10 Things to Do in Auckland in October

Auckland is a vibrant, modern city, full of social life and attractive places not to be missed. If you visit in October you can take advantage of the first weeks of spring, festivals full of joy, local traditions and Halloween celebrations.

In addition to the amount of things to do in Auckland throughout the year, in October you will find plans for all tastes and all ages. My advice is to go and see for yourself.

If this is your first time in Auckland, this is probably one of the best plans you can sign up for. Over several days you can enjoy more than 150 events full of history, Maori culture and art that honor the city's heritage.

This festival offers walks, guided tours, as well as the opportunity to discover old photographs of the city. Sign up for a scavenger hunt, enroll in a map-making workshop at Howick Historical Village, or take one of the Auckland cruises. The best part? Many activities are free or offer affordable prices.

In addition, you can buy gifts alluding to the city for your relatives and immortalize the moments with fun photographs. The Maori are an indigenous Polynesian ethnic group native to New Zealand, who will blow your mind with their culture connected to nature and spirituality.

Every year in October, the Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Marathon is held in Auckland, a marathon attended by people from all over the world. This adventure gives you the experience of running through the city, and enjoying the sights.

Although it is not like one of the guided tours of Auckland, if you dare to participate you will be able to see much of the city: it starts in the coastal suburb ofDevonport on the North Shore, which with its Victorian charm offers attractions for the whole family, such as ferry rides, antique stores, as well as visiting bookstores, beaches and cafes.

During the tour you will also visit Takapuna, Northcote, Harbour Bridge, Viaduct Harbor, Tamaki Drive, Saint Heliers Bay, Victoria Park (where the finish line is located), and if you are not used to running you can opt for the half marathon.

Finally you will finish in Auckland Central, specifically in Victoria Park, a wooded park, ideal for a picnic with your family or enjoy all the activities that the area has to offer.

Take it easy! The Sky Tower is available all year round for the enjoyment of tourists and locals, however, I will tell you why October is the perfect month to visit it.

It is ideal for observing the entire city, as it has three observation decks and viewing areas. Also if you are looking for an extra adrenaline rush, you can do a bungy jump from the Sky Jump platform, or walk along the Sky Walk.

For families, the Sky Deck level is ideal, plus children under five years old do not pay, there are annual passes and family packages. Now the big secret... It is ideal to live this experience in October, as you can enjoy clear views and the colors of spring.

Practical information

• Address: Corner Victoria and Federal Streets
• Hours: Monday and Tuesday between 9:30 am and 6:00 pm. Wednesday to Sunday between 9:30 am and 8:00 pm.
• Price: depends on the activities you wish to do, but a single ticket costs a little more than 20 €.

The best way to learn about Auckland' s culture (in addition to entering some of the city's best museums), is by taking a tour of its streets during Labour Day.

Labour Day is celebrated to commemorate the struggle for fairer working hours, and as it is a day off, there are also many events available in the city, such as film screenings, basketball games, guided tours and book fairs.

Let Auckland surprise you, and learn more about its food, wines, rituals and traditions. Other ideal plans are to visit markets, art exhibitions, or the House of Chocolate, a chocolate factory that offers different flavors such as Itakuja chocolate which is made from passion fruit with double fermentation in Valrhona.

This festival celebrates cultural diversity as well as the Indian community. Dance to their songs, enjoy their music, taste and learn how to prepare their traditional dishes.

You will also have the opportunity to create henna tattoos, and make your own Diya, which is a lamp that is used for the Festival of Lights moment that occurs at the end of the night, when all attendees enjoy fireworks and raise the lamps created during the event.

As you enter Diwali you will have the opportunity to try Moong Dal Halwa, a lentil pudding cooked with milk and butter, Coconut Barfi which is a traditional Indian sweet made from fresh coconut, and other typical dishes of the region.

In New Zealand sheep outnumber people, so you can't leave the city without seeing at least one, and Cornwall Park is the ideal place to do so. It is a lush park that you should visit during the spring, and it is connected to Auckland's transport lines, so it will be easy to access.

Visiting this park during October is perfect, as you can enjoy a clear and cool night, enter the planetarium and admire the stars from the telescope, although to live this experience you must make a reservation in advance.

If you are a nature and animal lover, but do not want to make excursions from Auckland, you can visit Albert Park. The Domain offers a small lake with a variety of birds, rallies and events, from its hills you can see the Auckland Museum, and you could even stop by to learn more about its history.

Every year in October, Aucklanders reinvent themselves to offer the scariest, but funniest, Halloween. In different parts of the city you will find activities for all ages, where you can create your costume.

If you are a fan of horror movies, you should probably start your night at the old Kingseat Hospital, a place with haunted houses, monsters hidden in every corner, and a lot of special effects that will take your heart out of your chest.

The city's universities also organize themed parties, where the best costumes are awarded, so you can bring out your competitive spirit. During Halloween, some restaurants even transform their menus and offer drinks inspired by this special day in October.

Auckland's cinemas also show the scariest movies, there are cemetery tours, and you can even learn about the city's horror stories. In addition, on the streets you will find festivals, spell-casting workshops, and tarot readers telling your fortune.

You haven't been to Auckland if you haven't tried the city's wines and food. Around New Zealand you will find a variety of festivals that take place only in October, such as "it! Bay of Islands Food and Wine Festival", attended by local bands, and of course, there is plenty to taste. Or Gisborne's First Light Wine & Food, which attracts top winemakers from around the world.

However, if you're looking for something closer to home, you can escape to Waiheke, better known as Wine Island, which has a variety of vineyards and wineries that reserve the best wines in the country. You can get there by ferry in just an hour and book a guided tour.

Another option is to book a tour that will take you from Auckland to Kumeu, one of the oldest and most emblematic wine areas in New Zealand.

If you prefer to do a beer tour of Auckland, try the Codfish Trail that will take you to different breweries in the city, tasting snacks, beers and cocktails. After all that drinking, you'll need to recharge your batteries, and what better way than to head to The Great Auckland Craft Beer Hunt.

Many tourists go to Auckland to practice skydiving, as its weather conditions are ideal for this extreme sport. Doing it in October will allow you to enjoy the cool spring weather, with the advantage of clear views.

There are different packages, but you can make a jump from 3,962 to 20,000 meters. It is best to book in advance, as these plans are very popular during October, as it is the vacation season, many families take advantage of this time to take new experiences.

You will be able to see all the sea and the city life from the heights and you will have a great adventure to tell back home. You can also opt for other extreme sports, such as rappelling, river rafting, zorbing (in which you will be in a plastic bubble rolling like a hamster and if you go to Auckland in winter you will do it on ice) or jet boating, among others.

Would you dare to jump out of a plane? Book your parachute jump in Auckland!

For animal lovers, the Kelly Tarlton Aquarium offers history and a variety of activities, such as hanging out with a population of sub-Antarctic penguins, which you can feed and accompany on their walks, visit the turtle rescue center, or swim with sharks, where you will dive into a cage and live with at least 15 species of sharks.

This aquarium is a place of preservation, so it is important to follow the rules regarding coexistence and feeding. It is ideal to visit in October, since it is the holiday season, they offer many activities for adults and children.

Still want to keep touring Auckland in October, then join us at its best attractions!

• Have a romantic getaway on Rangitoto Island.
• Meditate in the Auckland Botanic Gardens and soak up the best energies of spring.
• Get out of the city and take a tour to Hobbiton, ideal for Lord of the Rings fans.
• Get lost in the K Road and go shopping.
• Visit the Tiritiri Matangi Bird Sanctuary, where endangered species are preserved.

October is a month with pleasant temperatures, ranging from 5° to 20°, and therefore you can visit many of the city's attractions. Don't forget to wear sunscreen, as UV rays tend to be strong.

Although it is spring, there may be some showers, so I recommend you bring some warm clothes as a precaution.

In terms of prices, it is considered mid-season, as it is right between low season (winter) and high season (summer). You will find flights, accommodations, car rentals and tourist activities at good prices.