Auckland is a great place to live and study. In fact, Auckland has been officially ranked as one of the top cities in the world for quality of life. As the biggest city in New Zealand, there are a lot of things to do. So in your downtime from studying, be sure to check out these top top things to do in Auckland…

(Oh yeah, all of these below are free!)

• Bethells Beach

  Even though Auckland is the business hub of New Zealand, there are so many beaches to explore! When you have time, definitely go to Bethells Beach in West Auckland. Otherwise known as Te Henga in Māori, Bethells Beach is a gorgeous black sand beach with dunes, cliffs and expansive terrain. It’s a popular beach for surfing, swimming, parasailing and sunbathing. It’s also been used as a filming location for several international productions such as Taeyeon’s “I'“ music video and Taylor Swift’s “Out of the Woods”. Although it’s a favourite for many Aucklanders (and international pop stars), Bethells doesn’t get as crowded as neighbouring Piha Beach, where an abundance of New Zealanders and tourists alike flock to. It’s also not as crowded as Mission Bay in the CBD - where it can get almost as crowded in summer as Ancol in Jakarta! Looking out over Bethells Beach, the amazing views are unparalleled. Insider’s tip: during low tide, be sure to check out the caves at the far end of the beach.

• Mt. Victoria or North Head

  For stunning all-encompassing views of Auckland, go up Mt. Victoria or North Head in the suburb of Devonport on the North Shore. At both, you’ll get beautiful 360 degree views of Auckland - including the Sky Tower and Mt. Rangitoto (Auckland’s largest volcano). Both are easily accessible. If you’re travelling by car, you can take the short drive up and walk the rest of the way (a very short walk). Or simply walk up from the base. Both are also usually way less crowded than the popular viewpoint Mt. Eden in Central Auckland. Also, Mt. Victoria and North Head are only a two minute drive away from each other so why not go up both?

• Wintergardens

  The Wintergardens is a complex of amazing gardens within Auckland Domain, the city’s oldest park. There are two Victorian-style glass houses with a constantly-changing array of exotic flowers and plants, as well as an exterior courtyard with Victorian statues and a fernery housing luscious ferns. This is a beautiful oasis with incredible gardens to soak up and it’s a great place to walk around and take photos. If you have the time, also walk around the rest of Auckland Domain - 75 hectares large.

• Wynyard Quarter

  Located in Downtown Auckland, Wynyard Quarter is a cool space to hang out at or have lunch or dinner at. During summer, Wynyard Quarter plays host to markets, food trucks, art exhibitions and Silo Cinema (recent films or old classics are screened on the side of a silo and people are welcome to watch for free while chilling with bean bags or rugs). At Wynyard Quarter, there are also high-end restaurants, a fish market, basketball court, playground, event space and a lot of places to just sit and relax.

• Auckland Art Gallery

  Located in the heart of Auckland’s CBD, Auckland Art Gallery has the most extensive collection of national and international art in New Zealand at over 15,000 artworks. It’s filled with galleries of talented local and overseas artists. The art gallery frequently hosts travelling international exhibitions and sometimes hosts workshops, talks and various film festivals.
  *Admission into the general art gallery is free, while some exclusive visiting exhibitions may charge entry.