Oooh the Seafood School sounds wicked! Keen to go there!

This yoga studio is a place of such serenity and they have so much more to offer than just yoga!

What an amazing book shop! I could spend hours here just browsing! They seem to stock only the best quality books here, everything is thought-provoking.

Definitely makes you see yourself and our world differently and in perspective!

What a versatile venue! They hold a variety of plays but I’ve left each one of them with a different perspective.

A fascinating place to visit day or night, prepare to be inspired by the wonders of the stars and space at Stardome. This place is filled with comprehensive information, informative shows and a magnificent telescope that allows even the amateur astronomer to feel like an expert upon viewing the stars up close. It's a wonderful day out for all ages and even better at night. The perfect place to expand your mind and delight your eyes at the same time.

A treasure trove of amazing and often quirky stuff, Junk & Disorderly, is the perfect place to scour for hard-to-find and unusual second-hand items. You'll find everything from furniture to antiques, collectibles to curios and all kinds of other things. It's a clever place to shop for that hard to buy for person who likes rare or vintage things or to buy awesome pieces for your home or flat. Keep coming back regularly as their store is updated continuously with wonderful new stock.

One of the North Shore's true gems, the Bridgeway is a beautiful old cinema which shows a great selection of mainstream and independent films. The staff are a delight and service is a priority here, make sure to check out the treats on offer to munch on while you're there. If you're after a meal before or after your movie, Sausalito, is located right next-door and features delicious wood-fired pizzas on it's tempting menu. Definitely a worthwhile trip across the bridge.

This wonderful bookstore is a Mount Eden institution and has a brilliant selection of fascinating books, aided by super helpful and knowledgeable staff. Definitely bring the kids as their childrens book room is fantastic and will definitely keep the little ones entertained while you discover new literary loves. It's also open late which means you can make a pitstop at one of Mt Eden's great cafes before or after your visit. This place is a bookworm's paradise.

Lots of fun and good exercise, ice-skating is a great way to spend an afternoon and Paradice is the perfect place to do it. This rink has been a local favourite for years and is used for ice-skating, ice-hockey and has even hosted parties on the ice. A public session is skated to pop music, which makes for some amusing sing-a-longs sometimes and the team at Paradice will make sure you have a great time.

Heading into an Auckland winter means serious prep for ways to fill up rainy days, and one of the best and brightest is a visit to the still sparkling, recently renovated Auckland Art Gallery. They always have something new to look at and ponder thoughtfully, and when the tummy starts to rumble they offer some great food and coffee options. Best of all, the gallery is open seven days a week, so whenever the heavens open it’s ready and waiting for you.

You can visit the Stardome Observatory day or night, rain or shine to experience the wraparound sky and special effects of a planetarium. Each clear evening you may also see planets, double stars, glowing gas nebulae, or lunar craters through their amazing telescopes. 

I had no idea that beauty spot Lucy & The Powder Room was open Sundays until I was offered an appointment there recently, and now I’ll never look back! Takapuna parking was plentiful and free, whilst the Powder Room itself was sun filled and serene and there was ample time for a little shopping both before and after. The best Sunday I have treated myself to in a long time, and suggest you do the same!

We love trips to the Rialto cinema complex in Newmarket, where the selection of films is always impeccable and the snacks top notch. It is the perfect place to spend a rainy winter weekend in particular, tub of Kapiti ice cream and glass of pinot noir in hand.

In my opinion winter weather in Auckland isn’t that conducive to outdoor fitness activities, so a favourite place to head when I need warming up is the Hot Yoga studio on Broadway. It is beautifully designed, sweet smelling and clean, unlike a few Bikram classes I have tried where the sweaty masses were a bit too much! They also have several styles of yoga to choose from in a heated room, including the super restorative yin that even has a candlelit session happening on Sundays in the late afternoon. Heavenly.

$15 for over an hour of rock climbing! with all the equipment and training you need provided! Great family weekend activity - perfect for birthday parties.

Good wholesome fun! They also have a bar for the 18 plus members of the family and a great restaurant for everyone. You can take over the separate mezzanine bowling area for all your rowdy victory dances!

I loved loved loved being taken to the observatory when I was a wee lass. I’m sure kids these days are still fascinated in the great big universe out there. A family pass is $30 for two adults and three children - what a bargain!

A full day family pass (2 adults and 2 children) at $180 is pretty reasonable given the convenience of being located in Auckland. Great way to get the kids active for a day.

Entry is $6, skate hire is $3 and spectating is free - this is an amazing afforadable family activity and a good way to wear the kids out!

Situated in the shopping centre, there's lots of free parking available. It has a games room and bar to chill in pre or post movie.

It's right in the middle of Sylvia Park shopping centre which means it's easy to grab a coffee or quiet drink with friends after the movie finishes.

It's nice and modern with an onsite bar and balcony overlooking Aotea Square. The miniature bowling lanes on the mezzanine floor are really cute!

It's a good sized pool hall, plenty of tables with a nice chilled out vibe.

Inside a beautifully designed building, there's always an interesting art exhibition on. The cafe has some tasty treats also.

I am a regular at the Auckland Museum- whether or not they have one of their fantastic exhibits on, I still find it fascinating to wander the great halls looking at different things.  Recently went to White Lights there and it was an absolute thrill! 

Food galore!!! A place to tempt all your senses!!!!!  La cigale has good coffee, mouth watering pastries  and fresh veges and fruit and lots more!! 

Great exhibitions- and a wonderfully designed interior with architectural integrity!

Some great foreign movies here- as sceptical I was, I am now hooked.

Culture.. or could be lack of... but either way you are in for a good night! Hilarious time for all- For the more conservative just note, the later the show, the more you blush!!

OK so my idea of a casual date is heading to Video Ezy, cosying up on the couch and watching a French Film. This Video Ezy branch has an awesome selection of foreign film so make sure to check it out, I’d go with French if I were you, after all it is the language of love.

This cinema has a certain charm about it that is perfect for a movie date night. The cinemas are small and cozy, you can enjoy a glass of wine while you sit back and watch a festival film. Always a great selection of films showing and always a great cinema choice.

If you are luckily enough to see one of the International Film Festival screenings at the Civic then you will know just how amazing of a cinema going experience it is. If you haven’t had the chance yet, make sure you factor that in when next choosing your film. When you are inside make sure to look up, that ceiling is absolutely stunning!

Keen to watch a blockbuster action flick? Probably the best place around to go to is Hoyts in Sylvia Park. Amazing surround sound and huge cinemas, you’ll be right in the action. If you can get into a 3D film then I’d definately reccomend you do and experience action at its best.

Nothing beats a good old horror film on the big screen, in a big dark room with your friend sitting next to you screaming at every little sudden movement. When you are looking for a bit of an addrenline rush and you think you can handle of few nights of scary dreams, I’d grab a group of friends and head to the cinemas. Oooooh and on the way home a drive around some abandoned houses is always good.

Videon is awesome. There’s a $10 membership fee and rentals aren’t super cheap, but the selection is drool-worthy and it’s just a cinema-lovers dream.

I love the Civic. The shooting stars on the ceiling, the 1920s/Great Gatsby-esque grandeur, the weird elephant statues… and it’s host to some awesome events. I go here as often as I can.

One of my favourite theatres in Auckland. They always have a great selection of indie and festival-type films playing if blockbusters just aren’t doing it for you, and the bar is well-stocked.

There are a few great little cinemas in Auckland, but Capitol is my favourite.  They choose fantastic indie and foreign films, the interior is luxurious, the aisles are wide and the seats are comfortable... it’s the sort of cinema that makes you feel like you probably should have dressed up a little nicer, in a good way. All that and the unassuming entry (which I walked right past the first time I went here) makes me feel like I’m totally hip and/or in the know when I attend a showing here. :b

Open 24/7, a more than satisfactory movie selection, and a fantastic array of American candy. Yes please.

On a wet and horrible day i find there is nothing better than escaping the reality of the outdoors by catching a movie at Hoyts in Wairau, with the cinemas always being warm and clean and giving myself an excuse to consume large amounts of movie food, it always helps the rain down the drain!

Laserforce is an awesome way to spend a rainy day! Swapping the grim conditions outside for a high-paced indoor galactic themed warzone.. Need i say more?

Forget completely about the weather outside and escape into your own Timezone! My head spins with the amount of arcade games on offer and they top it off by giving away prizes for playing.. win win win!

I’m a Sunday drive kind of guy but that’s out the window for me if the weather is wet and raining, usually in this situation i get myself to Action Raceway and get straight into the Go Karts. Fast pace, loud and exciting this place usually leaves me hoping for rain again next Sunday!

Nothing beats winding down a rainy afternoon by catching a flick at Berkeley Cinema in Takapuna, walking up the stairs to the foyer and smelling that fresh popcorn the closer you get really makes me forget about the weather and enjoy the atmosphere in the cinema.

Disney on ice will be coming soon.

Great skill to learn

My daughter is enjoying it.

It’s always nice to see a movie with kids.

Very spacious to play any sport

exciting and fun place to play mini golf

This palce is great - the kids can spend hours zooming about looking at everything. It is free entry for Aucklanders - a huge bonus for your budget! In the holidays they organise activities for the kids

I love this museum. It has somethign for all the family

I have to say this is one of the very best attractions I have visited as a family. My kids love coming here often. Best invesment I have made for my kids.

I loved this place. It was super easy to get to after work. It also has great food and drink plus a fantastic atmosphere.

As I’m still very much a child at heart, my favourite part of Time Out is the children’s section at the back. They have so many beautifully illustrated children’s books that make me wish I had friends with kids to buy them all for. The staff are really nice AND there’s a cat - what’s not to love?

Even if another library is closer to where you live, take the time to visit the Auckland Central library. Browse the masses of books, ride the escalator up and down, get a coffee, play with the microfiche machine, maybe even do some reading. It’s a great place to spend some quiet time, to people watch, and to learn a thing or two about anything you want.

What do you get when you combine tea and books? Paradise, obviously. The staff are very patient and are happy for you to smell samples of each of their many, many teas before choosing, and don’t seem to mind if you sit sipping tea and chatting for aaages. There are delicious treats sitting in the cabinet just waiting to be an afternoon snack and you can browse their selection of novels as you sip your tea. It's the best!

Arcadia is full of gorgeous books that all shout, "Buy me! Buy me!" when you walk through the door. They have an extensive range of recipe and cookbooks that are filled with beautiful photographs and fantastic ideas. It’s hard to leave without getting something to take home with you.

Jason Books is full of great second-hand books, all in excellent condition. The lovely staff are happy to help you find what you’re after, and the store is so well maintained, it’s almost like you’re browsing new books. Love it!