A Night In Auckland

By Lydia Horrex

For a population of 1.3 million, Aucklanders are spoilt for choice when it comes to pubs, bars, and drinking establishments in general. 

An appealing aspect to Auckland’s nightlife is its distinct areas and how they cater to certain clientele. Viaduct Harbour caters for the affluent locals, Queen Street is popular with backpackers and young residents, and of course Karangahape Road, which is lined with alternative lifestyle bars and mainstream night clubs.
 
Viaduct habour is located in downtown Auckland, just a short walk from the central business district.  Here lies a cluster of exquisite restaurants, authentic pubs and stylish bars. The glistening turquoise waterfront mooring luxurious yachts is undeniably the Viaducts main attraction.

More often than not Viaduct Harbour is an overspill of office workers winding down after a long week.  So popular is this spot on a Friday evening that you’ll be lucky to find yourself a seat among the happily chatting office folk.

Viaduct Harbour isn’t just popular with the work-hard play-hard locals.  After a long day sight-seeing, the habour offers an attractive location for visitors wishing to soak up the atmosphere. Due to the sheer choice of quality establishments in a confined area, Viaduct Harbour is a great place to start your evening. 
Cowboy Pizza Kitchen is just one of many bars located in this ocean view precinct. You’ll know you’re not far from the Cowboy Pizza Kitchen when you hear the unmistakable voice of Shania Twain pumping from the speakers and notice cream-coloured cowboy hats on every margarita-sipping punter.

Not far from Cowboy Pizza Kitchen is the New Zealand created Minus 5.  Visit this bar and you will be entirely subjected to Antarctic conditions. The walls, seats, sculptures, and even the very glass holding your vodka cocktail are created purely from ice.  During your experience at Minus 5 you will be fully kitted-out to stay comfortable whilst enjoying your time at the bar.   
When you have exhausted your time at the Viaduct, you can easy walk to the central part of the city, namely Queen Street.  Along Queen Street you will find welcoming pubs and even the odd karaoke bar. However, most of the action takes place in the surrounding streets of this main road.

High Street, parallel to Queen Street, is a narrow road lined with a selection of hole-in-the-wall funky bars. One of the most popular bars along the street is Rakinos, a café and lounge bar playing hip hop, soul and funk beats.  Time at Rakinos is best spent on their first floor balcony with one of the many exotic sounding cocktails from the drinks menu.
A stones throw from Rakinos is the romantic Chancery Lane, lined with small boutiques and designer shops. Chancery lane offers a relaxing location for a quiet drink. Yet as the restaurants and bars are located in an outdoor area, they are best taken advantage of on a warm evening.
     
If a quintessential backpacker bar is what you’re after then look no further than Globe bar. Located beside Auckland Central Backpackers, just off Queen Street, Globe bar is a lively choice any night of the week. Since Globe bar is associated with the young traveler you’ll be sure to be greeted with mainstream music, a crowded dance floor, and a whole host of interesting people to meet.  If all that doesn’t put a smile on your face, at least you can be guaranteed the lowest drink prices in town.

Follow Queen Street in the opposite direction of Viaduct Harbour and you will soon stumble across Karangahape Road, otherwise know as K’ Road. During the day you will find a colourful assortment of vinyl record stores, second-hand designer clothing shops, and ‘one-off’ trendy cafes.  At sundown, a vibrant street filled with interesting characters from all walks of life awakens. By late evening you can expect to see groups of socializing youngsters congregating around tables of small bars or Turkish cafes.

With closing times well into the early hours of the morning, K’ Road is certainly the location to finish your evening. Follow the road west and you’ll be met by some of the larger nightclubs Auckland has to offer. Studio is an ample sized club which is frequently visited by world-renowned DJ’s. If you’re looking for glow sticks and trance music to take you through to the morning, then look no further.

An attribute of Auckland City is the accessibility to travel on foot – a helpful asset on any night out. Yet In order to discover an assortment of Auckland nightlife I would advise visiting a few different areas. Viaduct harbour to start your evening, the Queen Street vicinity when the night has warmed up, and finally, K’ Road for those who want to carry on till the early hours.

With this amount of variety and choice you can be sure Auckland City will cater for your idea of a great night out.