Auckland is a city known for its outdoor adventures, but that doesn’t mean the fun has to stop when there’s a slight drizzle. In fact, there are plenty of fun things to do in Auckland on a rainy day!
You can check out museums with awe-inspiring exhibits, have a gastronomical experience in the city’s best food joints, play mini-golf, or even go indoor snowboarding—all the while staying cosy and dry indoors!
Check out our top picks of what to do in Auckland on a rainy day!
- Learn about marine life at SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium
- Dine hundreds of metres up high at Orbit 360° Dining
- Discover the magic of making movies at Weta Workshop
- Give your senses a thrill at the Odyssey Sensory Maze
- Visit the New Zealand Maritime Museum
- Discover New Zealand’s military history at the Auckland War Memorial Museum
- Go Indoor Go Karting
- Challenge your friends and fam to a game of indoor mini-golf
- Go ice skating in Paradice
- Reach for the stars at Stardome Observatory Planetarium
- Go indoor skiing or snowboarding at Snowplanet
- Explore restaurants and cafés
1. Learn about marine life at SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium
Meet Gentoo and King penguins at SEA LIFE! Image credits @sealifekellytarltons on Instagram
Discovering the underwater marvels at SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium is definitely one of the best things to do in Auckland on a rainy day. SEA LIFE is home to thousands of aquatic life, from giant sharks, colourful fish, stingrays, and more swimming in their numerous tanks. The experience will make you feel like you’re strolling under the sea—without getting wet, of course. In fact, despite all the water in SEA LIFE, you’re going to stay pretty dry unless you opt to go diving with the sharks and turtles!
You can also meet the largest penguin colony in the Southern Hemisphere in the Antarctic Ice Adventure as well as rescued turtles at Turtle Bay. It’s great fun for lovers of aquatic life!
2. Dine hundreds of metres up high at Orbit 360° Dining
Auckland is stunning from hundreds of feet above street level! Image credits @skycityakl on Instagram
Who says you can’t explore Auckland during an outpour? At Orbit 360° Dining on the Sky Tower, you can see all of the city from hundreds of metres above street level while staying nice and dry. All the while enjoying a scrumptious lunch and dinner with your drink of choice on the side.
Enjoy a kiwi-style menu made from only the finest local produce and ingredients while taking in the breathtaking 360-degree views of the city’s landscapes and harbours.
3. Discover the magic of making movies at Weta Workshop
Learn all about designing creatures, sets, and special effects from the masters at Weta Workshop! Image credits @wetaworkshop on Instagram
Find out what it takes to design creatures, build sets, and create special effects at Weta Workshop, every fantasy and sci-fi buff’s paradise. If you’ve been wondering how all the movie magic was done for your favourite films, then a visit here is a can’t-miss thing to do in Auckland on a rainy day.
During your visit, you’ll be guided through three movie projects: a creature feature, sci-fi adventure, and fantasy epic. You’ll also learn about the ins and outs of sculpting creatures, forging weapons, special effects, and building miniature sets.
4. Give your senses a thrill at the Odyssey Sensory Maze
Check out the vortex tunnel at Odyssey Sensory Maze. Image credits @odysseysensorymaze on Instagram
You’ll have a sense-ational time at Odyssey Sensory Maze with its mazes of optical illusions, tunnels, challenges, obstacles, and sensory spaces! Bring your friends and fam to check out the mind-boggling vortex tunnel and mystical mirror maze, as well as the balloon tank that will help you unleash your inner child.
With all the surprises inside the maze, it’s definitely one of the most exciting things to do on a rainy day in Auckland! Pro-tip: if you want to make most of your trip, you can opt for a one-hour unlimited re-entry ticket so you can visit all the stops inside as much as you want!
5. Visit the New Zealand Maritime Museum
Learn about New Zealand’s rich maritime history. Image credits @nzmaritimemuseum on Instagram
Thanks to its bustling harbours, Auckland is dubbed the City of Sails, making it an excellent place to house the country’s most important artefacts and relics in maritime history. The New Zealand Maritime Museum is a great place to learn about the importance of seafaring to NZ, which is expressed in its well-curated galleries, events, and heritage sailings.
Find out what it was like during the earliest European voyages to the country, check out the vessels created by early Polynesian settlers, and discover how history shaped today’s vibrant maritime culture in New Zealand today.
6. Discover New Zealand’s military history at the Auckland War Memorial Museum
Check out all the exhibits about New Zealand’s military history. Image credits @aucklandmuseum on Instagram
Another great thing to do in Auckland on a rainy day is to visit the Auckland War Memorial Museum. It’s home to incredible collections and galleries that celebrate the great heritage of Tāmaki Makaurau, a.k.a. Auckland.
Discover New Zealand’s military history through exhibits of warships, clothing, and other artefacts. You can also take part in cultural appreciation by watching a live performance from the Māori people.
7. Go Indoor Go Karting
Get your adrenaline pumping when you go indoor go-karting! Image credits @extremeindoorkarts on Instagram
Give in to your need for speed and put the pedal to the metal at Extreme Karts, an indoor go-karting venue with New Zealand’s one and only two-level track! You can race with your friends and family to find out who the Schumacher is in the squad.
Get your adrenaline pumping as you brave through the track’s twists and turns as fast as you can! If you're looking for thrill and friendly competition, then go-karting is an excellent thing to do in Auckland on a rainy day!
8. Challenge your friends and fam to a game of indoor mini-golf
Can you hit a hole-in-one? Image credits @guaporico on Instagram
If you enjoyed finding out who the Schumacher of the fam or the friend group is, then it’s time to discover who the Tiger Woods is at Gloputt Mini Golf! Gloputt has 16 fun courses adorned with mini buildings, plants, props, and pathways for you to show off your golfing skills!
The best part: the courses are all glow-in-the-dark! Plus, they are all indoors, making it perfect for when Auckland’s weather decides to have an outpour.
9. Go ice skating in Paradice
You don’t have to be a pro to have a good time skating at Paradice! Image credits @hauraki_ice on Instagram
Strap on your skates and unleash your ice prince/princess at Paradice! Whether you’re a beginner or a total pro, it’s a great place to have fun and skate your heart out, especially on rainy days. Plus, it’s a guaranteed fun time to go with your friends and family and watch everyone’s bloopers on ice!
Aside from skating, you can also participate in other ice sports like hockey and curling. If you see yourself or a loved one going to the Winter Olympics one day, you can even enrol in lessons!
10. Reach for the stars at Stardome Observatory Planetarium
Check out all the exhibits at Stardome Observatory Planetarium. Image credits @juliaallisson on Instagram
One of the best things to do in Auckland on a rainy day is to explore the galaxies, to infinity and beyond! No, seriously—at Stardome Observatory Planetarium, you can see the Universe at the comfort of a reclining seat in their indoor theatre!
It’s a great place to visit with the little ones, with its several interactive exhibits and events that help you learn about what’s beyond planet Earth. Definitely, a fun and memorable way to learn about astronomy with the whole fam!
11. Go indoor skiing or snowboarding at Snowplanet
Strap on your skis and snowboard and go down the slopes of Snowplanet. Image credits @snowplanetnz on Instagram
Who knew you could go snowboarding or skiing even when it’s raining cats and dogs outside? At Snowplanet, you’ll stay nice and dry even while ploughing through the indoor slopes, no matter the weather!
Despite being an indoor venue, it has 8,000 square metres of real snow, giving enough room to ski and snowboard to your heart’s desire! You can also go snow tubing and tobogganing for the ultimate winter experience any time of the year!
12. Explore the restaurants and cafés at Viaduct Harbour
Check out the best dining spots at Viaduct Harbour. Image credits @saint__alice on Instagram
Viaduct Harbour is a popular hub in Auckland for dining and entertainment. While it’s known for its alfresco dining areas and rooftop bars, the restaurants here don’t close up shop because of a bit of drizzle. You can still enjoy a gastronomical experience here despite the rain, all while enjoying the view of the bustling harbour!
A great joint to check out is Saint Alice, present in almost every photo of Viaduct Harbour. Here you can enjoy the freshest seafood, especially oysters and wood-fired pizza, while gazing at the fantastic seaside view!
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