Auckland in style.
This August, the destination for fashion lovers is the beating heart of Tāmaki Makaurau.
For one week, fashion takes over the city of sails; from the waterfront runways of the historic Shed 10 to the restaurants, laneways, hotels and streets that give Auckland its unmistakable energy.
This is not fashion observed from a distance. It’s fashion lived - from the streets to the runway.
Shows. Designer activations. Industry events. Panel talks. Cultural moments. The city is fully alive and dressed for the occasion.
Whether you’re flying in from Sydney or driving up from Tauranga, NZFW is your reason to visit Auckland.
See & Do
Across the week, soak up the golden hour of the majestic Waitematā Harbour, indulge at world-class restaurants in Britomart, or explore the vintage haunts that line Karanghape strip through to the local fashion found along Ponsonby Road. Discover the world-class shopping of Newmarket, familiarise yourself with the city’s renown cafe culture or be inspired by leading art galleries and theatres. Maybe stop for a drink along the Viaduct and book in dinner and a show - Auckland is waiting to host you in style.
Viaduct Harbour
The heartbeat of Auckland's waterfront. Pull up a chair at Soul Bar for a long harbour-view lunch, or perch at Sardine bar for pre-show cocktails with the marina as your backdrop. When the weather is right, there's no better place to be in the city.
Waiheke Island
Forty minutes by Fullers ferry from the downtown terminal, and a world away. Waiheke is world-renowned for a reason - Cable Bay, Stonyridge, and Man O' War all produce wines that hold their own internationally. Book ahead at Poderi Crisci for lunch in the vines, or keep it loose with a cheese board at The Shed. Either way, go early and stay late.
Rangitoto Island
Have you ever set foot on a volcano? Turn up the adventure and check-out Auckland's youngest volcano; visible from almost everywhere in the city, and utterly different up close. The Fullers ferry from the downtown terminal takes 25 minutes. The summit track is manageable in two hours return and rewards with one of the most striking harbour panoramas in the Pacific. Pack your hiking shoes for this one.
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
The country's foremost art institution, and a building worth seeing in its own right. The contemporary wing integrates native timber and glass in a way that feels genuinely of this place. Check the programme ahead of your visit - temporary exhibitions frequently draw international attention.
Britomart
The precinct that defines Auckland's design identity. Britomart is where heritage buildings house New Zealand's most considered retail - look to Zambesi for boundary-pushing local fashion, and Kiri Nathan for contemporary Māori design. Smaller delights are discovered at Wonder Journal, a quiet celebration of craft and curiosity from local visionary Yoko Shimoyama.
Lower Queen Street
Auckland’s most elevated retail address, Lower Queen Street is where global luxury meets the city’s evolving design identity. Anchored by flagship stores including Dior and Louis Vuitton, and soon to welcome the highly anticipated Faradays department store, this precinct is setting a new standard for high-end shopping in Aotearoa. Set between the waterfront and Commercial Bay, it’s a polished, walkable stretch made for those who take their shopping seriously.
Ponsonby
Auckland's most culturally switched-on neighbourhood, and a must. Spend a morning moving through the boutiques and galleries along Ponsonby Road - stop into Scotties for local and international wears, The Shelter for up-and-coming NZ designer talent, or Bronwyn Footwear for it-girl styles du jour. For the best all-day eats in the city, join the queue at Blue on Franklin. Come evening, the strip rivals anything in Sydney for energy.
Newmarket & Westfield Newmarket
Auckland's most serious shopping destination. Westfield Newmarket anchors the precinct with over 230 stores across a beautifully designed multi-level space, and it's the surrounding streets also reward the explorer - independent boutiques, cult beauty brands, and the kind of low-key lunch spot you want to find yourself. Walk the length of Broadway and let it unfold.
SkyCity & Federal Street
The Sky Tower observation deck is worth doing once - the views at dusk are exceptional. But the precinct's real draw is Federal Street, where Al Brown’s Depot and Michael Meredith’s Metita, sit within a short walk of each other. Arrive hungry.
Did we mention that you can jump off the Sky Tower if you like a little danger…
Stay
Experience the best of Midtown from Hotel Indigo - our official accommodation partner for 2026. Think skyline views, rich interiors, and one of the city’s top new restaurants, Bistro Saine. Just steps from the venue, and the city’s best dining, shopping and nightlife.
Move
Don’t just rent a car. Rent THE car.
Enjoy a premium car rental with SIXT – NZFW’s Official Rental Partner, powered by Giltrap Group.
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One of the great Saturday mornings within reach of Auckland, and one the locals treat as a ritual. Hire a car through our partner SIXT and head north - just under an hour from the CBD, the road delivers you into wine country before you've finished your coffee.
Arrive at the Matakana Village Farmers' Market before 9am if you can. It runs every Saturday from 8am until 1pm, rain or shine, and it's a genuine zero-waste foodie market… the kind that has been feeding Aucklanders' weekend appetites for years. The stalls pull together Whangaripo Valley buffalo cheese, handcrafted Sicilian delicacies, organic garlic, boutique olive oils, Swiss chocolates, and some of the best Vietnamese spring rolls you'll find outside the city - all set to live music beside the river.
Pick up provisions, then wander the village itself: the Matakana Cinema is an arthouse institution, and the boutiques along the main strip are worth browsing.
From Matakana, it's a six-minute drive east to Ōmaha. Four kilometres of glittering white quartz sand, clear water, and panoramic views stretching to Te Hauturu-o-Toi (Little Barrier Island) - this is where Auckland's in-the-know crowd summers. The medley of retro-chic baches and modern holiday homes gives it a character you won't find at more polished beach resorts. Walk the full length of the beach, swim between the flags (weather dependent!), or grab a table at the Omaha Beach Café & Eatery with your market spoils. At low tide, the rock pools at the southern end are worth a detour.
If time allows on the way back, pull in at Brick Bay - a working vineyard with a 2km sculpture trail winding through native bush alive with kahikatea, nikau palms, and tūī, showcasing large-scale works by New Zealand's leading contemporary artists. The Glass House restaurant cantilevers over a shimmering lake and is one of the better lunch spots in the region - book ahead. Or stop at the Sculptureum, where three sculpture gardens and six galleries span over 800 works from local and international artists, anchored by a 14-acre award-winning vineyard and the Rothko restaurant.
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This is the one the locals keep for themselves. Hire a car through our partner SIXT and head west - 45 minutes from the CBD through the ancient Waitākere Ranges, the road opens onto Piha's black-sand beach, flanked by dramatic basalt cliffs and backed by native bush. Swim between the flags (if you dare this winter), walk up to Lion Rock for the view, and stop at the Piha Store for a flat white on the way back. It's unlike anywhere else on earth.
Travel packages
To celebrate the week, NZFW has partnered with Hotel Indigo to create the City & Style travel package, placing guests at the heart of the action with show tickets, two nights’ accommodation, and a curated Auckland fashion-week experience.
A short trip. A world away.
Tickets on sale now. Travel packages are limited.
