As the masses exit the city and head to the seaside, some may say it's the best time to be in Auckland - and we tend to agree. There is so much to see and do in Newmarket over summer, so we have rounded up our favourites to help you plan your staycation.

Grab a Scoop

From Duck Island to Mövenpick and Island Gelato - the options and flavours are endless for a cold scoop to cool you down on a hot day. And if you are vegan or gluten free - rest assured, there is still a huge variety of flavours carefully created just for you!

Take a dip

Located right in the heart of Newmarket was the first, and still remains one of the few 50m swimming pools in New Zealand. Head in for a casual swim, do a few laps, enjoy the sauna, steam room or soak in the spa pool. The main pool is kept at 28 degrees, the ideal temperature to cool down (without the goosebumps) while you stretch the legs, follow this up by hitting the sauna or steam room for the perfect way to wind down and de-stress.

Have a Bite

There are a multitude of places to dine in Newmarket, from a cosy date night, to rooftop margaritas or family friendly eateries; the options are endless. On a summer's day, try out INCA (located on the Westfield rooftop) for a table-made guacamole and a spicy tuna tostada, The Candy Shop for amazing Dolsot Bibimbap, or Burger Burger for the perfect feed-a-crowd meal the whole whānau will love.

Catch a Movie

Nothing says relax quite like watching a film with an array of treats in hand. Visit Rialto or Event Cinemas for the latest releases while indulging in a box of popcorn and a choc top. The cinemas are cool and dark - the perfect escape from the humidity of a summer day in Auckland. There's always a great selection of films showing, from family friendly to date night (Top tip - book the boutique date night package for a really luxe date night in the boutique cinema with drinks, dinner and dessert!) click below to see what's currently showing.

Play on

Whether you're young, or young-at-heart, nothing screams fun like an hour or two at Archie Brothers, VR Voom or Timezone. Archie Brothers is a circus-theme funhouse packed full of retro arcade games, virtual reality and dodgems and ten pin bowling, with a full bar and delicious food available, you could easily spend all day here. VR Voom is a unique VR offering with top of the line VR Equipment - check out their 'Big Space' Experience - allowing 2-3 players to roam within a huge dedicated VR Arena, or the Escape Room for up to 6 people where players have to work through the clues to get to the end. Or for a fail-safe way to spark joy - visit the Timezone arcade - two levels of fun, games, bumper cars and laser tag - what more could a big kid want? So bring out your inner child (or your actual children) in Newmarket.

Take in the culture

Take a wander through Newmarket and visit our incredible galleries and many works of public art. Find more information and a map of the locations of public art here. Start your gallery tour at Railway Street Studios; a beautiful light filled gallery exhibiting New Zealand contemporary fine art and includes a space for resident artists to work and extend their practice. From there, head to Sanderson, a contemporary gallery nestled among the cobbled laneways of Osborne Lane, Then on to Art Select which showcases a diverse range of fine and contemporary art with solo or thematically inspired shows each month. And last but absolutely not least, make sure you pay a visit to The Poi Room, for the most incredible collection of New Zealand made art, artisan jewellery and art objects, carefully curated to showcase the best of New Zealand.