The Neighbourhood.
Kohimarama - Kohi to most who live here - sits on the eastern bays between Mission Bay and St Heliers. Close to everything, still feels like a village. Here's what we love.
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Kohimarama sits at the edge of a city with a quietly impressive arts scene. From world-class galleries to Māori cultural walks and local creative spaces, there's more to discover than you'd expect.
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The eastern bays punch well above their weight when it comes to eating well. From fresh fish on the sea wall to inventive dining at Mission Bay, you won't have to go far.
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Kohimarama is genuinely one of the best spots in Auckland to be with kids. The beach is calm and safe, the aquarium is ten minutes up the road, and there's enough to fill a week without anyone getting bored.
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The beach is a three-minute walk - take the travel cup. The coast path runs to Mission Bay one way, St Heliers the other.
The Art.
Auckland Art Gallery - Toi o Tāmaki
New Zealand's largest art collection. Free entry to the permanent collection. 15 min to the CBD.
Te Paparahi Toi Māori - Māori Art Walks
Guided Māori art walks through the city. A grounding way to understand place before you leave.
Turua Gallery - St Heliers
Local art, prints and gifts in the village. St Heliers is a scenic walk along the waterfront.
Babylon
A local creative space worth finding.
The Food.
Kohi Store
The local heartbeat. Great coffee, fresh food, and friendly service.Azabu
Japanese-South American cuisine at Mission Bay. Sophisticated and worth booking ahead.Kohi Fish + Chips
Classic, done properly. Eat on the beach wall and watch the world go by. Ginger Thai
Reliable favourite. Best Thai in Auckland.Staying In?
All of the above are on Uber Eats. Deck, sunset, takeaway - a very good evening.The Family.
Kohimarama Beach
Three minutes from the gate. Calm water, sandy beach, and a boardwalk. Kayak and paddle board ready to go.Kelly Tarlton's Sea Life Aquarium
Penguins, sharks, stingrays - 6min drive along Tamaki Drive. Kids love it and adults do too.
Auckland War Memorial Museum
Natural history, Māori culture, and Auckland's story - set in the Pukekawa Auckland Domain.
The Explorer.
Tāmaki Drive waterfront walk
Follow the shoreline to Mission Bay one way or St Heliers the other. Flat, scenic, and hard to cut short once you've started.
Achilles Point Lookout
Above St Heliers, with views across the gulf to Rangitoto. Go at golden hour and take the camera.Takaparawhau / Bastion Point
The headland above Ōkahu Bay, with wide views across the harbour to Rangitoto. Significant land for Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, and a defining site in Aotearoa's land rights history - worth knowing the story before you stand on it. The Michael Joseph Savage Memorial gardens sit at the top.Dingle Dell Reserve
A pocket of native bush tucked behind St Heliers - nīkau, pūriri and birdsong, minutes from the beach. A short loop track that feels much further from the city than it is.Rangitoto Island
The volcano on your horizon. Ferry from downtown, an hour's walk to the summit, and Auckland laid out below you. A proper half-day out.