AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - JULY 27: A View from the Auckland Harbour looking back onto the Ports and ... More through to the City skyline, Saturday 24th July 2004. (Photo by Sandra Teddy/Getty Images) Getty Images The Greater Auckland region encompasses an eclectic array of sights, sounds, and flavors. It contains the country’s largest population center, with just about 1.8 million people. There’s all the cultural vibrancy you’d expect from such a crowd. And yet it’s easy to get lost in this landscape, to escape into verdant hills, or set sail for remote, idyllic islands, about which you could explore all day without encountering another living soul. This expansive range of experience enables the area to be the ultimate choose-your-own-adventure playground. Especially when it comes to eating and drinking well. Suspended amongst the skyline in your downtown hotel, you could talk a short walk over to the pier and ferry over to the vineyards and olive groves of Waiheke Island. Or you could take a short drive north to explore the farmers markets and craft breweries of Matakana. Maybe just stay put and enjoy Michelin-caliber cuisine in the lobby of your own lodging. Auckland is your oyster and we’re not just saying that on account of all the world-class seafood. With so many options at your disposal, the only downside is decision paralysis. We’ve got the antidote in the form of a couple of carefully curated itineraries to guide you through your perfect day (or days) in Greater Auckland. The Greater Auckland Check List Hike to the top of 643-foot tall Mt. Eden, Auckland’s highest natural point. From here the city unfurls itself at your feet: a narrow isthmus sandwiched between two major harbors—the Manukau and the Waitematā. Touch the black sand of Piha beach. This tranquil shoreline at the edge of the Tasman Sea is popular with surfers as well as hikers, who come to immerse themselves in the lushness of the surrounding hillscapes. Smell a floral extravaganza at Lavender Hill, a rustic retreat just north of the city boasting seven acres worth of the eponymous aromatic shrub. The farmhouse on-site also offers tours of an adjoining olive grove and working gin distillery. Hear the roar of the crowd, 50,000-strong, as the beloved All Blacks rugby union team take to the field at Eden Park. If your own schedule doesn’t happen to align with that of the national team, however, you can still enjoy a 45 minute immersive tour at the All Blacks Experience in the Central Business District. Here you’ll get a firsthand sense of the cultural impact this sport commands over the local population. Taste the fresh bounty of local produce, artfully rendered through indigenous Māori techniques at Ahi. The award-winning restaurant along the waterfront is helmed by celebrated Kiwi chef Ben Bayly. AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - MAY 17: Amano Restaurant operations manager Jonathan Lefevre works as a ... More single server for a table of guests as the restaurant opens for the first time in level two on May 17, 2020 in Auckland, New Zealand. Getty Images Where To Eat And Drink In Auckland Amano – a popular, seasonally-focused Italian eatery. You’ll want to sample several of the house made pastas, including the beef shin agnolotti. MORE FOR YOU Google’s Update Decision—Bad News For 50% Of Android Users Microsoft Confirms Password Spraying Attack — What You Need To Know Microsoft Confirms $1.50 Windows Security Update Hotpatch Fee Starts July 1 Kingi – a boisterous locale in the lobby of the boutiquey Britomart hotel, opposite Waitemata Harbor. The focus is on sustainably caught seafood, paired with an extensive selection of New Zealand wines. Panacea – a modern mixology lounge in the CBD describing itself as a “cocktail kitchen.” Although you’ll want to explore some of the unique offerings, don’t sleep on the Old Fashioned; it’s the best in the city. Caretaker – A speakeasy style subterranean lounge that specializes in bespoke creations. Fishsmith – “It’s the best takeaway in town for freshly-fried fish and chips,” according to Auckland native, Gabbie Tutheridge. “Pack it up and head down to neighboring Herne Bay for a sunset dinner to remember.” Odettes Eatery – A verdant and inviting spot located at the City Works Depot. The playful-yet-sophisticated menu synthesizes flavors from the Mediterranean and Northern Africa into something wholly unique. Duck Island Ice Cream – Purveyors of hand-crafted, small batch confections with four separate locations across the Greater Auckland region. AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - OCTOBER 11: Local Matakana resident John Hay sells fresh produce from his ... More stall at the Matakana Famers Market in Matakana October 11, 2008 near Auckland, New Zealand. Farmers markets in New Zealand are rapidly growing in popularity as people seek more healthy, fresh and nutritious alternatives to supermarket food. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images) Getty Images The Perfect Day In The Hip Suburban Hideaway of Matakana Matakana is a quaint bedroom community just 45 minutes drive north of Auckland. Yet it feels like a world away. In recent years, the area has become a lightning rod for DIY sorts—artisan cheesemakers, kombucha brewers, ceramicists, knife sharpeners. You’ll spot all of them selling their respective wears and tears weekly at the Saturday Farmer’s Market. Or you can stroll your way through the heart of downtown and pick up fresh flowers and handcrafted gin and mixers to build your own picnic on Omaha Beach. Below is an itinerary custom-built for those with an indefatigable indie spirit. If you’re dedicated to supporting the craftspeople in your own hometown, you clearly carry with you the same objective as you set out across the globe. We feel your passion and feed it fully with an hour-by-hour rundown of a magical day in Matakana. And we’ve shaped with the help of trusted Kiwi insight. 10 a.m. - Load up on protein at the Matakana Smokehouse Their savory, oversized Bacon Buddy is the most iconic breakfast sandwich in all the land. 11 a.m. - Peruse the popular Saturday Farmers Market The convivial forum takes place weekly from 8am until 1pm and includes live music as well as an esoteric assortment of locally produced goods. 1:30 p.m. - Picnic at the Sculptureum This quiet greenspace just outside downtown is dotted with a colorful array of outdoor art installations. “Assemble some meats, cheese and flowers from the market, then settle in for lunch here amongst their pristine gardens,” advises Tasha McGill, Auckland native and food and beverage writer. The also operate their own restaurant, Rothko, which is a great option for late afternoon snacks. 3 p.m. - Beeline to the beach “Walk off your meal at Omaha Beach,” says McGill. “Just a five minute drive to the water, it has a scenic trail that features some local Maori carvings known as Pouwhenua.” 5 p.m. - Cocktail hour at the Vintry “This is undoubtedly the destination to grab a quality drink while in town,” according to Pat Fraser, a brand ambassador for Cardrona Whisky. The quirky, inviting lounge also boasts a commendable wine list and exists within a historic Art Deco theatre that still shows movies nightly. 7 p.m. - Dinner at the Saw Mill This working craft brewery produces some of the best lagers, pale ales and sours the North Island has to offer. A flight of its freshest offerings are guaranteed to pair perfectly with the kitchen’s flawless fried chicken, as well as its gut-busting Moroccan-style pulled lamb shoulder. AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - OCTOBER 11: An old sign for the Matakana Famers Market is displayed in ... More Matakana October 11, 2008 near Auckland, New Zealand. Farmers markets in New Zealand are rapidly growing in popularity as people seek more healthy, fresh and nutritious alternatives to supermarket food. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images) Getty Images Editorial StandardsForbes Accolades