Gay Auckland Auckland City Guide

Curation by Jamie McGhee, words by Ian Packham

As New Zealand’s largest metropolis and the world’s largest Polynesian city, Auckland has long been proud of the diversity of its 1.4 million residents. Centred around the soaring Sky Tower needle, the City of Sails blends history, culture, and nature like no other. Far from being late to the party as a result of its geographic isolation, New Zealand was the first country in Oceania to legalise gay marriage, making it a hub for the region’s LGBTQ population. Regularly ranked as one of the gayest cities in the world, the gaybourhood around Auckland’s K’ Road is at its most colourful during Pride celebrations in February. However, there’s always plenty going on, as you’ll discover with our gay Auckland guide.

The best hotels in Auckland

A short walk from the Sky Tower and Auckland’s famed waterfront in the Central Business District (CBD), the low-rise art deco stylings of Hotel DeBrett on the fashionable High Street stand in sharp contrast to the modern tower blocks that surround it. Each of its 25 individually decorated boutique rooms mixes mid-twentieth century and contemporary furnishings to create an airy but elegant setting for any city stay. The nearby SKYCITY Grand Hotel offers spacious rooms with fantastic views of the skyline and other Auckland points of interest. Just around the corner from the Sky Tower, this hotel’s facilities include a 25-metre heated indoor lap pool, fitness centre, and sauna. Right on the waterfront on the edge of the Viaduct Basin area, which is one of the city’s main nightspots, M Social provides harbour views from every room. A laid-back ambience pervades the interior, thanks in part to the subtle yet playful design, and to the well-chosen feature furniture that stands out in the otherwise neutral colour scheme.

The modern edifice of Cordis is equally well located, just a stone’s throw from Karangahape Road, better known as the gay district’s K’ Road. Its collection of rooms simply ooze sophistication with their soft grey colour palette, complimentary warm wood surfaces, and top-quality soft furnishings. Meanwhile, at the opposite end of K’ Road, you’ll find Haka Hotel Suites. These stylish self-contained apartments include a small kitchenette and private lounge area, in addition to a balcony that would be the ideal setting for a glass of wine over a romantic sunset.