Heading into February can feel like an end to summer holiday fun for many people. Yet late summer and early autumn often gift us with great weather and long sunlit days. So hang on to those holiday fun vibes and fill your weekends (and a few mid-week evenings) with feel-good events. We’ve got all kinds of recommendations for you, both outdoors and indoors, because we won’t let the weather stop the fun on the Shore.
Festivals
A local festival is a great way to join with your community to celebrate the last days of summer.
Browns Bay Beach Summer Spectacular, 28 February, 10am–4pm; stalls and music continue till 7pm. Browns Bay beach reserve. family fun day includes live music, stalls, pony rides, inflatables, sandcastle sculpture competition and more! Purchase a kids' activity wristband at the information station on the boardwalk for $10. (Pony rides end at 1pm) ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/events/2026/02/summer-spectacular/
Mairangi Bay Food and Wine Festival, 14 March, 12pm–8pm, Mairangi Bay beachfront reserve. Live entertainment, fine wine and craft beers, food stalls from local eateries and food trucks, and kids' games. Not ticketed, but there are limited numbers on site, so don’t leave it too late. Buy a 2026 festival glass at the entry in order to purchase alcoholic drinks. mairangibayvillage.co.nz
Food and Wine Events
Try a new taste sensation at a food and wine event and enjoy eating and drinking outdoors with friends.
Rosé All Day, 21 February, 12pm-4pm. Multiple venues, Takapuna. Collect your wristband, tasting glass and food and wine vouchers from the registration point at Regatta Bar and Eatery, then wander through Takapuna to try the rosé wines showcased by different winemakers at each participating restaurant. Buy your ticket and vouchers at events.humantix.com/rosealldaytakapuna2026
Markets and Expos
Get to an expo or an outdoor market to discover new products, meet makers and try some tasty treats.
Seniors and Travel Expo, 28 February and 1 March, 10am–3pm, North Harbour Stadium. Over 50 exhibitors showcasing domestic and international travel, health and wellness, retirement living, hobbies, and more. seniorsandtravelexpo.com/auckland
NZ Food Expo, 14 March, 10am-5pm and 15 March, 10am-4pm, Eventfinda Stadium, Wairau Valley. Meet the makers, discover new products, enjoy exclusive deals, tastings and demos. foodexpos.co.nz/location/auckland/
Auckland Baby Expo, 28-29 March, 9am–4pm, Eventfinda Stadium, Wairau Valley. Looking forward to a new baby or have small children to think about? Auckland Baby Expo is here for you with brand new exhibitors as well as favourite brands, giveaways, expo specials, seminars and workshops. Get your free tickets here: babyexpos.co.nz/location/auckland/
Smales Farm Sunday markets, 8 February, 8 March and 12 April, 9am-2pm. Plant market, 15 February, 9am–2pm. There’s always something new and interesting to see at Smales Farm Sunday Market, and great coffee and goodies to eat. smalesfarm.co.nz/markets/
Sports
Whether you’re a spectator or a participant, there are great sports events taking place all over the Shore. Here are a few of our favourites;
Devonport JETS Run, Wednesday nights February-March, 6pm-7pm. Enrolment at Torpedo Bay Navy Museum, 5.45pm. Run the Devonport waterfront with a choice of 3km, 5km and occasionally 10km routes. Keep it low-key and fun for family, or make it a serious challenge to improve your time. Sign up here: eventfinda.co.nz/2025/devonport-jets-run/auckland/Devonport
BNZ Breakers. Watch the BNZ Breakers on their home court at Eventfinda Stadium, Wairau Valley, as they head to the last games of the season.
BNZ Breakers v South East Melbourne Phoenix, 5 February, 7.30pm, Eventfinda Stadium
BNZ Breakers v Cairns Taipans, 19 February, 7.30pm, Eventfinda Stadium
Moana Pasifika v Crusaders, 21 March, 7.05pm, Moana Pasifika starts the season up against Super Rugby Pacific champs Crusaders. Let’s give them some rousing support against the Cantabrians! Tickets on sale soon. Find out more at aucklandstadiums.co.nz/event/moana-pasifika-vs-crusaders-2026-season
Ducky Derby, 21 March, 10am-1pm, Western Reserve, Orewa (by the Orewa skate park). The cutest sport on our list, Ducky Derby is a community fundraiser for Orewa Beach Kindergarten. A family fun day with games and entertainment, and the duck race, with 750 ducks down the estuary at 12pm. Find out more: eventfinda.co.nz/2026/ducky-derby/auckland/orewa
The Colour Dash, 22 March, warm-up starts at 10.40am, Ngataringa Sports Fields, Devonport. Complete laps of the field and get doused in colour as you go! Dashers begin in white and finish as bright works of art. A new foam zone and bubble tunnel have been added this year. The event is accessible to all and includes a Colour Carnival complete with music and food trucks. Colour Dash is a charitable fundraiser for the Liz Soper Foundation of Care. Find out more and get your tickets at colourdash.co.nz/
Harcourts Cooper & Co Shore to Shore, 29 March, 9am. A 5.9km fun run or walk from Takapuna to Milford supporting local schools. Shore to Shore starts at Takapuna Grammar, heads past Takapuna beach to Milford reserve, where competitions and food stalls await you. Register to take part, at shoretoshore.co.nz/register/
Twilight Petanque, Mondays till 30 April, 6-7pm. Stanley Bay Petanque Club. Have you ever tried pétanque? Why not enjoy the evening sun over late summer and participate in a sport that focuses on balance and precision? Find out more: stanleybaypetanque.co.nz/events
Art and Craft
We’re finally getting the message to get off our screens and use our hands and minds for something more creative. Art and craft workshops have become very popular, so here are a few possibilities for you to consider. Make sure to check out the arts centres' websites for other options.
Kintsugi Workshop, 22 February, 9.30-11.10am, Lake House Arts, Fred Thomas Drive, Takapuna. This traditional Japanese art uses a precious metal to bring together pieces of a broken pottery item and create something beautiful. Book at eventbrite.co.nz/o/frost-studio-48114408643
Handbuilding Ceramics with Melissa Mead, six-week course starting 16 February, 9.30-12pm, Mairangi Arts Centre. All abilities welcome to learn hand building and glazing with clay. Book at mairangi-arts-centre.live.baluu.co.uk/l/adult-ceramic-other
Movies and musicals
Fun, free events for you and the family to see a favourite movie outdoors.
Movies in Parks: A Minecraft Movie, 27 February, 5.30pm-9.15pm, Te Kaitaka/Greenslade Reserve, Northcote
Movies in Parks: Moana 2, 14 March, 4.30pm-8.15pm, Luckens Reserve, West Harbour
For something a little more grown-up, there are also great musicals coming to the Shore.
The Last Five Years, 20-27 February, 7.30pm, and 3pm Sunday 22 February, The PumpHouse Theatre. A musical love story with a twist – one person’s story moves forward in time while the other’s moves backwards. Book at pumphouse.co.nz/whats-on/show/the-last-five-years/
Menopause the Musical, 24–25 March, 7.30pm, Bruce Mason Centre. The global hit returns after 10 years; a hilarious journey celebrating “The Change”, set to parodies of classic hits. Book at aucklandlive.co.nz/show/menopause-the-musical
The King of Pop Show, 22 April, 7.30pm, Bruce Mason Centre. It’s the first time New Zealand has had the opportunity to see the world's number one Michael Jackson tribute. Feel the magic as TJ Cappola nails the iconic moonwalk and vocals. Book at aucklandlive.co.nz/show/the-king-of-pop-show
Nature
Let’s take the opportunity to get out and about in nature, learn about our environment, and maybe leave things better than we found them!
Coastal Clean Up Walk, Narrow Neck to Takapuna, 7 March, 8am-10am, Join Restoring Takarunga Hauraki and Pupuke Birdsong Project for a coastal clean-up walk at low tide, and learn about the local environment along the way. Meet by the playground at Narrow Neck Beach. Register at events.humanitix.com/coastal-clean-up-walk
Guided walk through Te Ara Awataha, 7 March, 10am–11am, Northcote. A relaxed educational walk along Te Ara Awataha, with the ecologist involved in the regeneration of this 1.5km corridor. Beginning at Papa Ki Awataha, the source of the Awataha stream, and following the waterway through to Cadness Reserve. Book at kaipatiki.org.nz/whats-on/guided-walk-through-te-ara-awataha
Discover Pupukemoana, 21 March, 9.30am–3pm, Killarney Park. A family fun day from Pupuke Birdsong Project with snorkel and kayak tours, flax weaving and traditional games, as you discover the unique taonga of Pupukemoana. Find out more at pupukebirdsong.org.nz/event-calendar/
It’s worth going across the bridge for…
Auckland Boat Show, 5–7 March, 10am–6pm and 8 March, 10am–5pm, Viaduct Event Centre and Jellicoe Harbour. It’s the 25th outing of this on-and-off-water boat show, and your chance to see some of the most luxurious boats as well as the more moderately priced ones! Get your tickets at auckland-boatshow.com/
Pasifika Festival, 14 March, 9am-6pm and 15 March, 12pm-6pm, Western Springs Lakeside Park. Eight villages with eight stages are set to showcase the best of the 11 Pacific Island nations with world-class traditional and contemporary performances, and over 100 food and craft stalls. Find out more at aucklandnz.com/pasifika
Anzac Day
Saturday 25 April is Anzac Day, one of New Zealand’s most important and heartfelt national days, and an opportunity to join your community in honouring those who have served us. Dawn services and parade times haven’t been published as Channel goes to print, but usually take place at:
War Memorial, Manly Esplanade, Browns Bay
War Memorial Hall, Takapuna
Corner of Victoria Road and King Edward Parade, Devonport
Check the RSA national website or your local RSA for confirmed times closer to the date: rsa.org.nz
Poppy making at Torpedo Bay Navy Museum, 25 April, 10am-5pm, 64 King Edward Parade. Follow the service with an outing to Torpedo Bay Navy Museum in Devonport to continue learning about the Anzacs, and learn to make a traditional red paper poppy of your own. navymuseum.co.nz
Information correct as of 23 January - please check individual websites for confirmation closer to event dates.
