For international visitors, there is a ticket price but they are generous enough to offer significant discounts for both children and families.
RELATABLE READING: Auckland Museum
5. Holy Trinity Cathedral
This cathedral is a combination of both modern and traditional. The architecture is outstanding, consisting of eighteen stained glass windows that are attractive to each visitor. Apart from their traditional symbols across the walls, they have also added Polynesian designs that complement the building.
Best For: Choral Evensong and the occasional concert that amalgamates religious bonding with modern happenings.
Operating Hours: These vary each day
Location: The Holy Trinity Cathedral is located at the corner of Parnell Road and St Stephens Avenue, Parnell
Pricing: free of cost
6. Maritime Museum
If you ever want to know about the people who sailed into New Zealand during its early years, you should pay a visit down to the Maritime Museum. It brings all of New Zealand’s rich history to life in an interesting way that helps you enjoy the story of the city.
Best For: Sailing on a heritage vessel. This activity is paid and depends upon the weather. You can still sail on the vessel if it is raining, but the wind is disruptive.
Operating Hours: The museum is open every day between 10 am to 4 pm.
Location: It is located at the corner of two streets, Quay and Hobston, at Viaduct Harbour.
Pricing: While the entrance is free for all Auckland residents, everybody else will have to pay a minimal entrance fee regardless of whether you are a resident of New Zealand.
To Have an Adventure
7. Stardome
If you wanted to follow the stars but it started raining – just head down to the Stardome. Apart from live shows, Stardome also has pre-recorded planetarium shows that allow you experience something utterly unique.
Best For: Educational Space Exhibits allows both children and adults to uncover more about outer space and its incredible discoveries.
Operating Hours: Stardome is open every day but the hours vary. Night hours are from Tuesday to Sunday.
Location: Stardome is located at 670 Manukau Road, at One Tree Hill Domain
Pricing: Entry ticket varies for adults and children. Please contact Stardome for more details.
8. SkyCity Casino
Sometimes, gambling and gaming are the kinds of adventure you need to cheer you up on a rainy day. SkyCity Casino has a world-class gambling setup where you can find multiple poker rooms, gaming tables, and a wide range of machines.
Best For: Poker rooms full of expert players who genuinely enjoy the game they play
Operating Hours: Always open, so you can head down to gamble any time you wish. Note that the minimum age for entry is 20 years old with an ID to prove your age.
Location: Corner of Victoria Street and Federal Street, in Auckland CBD
Pricing: Admission into the casino is free, but of course you will pay to play the games.
9. Escape Rooms
If there is no other place to be, you can head down to an escape room to solve some puzzles and crack the code with your team. While there are 11 different places in the city that offer escape rooms, our favorite is the Escape Masters (which was also the first escape room in Auckland). Just remember not to escape too quickly – what else will you do once you head out on a rainy day in Auckland?
Best For: Their adaptation to COVID-19 was remarkable. They now offer a 60-minute virtual escape room experience that you can enjoy from your home. A game master will be in the actual escape room acting as your eyes and hands, and you will be required to help them escape the room.
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday: 10 am to 10 pm
- Friday and Saturday: 10 am to 11 pm
Location: Level 11, 300 Queen Street, Auckland CBD, New Zealand
Pricing: Please check their website for updated pricing information amidst the pandemic.
10. Indoor Climbing at Clip n Climb
If you cannot head out to the mountains to climb outdoors, just bring the experience inside. Clip n Climb is a new concept brought to Auckland that is popular with all sorts of social groups. With no maximum or minimum age, Clip n Climb encourages everybody to take on the physical exercise required to enjoy some indoor mountain climbing!
Best For: The Leap of Faith and the Vertical Drop Slide – two of their additional features which are for an extra price but offer a fun challenge for you to complete. Apart from that, they have 34 different types of walls that you can climb. A great option for grown-up kids who wonder what to do in Auckland on a rainy day.
Operating Hours:
- Thursday to Friday: 12 pm to 8 pm
- Saturday and Sunday: 10 am to 5 pm
- Closed from Monday to Wednesday
Location: Capitol Cinema Building, 610 Dominion Road
Pricing:
- Kids (2-6 years): $17
- Adults (7-74 years): $20
- Seniors (75+ years): Free
RELATABLE READING: Rock Climbing Auckland
11. Trampoline Parks
If you thought trampolines are for children, you are wrong. The entire family or a group of friends can have an exciting time at a trampoline park since they offer a wide range of activities. This includes basketball, dodgeball, performance walls, and so much more to enjoy apart from just jumping on some trampolines. Trampoline parks are a great place to head on an Auckland rainy day.
Best For: At Uptown Bounce, you can enjoy exclusive time with your group at the trampoline park while nobody else is present there. There are also exercise and flipping classes that you can register for. Each session at Uptown Bounce runs for an hour, and you are required to arrive just 15 minutes before your session. The online booking system has improved efficiency significantly. A great option if you’re looking to do something fun and burn off some calories at the same time in Auckland on a rainy day.
Operating Hours: Open every day from 9 am to 5 pm.
Location: 565 Great North Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland, New Zealand
Pricing: $16 per hour for adults
12. Indoor Mini Golf
Did you really think golf was only for senior citizens? You are wrong. We know golf is an outdoor sport but Gloputt Mini Golf makes it even more interesting by bringing it inside and then making it glow in the dark. Indoor mini-golf is a great option to head on a miserable, rainy day in Auckland.
Best For: Enjoying a 16-hole mini-golf course that is completely lit up with glowing technicolor technology.
Operating Hours:
- Monday and Tuesday: closed
- Wednesday and Thursday: 4pm to 9pm
- Friday: 2 pm to 10 pm
- Saturday: 10 am to 10 pm
- Sunday: 10 am to 6 pm
Pricing: $16 for an adult ticket to the indoor golf course
RELATABLE READING: Best Mini Golf in Auckland
For an Artistic Experience
13. Civic Theatre
If you are anything like us, you would enjoy some classical theatre on a rainy day. Auckland is a modern city that still has some of the best theatre venues that bring together international productions as well as local performers to promote New Zealand’s talent. The Civic is one of the best atmospheric theatres in the world, and it would be a shame to miss it while you are in Auckland.
Best For: performance theatre shows that can be enjoyed by anyone
Operating Hours: varies from show to show, please check online for further details about when a show is being played
Location: Corner of Queens Street and Wellesley Street, West Auckland
Pricing: You can walk through the Civic lobby for free, but each show will have its own price for attendance. Please check with the attendant at the lobby or online through their website.
14. Te Uru Gallery
If you are one to enjoy contemporary art on a rainy day in Auckland, we suggest you pay a visit to the Te Uru Gallery. Since it overlooks the sub-tropical rainforest, you can even have a view of the outdoors as it rains while you appreciate contemporary forms of modern art indoors.
Best For: it’s changing exhibits which allow you to experience something new each time you visit
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Sunday between 10 am and 4:30 pm
Location: 420 Titirangi Road, Titirangi
Pricing: Free of cost
15. Auckland Art Gallery
It would not be fair for us to suggest a contemporary art gallery without including a classical one on our list of rainy-day things to do in Auckland. Escape the wet outdoors and spend an afternoon at Auckland Art Gallery in Auckland CBD. This art gallery will give you access to over 17,000 different artworks that are in a multitude of categories. Whether you enjoy paintings, sculptures, or even multimedia art – there is something for everybody at the Auckland Art Gallery.
Best For: Auckland Art Gallery has the biggest selection of national and international artwork all throughout New Zealand
Operating Hours: the art gallery is open every day between 10 am and 5 pm.
Location: Auckland Art Gallery is located at the corner of Kitchener Street and Wellesley Street, Auckland CBD
Pricing: The art gallery is free for all New Zealand residents as well as all children under the age of 12. All other international (adult) visitors are required to pay a fee for entrance.
For Some Laugher
16. The Classic
On a lighter note, sometimes we all need some comedy to cheer ourselves up on a rainy day. After all, the rain may have ruined all your outdoor plans and now you have nothing else to do on this miserable morning. Unless you head to the Classic. This full-time comedy club in Auckland includes all the classic sense of humor that you will need. Since the performers are both local and international, there is a wide array of shows for you to enjoy. Remember that all of the shows at the Classic are for people 18+ in age due to the explicit language and sexual references used in their jokes. Don’t worry, though, there will be nothing offensive at this venue.
Best For: their unique shows every single night and a new set of performers
Operating Hours: Open every day except for Tuesday and Sunday
Location: 321 Queen Street, Auckland CBD
Pricing: free of cost
Other Things to do on a Rainy Day
You may not always want to head out when it’s raining, and we understand that. To facilitate you one of the days when it’s either pouring too much to go outside or if it’s too cold to leave the home – we have a list of fantasic indoor activities to do on a rainy day in Auckland, but at home. These indoor activities are categorized into a kid’s and adults’ section, so you can find an age-appropriate activity for everybody to enjoy.
For the Kids:
1. Indoor Treasure Hunt
If wet weather has you stuck indoors, why not create your own version of The Amazing Race and hide clues in envelopes around the house that lead the children to a final location. You can even hide a prize at the final location to make things more interesting and entertaining for the kids. To make the treasure hunt easier for you, there are multiple printable clues available online that will save you the hassle of coming up with any riddles yourself. Just head over to Pinterest for that.
2. Indoor Camping Experience
Yes, we know. Camping outside in Auckland would be an absolute dream – but this dream has mostly been shattered by the clouds that seem to appear out of nowhere in this city. Instead of heading outdoors, you can set up a camp in the living room or an empty room inside the house where you can plan some fun activities with the children. This could include a themed picnic, a coloring marathon, a movie night, or just some puzzles and games for the kids to enjoy.
3. Flying an Airplane (but indoors)
If your kids are big fans of airplanes, this activity is likely to have them entertained for the rest of the rainy day. Simply, tape a paper clip bent like a hook to the front of a paper airplane. Then, place a chair upside-down and wrap an elastic band around the legs. This will serve as your launchpad. Once you hook the paper clip on the plane to the elastic, you can easily launch your airplane in whichever direction that you aim. Make sure that there is ample amount of space for your children to enjoy this activity since the airplane launcher can actually make these paper airplanes fly rather aggressively.
4. Plastic Bottle Bowling
While your actual bowling plans may have gotten ruined due to a rainy day in Auckland, you can still just recreate the fun experience at home. Simply line up some plastic bottles and have your children aim at them with some plastic balls. This fun activity can keep the children entertained for hours, and even teach them some mathematics while they are keeping score. Best bit? its one of the best free indoor activities to do with the little ones.
5. Build a Dollhouse
If all else fails with the indoor activites, it is time to bring out the crafts on a rainy day. Just get a couple of old shoeboxes and begin transforming them into your own unique dollhouse. Make sure you use different paints and textures to decorate the dollhouse to make sure that it looks straight out of a fairytale!
For the Adults:
Alright, enough about the kids. There are many adults who may have had some amazing plans to head outside but the rain in Auckland has inevitably ruined that, and now they are stuck at home. But fear not, even if you do not want to head outside in the pouring rain, there are many activities that you can enjoy at home (or just duplicate some outdoor experiences at home).
1. Enjoy a Spa Day
This self-care method is one of the most popular ways to enjoy a rainy day in Auckland. You can spread open the curtains and enjoy the sound of pouring rain as you relax in a hydrating face mask and dip your feet in some warm water with essential oils. You can even invite some close friends over and have an entire spa day all by yourselves, without worrying about the rain outside.
RELATABLE READING: Best Day Spas in Auckland
2. Sign Up for a Cooking Class
While this one may have required you to go outside in pre-COVID-19 times, there are many cooking classes that are now remote and help you learn the art of cooking right from your home. Whether you are already a MasterChef or know nothing more than boiling some water – a cooking class is a fun way to spend your rainy day inside the house. After all, you would have a plate full of scrumptious food at the end of the day, too.
Find: Best Cooking Classes in Auckland
3. Get to Organizing
In case you don’t want to spend any money while you spend your rainy day inside, you can easily start with organizing all the different drawers that you have been ignoring forever. Not only will this help you spend your day in an efficient way, but it will also be therapeutic as you would be completing tasks that you had been putting off for so long. Organizing can be as simple as taking out the unnecessary items on your dressing table and reorganizing them for a new look. You can even get some ideas from the internet to follow a new aesthetic for your table organization!
4. Movie Marathon
While you may not be able to head to the cinema due to the pouring rain outside, you can just bring the cinema home. We recommend having a themed movie marathon, such as the Dark Knight trilogy or even the Harry Potter series. Remember to get some cinema-themed snacks for yourself to make the whole experience far more fun. This could include some microwave popcorn in a cinema-styled basket, a plate of nachos, flavored slush, and some candy to top it all off. An even better way to enjoy this would be to invite a friend or two over – and then you would all forget about the misery that the rain brings to Auckland.
5. Get to Baking
Similar to cooking, baking can be a fun experience on its own and is a great option if you’re wondering what to do in Auckland on a rainy day. Once you head into the kitchen, you may find yourself baking a batch of cookies, brownies, blondies, and even some banana bread – all at once! The best part about spending your rainy day in Auckland baking is that your home will be left smelling like a bakery, and you will have enough dessert to last you the entire week. This activity gets even better if you get competitive with a friend or family where you can divide into teams and have a competition to see who bakes the best dessert!
The Final Word
It may be sad when it rains endlessly in Auckland but leave it to us to ensure that you still have a good day with your friends and family. Whether you want to head out and try some new things such as visiting a museum or an art gallery, or if you just want to stay at home and enjoy – our list has it all covered for you.
So, the next time it rains in Auckland, be sure to check back to select the activity that you want to enjoy!
