It’s a well-known proverb in Auckland that you can experience every season in one day. As Tāmaki Makaurau moves between seasons, it gets its fair share of rainy days. That’s why, when the weather is less than ideal, there’s still plenty of fun to be had in the City of Sails. Check out this list of fun or interesting things to do in Auckland on a rainy day!
1. Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq
Whether you’re an adult looking for some excitement with your mates on a Friday night, or a family of five, Archie Brothers is always a fun time. Visitors are spoilt for choice of fun activities with bumper cars, virtual reality games, an arcade, bowling, and a “Thrillrider” motion game. The Dazzler’s Diner keeps everyone fed with inventive diner grub, and the full bar adds a little extra fun to the Friday night crowd. This has to be one of the best indoor playgrounds in Auckland.
2. The Auckland Art Gallery
Visiting the Auckland Art Gallery (Toi o Tāmaki) is a popular activity for visitors and locals alike. Rain or shine, there are always fascinating exhibits and a chance to peruse historic and contemporary art. Admission is free for all visitors at the time of writing. If you’re in need of some inspiration on a rainy afternoon, this is one of the best free indoor activities Auckland has to offer.
Liking this train of thought? Check out the Best Art Galleries in New Zealand here!
3. Mini Golf Bar, Holy Moley
One of the most fun things to do on a rainy day for adults in Auckland is to play a round of minigolf with a drink in the viaduct. Holey Moley’s full-service bar “The Caddyshack” keeps players refreshed as they putt the 27 unique, interesting, and sometimes bizarre holes. There’s always good music, and a kitchen to feed your hunger when the weather just doesn’t want to play ball.
4. Indoor Snowboarding at Snowplanet
A long-running favorite for Auckland families is Auckland’s Snowplanet. With over 8,000 square metres of real snow, this indoor facility about 30-minutes north of the city center gets visitors skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing. No prior experience is required, but they also provide lessons if you want them. For the littluns or visitors who don’t find the slope appealing, there’s the Winter Wonderland, a mock alpine village with tobogganing and snow tubing. This is one of the coolest things to do in Auckland on a rainy day, in more ways than one.
5. Grab a Bite in Elliot Stables
Elliot Stables is a truly unique food court in the heart of Auckland city. The cobbled floor, dimmed lighting and rustic decoration provide a cozy setting that makes it feel like you’ve left New Zealand altogether. There are heaps of options in the food court, from burgers to bao buns, curry to cajun. Elliot Stables provides a restaurant setting in which every member of the family can eat from a different part of the world.
Check out the Top 14 Auckland Bars while you’re at it!
6. Indoor Trampolining
If being stuck inside leaves you bouncing off the walls, you can go to an indoor trampoline venue and do it literally. Venues like Uptown Bounce offer active indoor fun for the family. With their special pair of trampoline socks, visitors bounce on trampolines set at every angle. If you’re a student, you can bounce for $10 on Tuesdays. Bouncing on indoor trampolines is one of the best things to do in Auckland on a rainy day to expend energy and have a laugh.
7. Clip ‘N Climb
If you’ve never given climbing a go (or even if you have), the best way to try it is at Clip ‘N Climb in Auckland. Perfect for a rainy day, their many unique climbing experiences and automatic belay safety system allows climbers of all ages and abilities to have some high-strung fun. There’s even a nine-metre vertical drop slide for the adrenaline seekers. For those on the North shore, there’s also a new Clip’N Climb venue in Albany. Clip ‘N Climb is where a climbing wall meets a theme park.
8. Virtual Reality
If you prefer games of the video variety, then there are several must-do experiences in Auckland like VR Voom. VR (virtual reality) experiences are like stepping into another world, whether you want to race cars, escape zombies, or take a Jurrassic adventure. What better way to escape a rainy day than by tricking all of your senses with top of the range entertainment technology?
9. Escape Room
There are many escape rooms throughout Auckland, which make for great fun on days when the weather drives everyone indoors. With a group of friends, family, or colleagues, escape rooms such as Escapade challenge teams to solve themed puzzle rooms to break out. The cool thing is, even if the rain is stopping you from leaving your house or accomodation, you can book a hosted online escape room for groups of up to six.
