I’ve called Auckland home for 3 years, but there is still so much to see and do. Here are all the things I want to tick off my bucketlist! How many have you done?

GO WHALE WATCHING

While Kaikoura is super famous for whale watching tours, the same experience is available a lot closer to home. I’d love to get out into the Hauraki gulf and set eyes on the creatures of the sea. Remember that viral video of orcas swimming past kids near Waiheke island? Yeah, I wanna see the orcas… but from a boat.

TAKE A HELICOPTER FLIGHT OVER AUCKLAND

As much as I love Auckland from the ground, I would love even more to see it from the sky. It always fascinates me, seeing the way everything fit together with that birds’ eye view. I’ve also never ridden in a helicopter, so that’s an experience I want to have!

DO THE TE HENGA WALKWAY

I would absolutely love to walk along the cliffs between Bethells Beach and Muriwai. I love the wild west coast & can’t wait to tick this one off.

CAMP ON MOTUTAPU ISLAND

A perfect day looks like hiking up Rangitoto and then camping on Mototapu island before waking up to a beautiful sunrise over the Hauraki gulf!

VISIT TIRITI MATANGI ISLAND

A day on Tiriti Matangi Island would be a day well-spent. I’d love to finally meet the hide-and-seek champions (thought to be extinct from 1898-1948), the Takahe.

VISIT EVERY REGIONAL PARK

With 27 regional parks in Greater Auckland, this is no small feat! I’m currently 8 down, 19 to go! How many have you done? Find the whole list here.

WALK FROM COAST TO COAST

The day-long coast to coast walk is truly unique to Auckland. Where else in the world can you literally walk across the country in a few hours?!

RUN A (HALF?) MARATHON

A chance to walk/run over the harbour bridge?  I’ll take it!

FLY IN A SEAPLANE

Taking off from the water – now that’s awesome. And what spectacular & unique views of the city you’d get!

WATCH A MUSICAL AT THE CIVIC THEATRE

I’ve been to a concert in the beautiful Civic Theatre on the corner of Queen St & Wellesley St, but to watch a musical there would be a dream.

WATCH AN ALL BLACKS RUGBY GAME AT EDEN PARK

I used to live in Mt Eden & could see Eden park out of my window. When watching the rugby, we would hear the cheers from the stadium moments before the try was scored on TV. So close, but not close enough. I would love to watch an All Blacks game on home turf!

GO TO THE DIWALI FESTIVAL

I can’t believe I haven’t been to this festival yet! I’ve missed 3 of the annual events and am determined to go to the next one. Diwali was one of my favourite festivals growing up & I will take any excuse to glam up in my Desi outfits!

SEE A KIWI BIRD FOR REAL IN THE WILD FOR REAL

Are you sure kiwis aren’t mythical? I’m not certain until I’ve laid eyes on these nocturnal birds in the wild.

GO SCUBA DIVING (AT GOAT ISLAND)

I don’t love marine wildlife & really don’t like the idea of swimming with them, so scuba diving also falls reluctantly onto my Auckland bucket list. Isaac made me promise to go with him! You’ve got to step out of the comfort zone once in a while, right? And the marine reserve at Goat Island is the perfect spot for it.

That’s my list of things to do in this beautiful city I call home! I would love to know your experiences if there’s any of these things you’ve done already! Have you written a bucketlist for your home town? Let me know in the comments below.