Queen Street is full to the brim with shopping, dining, and entertainment options, from high-end retailers and restaurants to op shops and food courts, often right next to each other. Many of these shops are in heritage buildings scattered throughout the street—Queen Street has been the center of Auckland’s metropolitan life since the 1840s, and many of the street’s buildings date back to the early 20th century and earlier.
Queen Street also has a number of cinemas, theaters, and live music venues, especially around Aotea Square, a large public plaza halfway up the hill toward Karangahape Road. You’ll find more of Auckland’s well-kept secrets in the street’s parks and laneways that sprout off the street—these gems hide plenty of intimate bars, cafés, restaurants, and boutique shops selling clothing, food, books, and more. Many city tours cruise along or around Queen Street; it’s also a cinch to explore on your own.